Pet Grooming Orange County

Reducing the Pain of Arthritis During the Winter

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Reducing the Pain of Arthritis During the Winter

Both people and pets feel more pain in cold weather. Cold air causes muscles to stiffen, causing pain for even those that do not suffer from joint problems. Pets with arthritis can get extremely stiff and uncomfortable during the winter.

What is Arthritis?

Normal wear and tear on the joints causes the cartilage to wear away. This allows the bones to rub together. Arthritis can occur in any joint, but it is most common in the hips, knees and ankles of pets. Discomfort is typically mild at first, but gets worse over time.

Arthritis is common in older pets. It advances quicker in pets that are overweight, due to the extra pressure placed on the joints. Arthritis cannot be cured but there are ways to reduce the pain and slow its progress.

Weight Reduction

If your pet is overweight, it’s important to get their weight under control. This is the first step in slowing the progress of arthritis. A healthy, low-calorie diet can help your pet shed extra pounds. Speak with your veterinarian about weight loss diets and pet foods specially designed to improve joint function in older pets.

Remember to switch your pet’s diet gradually. Mix a little bit of the new food with their old food while they adjust. Slowly increase the ratio of the new food until you’ve completely eliminated the old food. This will help your pet avoid upset stomach and digestive issues.

Exercise

Regular exercise is important for joint health. However, you’ll want to make sure that the exercise isn’t placing excessive pressure on the joints. Keep activities short and watch your pet carefully for signs of distress. Swimming is an excellent, non-weight bearing activity for pets suffering from arthritis.

Keep Your Pet Warm

It’s important to keep your pet warm and comfortable throughout the winter. Provide them with a soft, padded bed in a warm location, preferably indoors. Clothing such as dog sweaters or t-shirts can help keep your pet’s joints warm.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service grooming for both dogs and cats. Our groomers are specially trained to groom pets suffering from arthritis. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

Spending New Year’s Eve With Your Pet

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Spending New Year’s Eve With Your Pet

New Year’s Eve can be scary for pets. The combination of large crowds, big parties and fireworks can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Even if you avoid the crowds, pets can’t usually tell the difference between fireworks outside and on the television.

Fireworks and loud noises may startle pets and cause them to flee. More pets get lost during the holidays than any other time of the year. Keep your pet safe this New Year’s Eve with the following tips.

Update Identification Information

During parties, pets can escape through open doors. They may run when they hear loud noises. Before the holiday, make sure that you update the information on your pet’s identification. If you haven’t already, this might be an excellent time to have your pet micro chipped.

Make Sure Your Pet Gets Plenty of Exercise

Before New Year’s Eve, make sure that your pet gets plenty of exercise. This will hopefully help them sleep through the festivities. Take your dog for a long walk or spend some time playing with your cat.

Make Sure Your Pet Doesn’t Get Any Table Scraps

Table scraps can be dangerous for pets. Onions and garlic are toxic. Fatty foods can lead to life-threatening pancreatitis. Make sure that you keep food out of reach of pets. If you are having guests over for the holiday, let them know that your pets are not allowed to eat table scraps.

Drown Out the Sound of Fireworks

Fireworks, noisemakers and screaming neighbors can upset pets. If possible, play some white noise for your pet throughout the evening. Even classical music can help cover up outside noises.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We also offer cats-only boarding throughout the holidays. If you are concerned about your pets, boarding is an excellent option. Our boarding facility is specially designed to be quiet and comfortable. We offer condos for one or more cats. We provide daily interaction and exercise. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about cat boarding or to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protecting Your Pet’s Skin This Winter

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Protecting Your Pet’s Skin This Winter

We all suffer from dry skin during the winter. The cool, crisp air combined with dry indoor heating can lead to dry, flaky, cracked skin. This can cause a lot of discomfort for your pet.

Pets often scratch or lick dry skin, making the problem worse. Pets with dry skin may develop large sores and experience hair loss. Dry skin should be treated as soon as possible. The following tips can help protect your pet’s skin this winter.

High Quality Food

A diet that provides all of the essential nutrients can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy year-round. Select a food that contains high quality ingredients and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. Ask your veterinarian if you aren’t sure which food is best for your pet.

Supplement With Fish Oils

Fish oils contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, which are scientifically proven to protect your pet’s skin and coat. Fish oils can also be used to reduce inflammation. This makes them an excellent choice for pet’s suffering from arthritis or joint disease. Choose a high quality product that contains both DHA and EPA. Only give your pet the recommended dose. Too much fish oil can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Regular Grooming

Regular bathing and brushing is a crucial to a healthy skin and coat. Brushing helps remove dead hair and stimulates the skin to produce more oils. Bathing can help restore moisture and protect your pet’s skin from irritation. It’s important to only use a mild pet shampoo and not to bathe your pet too often. Doing so can have an opposite effect on the skin.

Protect Your Pet From the Elements

Cold, wet weather is tough on your pet’s skin. Protect your pet from the elements whenever possible. Keep your pet indoors during bad weather and use a raincoat or cover whenever outside in the rain.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming for dogs and cats. We offer mobile grooming and have a full service salon in Orange County, California. We can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy this winter. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Cat Boarding for the Holidays

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Cat Boarding for the Holidays

The weather has officially started to cool down in Southern California. The days are getting shorter and the shops are already stocked full of holiday decorations. This is the time of year when many of us start to plan our holiday vacations.

Maybe you’ll be visiting (or avoiding) friends and family for the holidays, or you’re just looking to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of Orange County life. Whatever the reason, winter is an excellent time to take a trip.

If you have cats at home, you might find it difficult to find someone to care for them while you’re away. Many of your neighbors are probably also going out of town. It’s important to find someone that you can trust to properly care for your cat.

Cats Only Boarding in Orange County

Claws N Paws offers affordable cats-only boarding from our quiet, cage-free facility in Fountain Valley. We treat our feline visitors as if they were are own. Cats are given fresh food, water and litter daily. They spend time interacting and exercising with our fully trained employees. Everyone you encounter at Claws N Paws is a cat lover. We understand how to care for cats and we strive to make them as happy and comfortable as possible while you are away.

Cage-Free Environment

Our feline guests are never kept in cages. Their condos are comfortable, climate-controlled and provide your cat with plenty of room to move around. Rooms are available in two sizes to accommodate one or more cats.

All of our guests are provided with toys, blankets and scratching posts. Our skilled employees are well trained to give your cat medication and special diets as needed.

Cat Grooming & Boarding in Southern California

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming from our grooming salon in Orange County. Claws N Paws Cat Boarding is just steps away from our full service salon. Our holiday appointments are booking up fast. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about cat boarding or to set up your next grooming appointment.

 

Keeping Your Pet Happy and Healthy This Fall

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Keeping Your Pet Happy and Healthy This Fall

For many Orange County residents, fall means football games, crisp air and beautiful foliage. The weather is perfect for going outside with our pets. Our cats are enjoying the afternoon sunshine as the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder.

Your pet is relying on you to keep them happy and healthy this fall. The following are common problems seen in the fall.

Ticks

Ticks continue to be a problem throughout the fall and winter. These pests tend to hide in fallen leaves and grass clippings. After spending time outside, be sure to check your pet for ticks. It’s also important to continue using flea and tick repellants throughout the fall.

Rodent Poison

During the fall, mice and rats tend to seek shelter from the cold in homes and sheds. If you find rodents inside your home, it’s important to act quickly before they reproduce. Be extremely careful when using poisons and traditional traps.

Rodenticides can be deadly to pets and standard traps can cause serious injuries. Ask your veterinarian for safe alternatives.

It’s important to keep in mind that your neighbors might still be using traditional traps and poisons. They might also dispose of diseased rodent carcasses where your pets can access them. Keep your pets away from your neighbor’s homes and waste bins during the fall.

Fungus

Mushrooms and other fungus love the fall. Even though most mushrooms are safe, there are a few types that can be deadly to pets. If you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic mushroom, it’s crucial that you get them to a veterinarian right away.

Antifreeze

Many people service their vehicles during the fall. Part of this process is changing the fluids. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze can kill a ten-pound dog. Even less can kill a ten-pound cat.

Be sure to keep pets away from the area when you are servicing your vehicle, and clean up spilled fluids immediately.

Claws N Paws Day Spa hopes that you and your pets stay happy and healthy this fall. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

 

 

Pet-Friendly Decorating Tips

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Pet-Friendly Decorating Tips

The holiday season is officially upon us. This time of year can be dangerous for our pets. While you probably already know the dangers of table scraps and chicken bones, you might not have considered your holiday decorations as a potential hazard for your pets.

Decorating for the Holidays

Many pets find the sights and smells of holiday decorations appealing. Unfortunately, these objects can cause serious problems if ingested. Trees and candles can be knocked down, causing fires and injuries. Wrapped gifts also pose a threat to our faithful companions. Make sure that you keep your pets in mind when decorating your home for the holidays.

Plants and Flowers

Plants and flowers are everywhere this time of year. In addition to decorating our homes, these items are commonly given as gifts. There are a number of plants and flowers that are dangerous to pets including holly, poinsettias and pine needles.

If you decide to decorate your home with plants, make sure that you put them out of reach of pets. Another solution is to use artificial versions instead. Although artificial plants pose some risk of being ingested, pets typically find them less appealing than the real thing.

Christmas trees should be kept in a stable stand. If possible, attach your tree to a window or wall with fishing line.

Electrical Cords

Chewing on electrical cords and lights can cause serious issues for your pet. Electrical cords can cause burns, electric shock and even death. Unplug lights and other cords whenever you leave your home and monitor pets closely when at home.

Ornaments

Glass ornaments, ribbon, yarn, tinsel, string, adhesives and glue all pose a serious risk to your pet. These items can be ingested, causing injury and possibly life-threatening blockages. Keep all ornaments out of reach of pets and never use food to decorate, as this will only tempt your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming and mobile grooming services in Orange County, California. Our holiday grooming appointments are booking up fast. Please call us at 714-962-1919 to set up your holiday appointment.