Pet Grooming Orange County

Does Your Pet Need a Summer Haircut?

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Does Your Pet Need a Summer Haircut?

As we move further into summer, you’ve probably wondered if your pet needs a haircut. Most of us couldn’t imagine wearing a thick fur coat all summer long. However, your pet’s coat might actually be keeping them cool.

A pet’s coat works differently than the hair on our heads. Their fur is designed by nature to keep your pet warm in the winter and cool in the summer. By shaving your pet’s fur, you actually limit their natural ability to regulate their body temperature. This is especially true for cats.

Exceptionally Thick Coats

There are certain breeds of dog that are bred to have thicker fur than nature intended. If your dog appears to be suffering as temperatures rise, it might be a good idea to give them a haircut. Just make sure that you leave at least one inch of fur to protect them from sunburn. Also, if your pet is matted, it’s important to have the mats removed as soon as possible. Mats are painful and can lead to infection and other problems if not promptly removed.

Hot Spots and Skin Conditions

The other reason you might want to consider having your pet trimmed down in the summer is if they are prone to hot spots and other skin conditions. Removing the fur around hot spots enables easy application of medication. It also allows the air to reach sore skin, speeding up the healing process.

Make sure that you speak with your veterinarian before having your dog shaved if it has a skin condition. Sometimes, shaving the fur can irritate sores and make skin conditions worse.

Shorthaired Dogs

Shaving a shorthaired dog will not stop them from shedding. Instead, the fur they shed will be shorter, and act like little splinters; sticking into everything it comes in contact with, including your skin. Shaving a shorthaired dog also increases the chance of sunburn and skin irritation. A monthly bath and blow dry is typically all a shorthaired dog needs during the summer.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment today.

 

 

 

Summer Safety

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Summer Safety

Summer has officially arrived in Southern California. This is the time of year when many of us will be spending more time outdoors enjoying the park, beach, and time with our family. You might also be spending more time with your pets.

It’s important that you do all you can to keep your pets safe this summer. The following are our top safety tips for summer.

Never Leave Your Pet in the Car

Even if it doesn’t seem that hot outside or you plan on leaving the window open a crack, your pet can still fall victim to heatstroke if left in a hot car. The temperature inside your vehicle can reach dangerous levels in a very short amount of time. Pets left in hot cars become distressed quickly.

Heatstroke causes permanent damage to organs, and even death. Never leave your pet in your car, even for a minute. If you know that you’ll be going somewhere that your pet is not allowed, it’s always better to leave them at home.

Check the Temperature of Sidewalks and Roads

A dog’s paws are sensitive and can easily become burned by hot concrete or asphalt. Before walking your pet, make sure that you check the temperature of the ground. The same is true for outside areas of your home. If it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot for them.

Burns are painful and can become infected as pets continue to walk on dirty surfaces. If your pet’s feet become burned, it’s important that you have them checked by a licensed veterinarian.

Avoid Spending Too Long in the Sun

While a day at dog beach might seem like a lot of fun, it’s important that you don’t spend too much time in direct sunlight. Pets can get dehydrated and develop heatstroke quickly.

Make sure that your pet has plenty of fresh water at all times and that they have access to shade. Watch your pet for strange behavior and signs of dehydration. Remove them from the heat as soon as a problem is detected. Prompt medical treatment is required if your pet is suffering from heatstroke.

We hope you have a safe and relaxing summer!

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Dealing With Foxtails

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Dealing With Foxtails

The warm weather has officially arrived in Southern California. This means more beach days, more backyard BBQs, and more time spent outdoors. This is also the time of year when foxtails become a problem.

Foxtails are barbed seedpods that form on a special type of grass. As these pods dry, they can easily become stuck to your pet’s fur. Once attached, they burrow their way into the skin. This can be a major problem, as foxtails do not break down inside the skin. When left untreated, foxtails can cause serious infection and even death.

Although foxtails can be a problem on any part of the body, they are more likely to occur between the toes and inside the nose, ears, and mouth. Signs of embedded foxtails include redness, swelling, discharge, and pain.

Spotting Foxtails

It’s important to know how to spot the signs of a problem. If your pet is exeriencing any of the following, you should take them to your veterinarian right away:

  • Swelling and/or redness
  • Limping
  • Excessive licking between the toes or around the genital area
  • Head shaking
  • Head tilting
  • Squinting or redness of the eye
  • Pawing at the face
  • Constant sneezing

Preventing Foxtails

Pets with curly hair and long ears are at the greatest risk for foxtails. After spending time outdoors, it’s important to inspect your pet thoroughly. Check their feet, in their ears, and through their fur. If not embedded, foxtails can easily be removed. However, once they have entered the skin, you will need the help of an experienced veterinarian to remove them.

Foxtail removal can cost $700 or more. It’s best to prevent a problem in the first place. Avoid areas with long grass. Check your pet regularly after spending time outdoors. Keep long hair trimmed to prevent foxtails from becoming stuck. This also makes it easier to locate and remove them.

Claws N Paws Days Spa can help keep your pet groomed this summer. We have experience working with cats, dogs, and other pets. We are your best choice for pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment.

 

 

Caring For Disabled Pets

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Caring For Disabled Pets

Caring for a disabled pet can be extremely challenging. Special needs pets require extra help doing the things that most of us take for granted. They must be handled carefully and require lots of patience and care.

Grooming a special needs pet can be difficult. Many disabled pets have a hard time standing on their own, let alone jumping in and out of a standard bathtub. These pets may become frightened from the hose or the other sensations they experience while being groomed. Grooming these pets at home is usually not an option.

Finding A Groomer

When choosing a groomer, it’s extremely important that you take the time and effort needed to find a grooming salon that is able to properly care for your pet. In addition to having experience working with disabled pets, they should be kind and caring towards the animals they work with.

Before making an appointment, ask the groomer if they would mind if you looked around their facility and watched them interact with other pets. Make sure you ask them about their experience with special needs and disabled pets. This will help you determine their ability to properly care for your pet.

Check out the grooming facility. Look to see if they have a low tub and ask if they are able to groom on the floor. Make sure the salon has adequate space for your pet without having to put them in a crate or kennel.

Orange County Grooming Salon

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional grooming for special needs pets. We have experience working with a wide range of conditions and disabilities and understand the special care that your pet requires.

We have a low tub and are able to bathe and groom on the floor. We have areas where your pet can be kept outside of a kennel and we provide the option of waiting with your pet while they are being groomed.

Please stop by our grooming salon to take a look at our facility. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about grooming your pet.

Dealing With A Dog That Bites

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Dealing With A Dog That Bites

Dogs bite for a number of reasons. Puppies may bite when teething or playing. It’s up to us to teach them what’s acceptable and what is not. Sometimes, dogs develop aggressive tendencies towards people or other pets. This is extremely common. It’s estimated that around 60-70% of pet dogs will growl or bark at strangers or animals they don’t know.

Most dogs will not act aggressively towards their own family members. Dogs that bite the people or animals they live with are much harder to deal with than those that act aggressively only in certain situations.

When Your Dog Bites Their Vet or Groomer

It’s not uncommon for dogs to bite out of fear and when in pain. This frequently occurs at vet offices and grooming salons. New pet owners are often very surprised to learn that their sweet, gently dog has bitten their vet, vet tech, or groomer. While this type of behavior is common, it should not be ignored. Changing vets or grooming salons will not solve the problem.

It’s crucial that you let your vet or groomer know in advance if your dog has ever bitten their caretakers. This allows them to take the necessary precautions to protect both themself and your dog.

Grooming A Dog That Bites

As one of Orange County’s premier grooming salons, we see a lot of dogs every day. Many of these dogs are fearful or become stressed out when being groomed. When armed with the right information, we can help these dogs overcome their fear and many even end up enjoying the grooming process. However, if you do not let us know that your dog might bite, we will not know to take things slow as your dog adjusts to being groomed.

Typically, a dog will bite during specific procedures such as nail trims or brushing. With proper notice, we can usually avoid being bitten. Our groomers take extra time and care when handling dogs that bite. They move slowly and give plenty of positive reinforcement for good behavior. It’s important to note that because of the extra time and effort involved, dogs that bite do cost extra to groom.

You can get your dog used to being groomed at home between professional grooming appointments. Touch their feet, nails, and ears regularly. Over time, your dog should become accustomed to being groomed.

Sometimes, dogs are too aggressive to be handled. Grooming these dogs is risky for both the groomer and the dog. These dogs must be groomed by their veterinarian. This is usually done under sedation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

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Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Hip dysplasia is extremely common, affecting mostly large breeds of dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, the ball and socket of the hip are malformed. This creates a joint that rubs and grinds as apposed to sliding smoothly.

Causes of Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Signs of the disease can be seen in pets as young as four months old. Hip dysplasia that occurs later in life is typically due to osteoarthritis, a form of joint inflammation.

Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia

Dogs with hip dysplasia often experience decreased activity, difficulty rising, an obvious reluctance to run, jump or climb, limpness of the hind limbs which is typically worse after exercise, pain in the hip joints, and loss of muscle mass in the thighs. Dogs that are suffering from hip dysplasia might sway or bunny-hop.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Only a qualified veterinarian can diagnose hip dysplasia. A physical exam, blood test, and x-rays are generally necessary. It’s important to provide your veterinarian with a detailed history of your dog’s condition including the date that symptoms began and whether injury occurred prior to their onset.

Treatment is generally outpatient unless surgery is required. Weight control is extremely important. Any excess weight can put additional pressure on your pet’s joints. Your veterinarian might prescribe a special diet, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain medications.

Hip dysplasia can be extremely painful. It’s crucial that you do all that you can to reduce your dog’s discomfort.

Grooming Dogs With Hip Dysplasia

Grooming can be difficult for pets with hip dysplasia. Moving in and out of a raised tub and on and off a grooming table might be more than these pets can handle.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa, we understand the unique needs of dogs with hip dysplasia. We have low tubs and are able to bathe and groom dogs on the floor if we feel it is best for their comfort and safety.

Our professional groomers truly care about your pet. If you are concerned about having your pet groomed because of their hip dysplasia or other needs, please stop by our Orange County grooming shop to see how we can help.

Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.