Pet Grooming Orange County

Why Your Matted Dog Needs to be Shaved

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Most people have every intention of taking care of their dog’s coat. Unfortunately, busy schedules and life events can get in the way. When this occurs, your longhaired friend can become matted. A matted coat is painful and can hide skin problems and parasites.

A matted coat is different than tangles. Tangles can typically be worked out with your fingers or a comb. They do not hinder your ability to view your dog’s skin. When your dog’s coat is matted you cannot see their skin. The fur develops a mat-like quality that covers some or all of the body. A severely matted coat can stretch from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose. Dogs in this condition will often have feces and urine stuck in their fur.

A Matted Coat Can Hide Skin Issues and Parasites

Since mats prevent you from viewing your dog’s skin, they can hide serious issues. Fleas and ticks are common under a matted coat, as are sores from the constant skin pulling that occurs as a result of having a severely matted coat. Moisture can become trapped under mats, causing fungal and other skin infections. This is uncomfortable and can cause your dog to smell. Treatment of these conditions cannot take place until the mats are removed.

Attempting to comb or brush mats causes extreme pain. Using scissors to remove mats is not a viable option either. You can easily cut your dog’s delicate skin when cutting mats. Bathing a dog with mats causes the mats to become tighter, increasing the amount of pain your dog endures.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa, we will not cause your dog unnecessary pain or distress. This is why we will only shave a matted pet. Shaving removes the mats quickly and safely. This relieves your dog of pain and enables you to treat any underlying skin problems or parasites. We will not bathe matted pets until all mats have been removed.

We are already booking holiday appointments. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment today!

Spraying and Urination in Cats

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There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with a cat that’s doesn’t use its litter box. In fact, inappropriate elimination is one of the most common reasons given when adult cats are abandoned at the shelter.

While most people automatically assume that cats are spraying to mark their territory, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes improper elimination is caused by a medical problem. Whatever the case, elimination outside of the litter box should never be ignored. 

Cats use scent to communicate with each other. Your cat may mark its territory by chin rubbing, scratching, or spraying urine. Spraying is more common in unneutered males and unspayed females but sometimes continues after alteration.

Spraying in spayed females and neutered males is rarely due to behavioral issues. Most of the time, it’s caused by stress or medical problems. If your neutered or spayed cat is spraying, the first thing you need to do is take them to your veterinarian.

UTI

The most common cause of urination outside of the litter box is a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI causes your cat to experience pain when urinating. This can cause them to avoid using their litter box.

UTIs are easily diagnosed and easily treated with antibiotics. Cats typically begin using their litter box immediately after treatment.

Stress

Stress is another common cause of inappropriate elimination. A stressed cat will likely show other symptoms such as excessive licking, aggressiveness, and/or irritation. Stress can be caused by numerous factors. The most common include changes in the home environment, the addition of new family members or new pets.

Spending more time with your pet or reducing exposure to stressful experiences can help them overcome these issues.

Cleanliness

Cats like things tidy. Proper litter box maintenance is extremely important. Your cat might avoid using its litter box if it’s unclean, or if you’ve switched to a scented litter.

If you have multiple cats, you will need multiple litter boxes. A good rule of thumb is one litter box per cat. Make sure these are placed in different locations so that each of your cats feels like they have their own space to eliminate.

Make sure that you fully clean any areas where your cat has eliminated. Even the faintest odor can cause them to return.

Final Thoughts

With a little patience, improper elimination can be resolved. The first step is to visit your veterinarian. If your cat is not spayed or neutered, now is the time. It’s much harder to stop an unaltered cat from marking its territory.

 

 

 

 

Why Does My Dog Smell Bad?

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Pet parents can become obsessed with the various smells that come with living with a dog. Sometimes the smell is easily resolved, other times it’s related to a health problem that requires treatment. It’s important to get to the root cause of the smell to determine whether or not your pet requires more than just a bath.

Bathing At Home

Bathing your dog at home can help them smell better. Unfortunately, this is often temporary. Most dogs begin smelling bad shortly after being bathed. Sometimes, they even smell worse after a bath.

Most people do not have the tools and equipment needed to properly clean their pet at home. A professional groomer uses high-powered sprayers and dryers to get them clean and ensure they are completely dry after their bath. This is important. Leaving your pet wet can cause them to develop a mildew-like smell shortly after being bathed.

Most people don’t realize that their dog requires their anal glands expressed during their bath. This is especially true for small dogs, as they do not have the muscle strength needed to clear these glands themselves. The anal glands are located on either side of the rectum. They fill with fluid, which can turn solid and cause serious health problems if not removed regularly. If not expressed, these glands can cause your dog to smell extremely bad.

Skin Conditions

Dogs are prone to several skin conditions that can cause them to smell. These conditions might cause oily skin, bald patches, or sores to develop. Sometimes the only sign of a problem is a continuous yeast-like smell that does not go away with regular professional bathing.

If your dog is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to take them to a qualified veterinarian. A vet will diagnose the problem and prescribe the appropriate medication. This is typically a special shampoo, although your vet might prescribe other medications as well.

Ear Infection

Ear infections often cause the ears to smell. If you notice a bad smell coming from your dog, inspect their ears. Call your vet if dirt, redness, or other irritation is present.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming in Orange County, CA. We can help you determine the cause of your dog’s bad smell. Please contact us to set up an appointment.

 

 

Kitten Adoptions

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Claws N Paws Day Spa has been caring for pets in Orange County, California for sixteen years. While many people already know about our pet grooming services, not everyone knows that we also have several rescued cats and kittens available for adoption. These sweet felines are eagerly waiting for someone to give them a chance at a happy life.

We Take Donations!

Many of the kittens we have available for adoption were found as newborns. These kittens have to be bottle-fed and socialized before they are able to find a new home. This takes a lot of time and effort. It also costs a lot of money.

Kitten formula is expensive. So is the veterinary care and medicine these babies often need. This is the reason we ask for donations whenever possible. The money we collect for our rescue does not go back into our grooming shop. Every cash donation goes directly towards caring for our foster cats and kittens.

If at all possible, please consider donating to our rescue. In addition to money, we also accept towels, blankets, formula, cat and kitten food, and litter donations.

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Kittens in pet stores usually come from puppy mills, or commercial breeders. These breeders see the animals in their care as profit makers. They generally do not provide the attention or medical care required to raise happy, healthy pets. As a result, pets from pet stores are often sick or badly behaved. Purchasing animals from a pet shop allows this type of breeding situation to continue. If you are looking for a cat or kitten, please consider adoption.

All of the cats and kittens we have available for adoption are healthy, up-to-date with their vaccinations, spayed or neutered (when old enough), and socialized with people and other pets. Our bottle-fed babies are some of the sweetest kittens you’ll ever meet.

Stop by our grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California to meet our available cats and kittens. Each has its own unique personality. Our groomers will be happy to help you find the perfect fit for your family. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our cat and kitten rescue.

 

 

 

 

Why Regular Grooming is Important

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Many people wonder how often they should have their dog groomed. While most people are pretty good about bringing their dog once every 4-6 weeks, there are some that only bring their dog in once a year. These dogs often come to us in really bad condition. They might be caked with dirt, infested with fleas, or matted from head to tail.

Regular Baths Keep Your Pet’s Skin Clean and Healthy

Allowing your dog to become so dirty that it takes three to four baths to get them clean isn’t just hard on your groomer; it’s actually really bad for your pet. Excessive dirt is uncomfortable and can lead to skin conditions and infections. These issues can go unnoticed under the layer of filth that your pet simply cannot remove on its own.

It’s not uncommon to find sores and other issues once your pet is clean. People often find that their dog scratches much more after grooming. This is because they were not able to reach their skin prior to their bath. Unfortunately, this scratching can become excessive, causing lesions and sores to develop.

A regular, monthly bath can help prevent this from occurring. Regular baths help keep your pet’s fur free from dirt and debris. This allows the air to reach the skin, decreasing the chance of sores caused by fungus or other problems. Regular bathing also helps locate issues like fleas before they are able to become a much bigger problem.

Preventing Mats

Mats are extremely painful for your pet. They pull on the skin, causing discomfort and sores to develop. Because the mats hide the skin, it is impossible to know if issues are present. Often, sores are only discovered at the time of grooming.

Mats cannot be combed out; they must be shaved. This is the least painful and most humane way to deal with this common problem. If you do not wish to have your pet shaved, you will need to take proper care of its coat. This involves brushing and combing your pet everyday. Professional grooming should be performed once every four to six weeks.

Professional Pet Grooming

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming from our full service salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.

Do Cats Need Grooming?

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There seems to be a lot of opinions regarding whether or not cats need to be professionally groomed. Some people have their cats bathed every month, while others never visit a professional groomer. So what is best? The answer depends on your cat, their needs, and your personal preference.

Cats With Special Needs

Sometimes cats need a little help getting clean. This is especially true for elderly cats and cats with certain diseases and/or disabilities. Elderly or ill cats might urinate or defecate on themselves and need a little help getting clean. Sometimes they are physically not able to clean themselves or they might have a condition that causes excessively oily skin. If your cat cannot properly clean itself, a monthly bath can help keep their coat clean and healthy.

Longhaired Cats

Longhaired cats require more work than shorthaired breeds. Longhair can become tangled and matted. Mats are uncomfortable and can lead to sores and infections. Once matted, your cat must be shaved.

A monthly bath and brush might be just what your longhaired cat needs to keep clean and tangle-free.

Allergies

People with allergies often have their cat bathed regularly. Monthly baths help remove the dander that causes allergic reaction. After their bath, the cat is fully brushed to remove loose skin and hair. Although this method will likely not help someone that is severely allergic, it can help mild to moderately allergic individuals coexist with their furry friend.

Dirt and Debris

Cats are curious by nature. They can get themselves stuck in some very interesting situations. Sometimes, a cat’s actions will leave them dirty or covered in a variety of substances. As groomers, we’ve seen cats come in with all kinds of things stuck in and on their fur.

If your cat has managed to make a mess of itself, please contact your local groomer to setup an appointment. Improper cleaning can leave your cat dirty and miserable. Depending on the substance your cat has on its fur, it might even be dangerous for them to attempt to clean themself. Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional cat grooming at our full service salon in Fountain Valley, CA. Please contact us to setup a grooming appointment today.