Pet Grooming Orange County

Back to School Time

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It’s that time of year again. The kids are going back to school and most of us will be returning to our normal daily activities. As the long days of summer start to vanish, it’s important to remember that your pet needs your attention during this time.

Pets often find it difficult to accept the fact that their family is spending less time at home. This is especially true for newer pets that have never experienced this time of year before.

An Active Pet is a Happy Pet

If your pet is experiencing separation anxiety as you spend more time away from home, you can ease your pet’s discomfort by taking advantage of options such as daycare or a day out at the doggie spa. Keeping your pet occupied can help take their attention away from the fact that there are less people at home.

No matter how busy it gets, make sure that you continue walking your dog or playing with your cats. They rely on this time to get their exercise, while spending time with their favorite people. If at all possible, visit your pets in the middle of the day for a walk or playtime.

Basic Care is Important

Back to school can be expensive. Many pet parents attempt to avoid additional expense during this time. However, it’s extremely important that you don’t avoid taking care of your pet’s basic needs. Pets should be groomed regularly and see their veterinarian for their overall health and well-being.

Without proper care, pets can become ill, or matted, which can be expensive problems to solve. The extra expense to take care of your pet now will end up costing you less in the long run.

Remember that your pet will be missing your children as well. Keep doors and gates locked so they do not attempt to follow them to school. This can be dangerous and the risk of getting lost or injured is extremely high.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming and cat boarding in Orange County, California. Our team is well prepared to care for your pet as they adjust to this time of year. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information.

 

 

Canine Vestibular Disorder

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Canine vestibular disease is common, especially in older dogs. Symptoms of this condition can be scary. It’s crucial that you take your pet to a qualified veterinarian if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Treatment can ease symptoms and allow your dog to live comfortably. Without treatment, symptoms can quickly become worse.

The vestibular system is responsible for your dog’s balance and sense of spatial orientation. Problems with the vestibular system can make your dog uncoordinated. This can lead to an inability to walk or function properly.

There are two different types of vestibular disease, peripheral and central. Peripheral is much more common. This is the type we will address in this article.

Symptoms

Symptoms of vestibular disease vary by pet. Some dogs experience milder systems than others. Common signs of a problem include head tilting, loss of coordination, circling and stumbling, falling and rolling, and involuntary eye movements from side to side or up and down. Pet parents often say that symptoms resemble those of a stroke.

Causes

Causes of vestibular disease include recurrent ear infections, overzealous ear cleaning resulting in perforation of the ear drum, trauma caused by head injury, stroke, tumors, polyps, meningoencephalitis, hyperthyroidism, and the use of certain medications. Anything that can irritate or damage the nerves of the inner ear can cause this condition.

Occasionally, the disease is present at birth, or it can come on later in life with no apparent cause. This is why vestibular disease is often referred to as old dog disease.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian can diagnose vestibular disease. Diagnosis is typically based on history, physical examination, and neurological assessment. Blood tests, cultures and sensitivity tests as well as cytology will be performed to rule out other possible causes. Treatment varies based on the underlying cause.

Treatment

If an ear infection is to blame, medication should correct the problem. If medication is found to be the cause, discontinuing its use is generally all that is needed. Other causes of the disease are not as easy to treat. Treatment is typically focused on reducing symptoms. Anti-nausea medication might be given to reduce discomfort to your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming in Orange County. Our groomers understand that pets need care even when they’re suffering from this common condition. We take care to ensure that pets with vestibular disease are comfortable throughout their grooming appointment. Please call 715-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

Flea Treatment – Keeping Your Pet Safe

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It seems like fleas have been worse than ever this year. Unfortunately, this warm weather is expected to last well into November, making flea season especially long.

Many Orange County families struggle to control fleas on their pets and in their homes. Flea products can be expensive, and traveling to and from the vet every month isn’t always an option for today’s busy family. It can be tempting to opt for grocery store options in an effort to save both time and money. However, many over the counter flea products can be dangerous for your pet.

Flea Shampoo

Despite their harmless appearance, flea shampoos often contain harsh chemicals, which can be harmful to your pet. In fact, the insecticides in flea shampoo have poisoned several pets.

Symptoms of insecticide poisoning include seizures, difficulty walking, dilated pupils, extreme sleepiness, decreased heart rate, vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, it’s crucial that you get them to their veterinarian as soon as possible.

Spot Treatment

There are numerous over the counter spot treatment products available today. These products are applied once a month to the base of the neck. While Frontline and Advantage are generally safe to use, the products provided by other companies have caused severe reactions in several pets.

Spot treatments are responsible for 80% of all deaths related to flea treatment. Reactions can come on suddenly, even if you’ve used over the counter spot treatments before. When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Talk to your veterinarian about safer options for your pet.

Flea Collars

Flea collars used to be the flea treatment of choice for families everywhere. Today, we have better options and know more about the harmful effects of these products.

Flea collars can cause severe allergic reaction. These collars supply a constant stream of insecticides, which can leach into your pet’s skin causing neurological issues and even death.

If you are having difficulty dealing with fleas, it’s important to speak with your veterinarian about safe treatment options. It’s also important to treat your home to prevent fleas from re-infecting your pet.

Please contact us at 714-962-1005 to discuss your flea treatment options with one of our experienced groomers.

Choosing a Groomer

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Choosing a Groomer

From mobile grooming, to grooming salons, and bathing at home, you have many options when it comes to grooming your pet. It can be difficult to figure out which choice is best.

Grooming Your Pet At Home

Grooming your pet at home can be difficult. Most pets don’t like to be bathed, and they may behave worse for their family. Also, improper grooming such as not rinsing properly or not releasing the anal glands can lead to problems for your pet.

Using the wrong shampoo can irritate your pet’s skin. If you do decide to bathe your pet at home, never use human shampoo, even baby shampoo. 

Mobile Grooming

Mobile grooming is another popular option. However, there are no regulations on mobile groomers and many are inexperienced and overworked.

The owners of many popular mobile grooming services do not provide adequate training for their groomers. Since their groomer’s earnings are based on the number of pets they groom, they will often take on more than they can handle. This can affect the quality of service and the level of safety they are able to provide.

Grooming Salon

A grooming salon is a physical location where you can meet your groomer and actually see them working with other pets. The right salon will have experienced groomers, each able to provide a variety of services.

Bringing your pet to the grooming salon should be an enjoyable experience. The groomers should take the time to answer all your questions and properly care for your pet. Never choose a grooming salon that takes an assembly line approach to grooming.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has provided pet grooming to numerous pets in our Orange County community for over fifteen years. Our groomers have extensive experience providing grooming for both dogs and cats. We’ve even had the unique opportunity to work with exotic pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits.

Please stop by our salon to meet our groomers and learn about the services we offer. While here, you’ll be able to see the love and care we provide each and every pet that walks through our door. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.

 

Skin Issues Are Common in the Summer

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Skin Issues Are Common in the Summer

Missing fur, scratching, bumps, and lumps are all extremely common during the summer. As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we frequently discover skin issues that well meaning pet parents have missed. This is due to the fact that we get your pet wet, which gives us an up close view of their skin.

If your groomer notices anything out of the ordinary during your pet’s appointment, they will let you know. However, it is up to you to take your pet to a licensed veterinarian to discover and treat the underlying cause.

Common Causes of Skin Problems in Pets

Skin issues are extremely common during the summer. Common problems include missing fur, irritated skin, hot spots, foxtails, fleas, ticks, and even sunburn. Your groomer can treat some issues, such as fleas and ticks, quickly and easily. If skin is irritated, we will use a soothing shampoo to prevent further irritation. However, it is up to you to determine the underlying cause.

Most of the time, skin issues are caused by allergies or fleas, which can be addressed quickly and easily. However, it’s important to remember that even something small could be a sign of something more serious. For example, missing fur could be caused by allergies, or it could be a symptom of cancer. This is why it is so important to have your pet checked by a vet at the first sign of a problem.

Although your groomer has lots of experience with pets and are knowledgeable about several different skin conditions, they do not have the training or tools needed to properly diagnose your pet.

If your pet experiences skin issues during the summer, your veterinarian will likely prescribe a special shampoo. Please bring this shampoo with you to your grooming appointment.

Orange County Pet Grooming

Claws N Paws Day Spa provides a wide range of grooming services for both dogs and cats. Our experienced groomers will analyze your pet’s skin during their appointment and notify you of any issues. However, the advice of your groomer should not be considered a substitute to the advice provided by a licensed veterinarian.

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

 

 

Spending the Holidays With Your Pet

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Spending the Holidays With Your Pet

When you think about spending the holidays with your pet, you likely consider what you’ll give them under the tree. However, there is far more to the holidays than giving gifts. This time of year presents a number of challenges for our faithful companions. It’s up to you to make sure they stay happy, healthy and stress-free throughout the holidays.

Decorations

Most of us decorate our homes for the holidays. From the tree to the tableware, there’s so much to consider. When decorating your home, make sure you think about the safety of your pets.

Twinkling lights and brightly colored ornaments are often tempting to pets. Anything that could break or pose a choking hazard should be kept far away from them. Live trees can cause an allergic reaction and respiratory distress in both pets and people. Make sure that your pet is not allergic before setting up a live tree in your home. If you still aren’t sure, it might be best to stick with an artificial tree.

Traditional holiday plants like mistletoe, holly and poinsettias are all toxic for pets. Candles pose a danger as well. Keep lit candles in an area where pets are not able to access them or knock them down.

Gifts

When choosing gifts for your pet, select toys and treats that cannot be broken into small pieces. Anything with small parts or strings should be avoided. Check the ingredients in treats to make sure they won’t cause an allergic reaction.

Avoiding Stress

The holidays can be an extremely stressful time for both people and their pets. Pets often pick-up on our emotions. If you are worried about the holidays, your pet might become anxious or upset. The hustle and bustle of the holidays might be stressful for pets as well.

Make sure you provide your pet with lots of reassurance this holiday season. Give them a quiet room to escape to if the festivities become more than they can handle.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers holiday grooming for dogs and cats in Orange County, California. We also offer mobile grooming services. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a holiday grooming appointment.