Pet Grooming Orange County

Pet Grooming Isn’t Just for Dogs

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Pet Grooming Isn’t Just for Dogs

When most people think of professional pet grooming they picture a dog in a bath. While dogs do require regular grooming, other pets can benefit from pet grooming as well.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa we’ve taken care of a lot of different animals. We’ve seen many dogs and cats but also guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles and even a pig. Let’s look at the most common reasons why pets visit the grooming salon:

Nail Trims

Most indoor pets can benefit from regular nail trims. When living inside on carpet or other soft surfaces, pets aren’t able to wear down their nails. Overgrown nails can lead to problems with walking and other activities. When nails are overgrown they are more likely to get caught on things and tear. This can lead to bleeding and significant discomfort for your pet. We recommend that indoor pets get their nails trimmed every 4-6 weeks.

Bathing

Although cats and dogs can benefit from regular bathing, other pets might also require an occasional bath. Older pets in particular have a harder time grooming themselves and tend to get matted easily. Sometimes a good combing will do, other times a bath might be required. Keep in mind that certain exotic animals such as rabbits should never be bathed unless absolutely necessary.

Haircuts

Any pet with longer fur can become tangled and matted. If you aren’t combing your pet every day, eventually they will need a haircut. Exotic pets with hair that grows in front of their eyes might also benefit from a trim to help them see. Speak with your groomer to decide your best options.

Your Pet’s First Appointment

Your pet’s first visit to the grooming salon can be stressful for both you and your pet. When making your appointment be sure to let us know what type of animal you will be bringing and whether or not it is their first time being groomed. We try to schedule exotic pets at times when we expect it to be quiet at the grooming salon. Bring your pet in a secure carrier with a blanket and some of their favorite food or treats. Don’t expect everything to get accomplished at the first appointment. It usually takes pets a while to get used to the grooming process.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming in Orange County, California. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Inside the Grooming Salon – When your Pet Doesn’t Look Exactly as you Hoped

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Inside the Grooming Salon – When your Pet Doesn’t Look Exactly as you Hoped

When you bring your pet into the grooming salon you probably have an idea of what they will look like when you pick them up. You might have requested a specific haircut or style that you think will look perfect on your pet. While we try to accommodate every request, please understand that the success of your pet’s grooming is up to your pet, not us.

The nervous pet

From brand new puppies to elderly cats, we deal with a lot of nervous pets. When pets are nervous they shake, wiggle, fidget and sometimes try to bite. Soiling themselves is also a common reaction to stress. All of these reactions affect the outcome of their grooming appointment. A pet that constantly moves or attempts to bite is not going to get the same haircut as one that stands perfectly still. If your pet has an accident after their grooming is completed, they are probably going to get another bath. This might mean that you will have to wait at pick-up or take them home a little damp.

Keep in mind that a nervous pet is a stressed out pet. Stress can negatively affect your pet’s health so we will do whatever is necessary to reduce their stress. That might include cutting the grooming appointment short. Your pet’s safety is always our number one concern.

The matted pet

Sometimes pets come in extremely dirty and matted. Even a few mats on the belly or behind the ears can affect a pet’s haircut. Mats are painful and harmful to your pet, as they often hide bacterial and fungal infections of the skin. The only way to safely and humanely remove mats is to shave them off. If your entire pet is matted then their entire body will be shaved. We understand that this is probably not what you want. The best defense against mats is regular brushing at home and monthly grooming appointments.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional dog and cat grooming from our grooming salon in Orange County, California. We also offer mobile grooming for many parts of Orange County. For more information or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Irritation After Grooming

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Irritation After Grooming

We all know that pets can become itchy when they have fleas. What you might not realize is that excessive dirt and tangled hair can also cause itching. After your pet has been professionally groomed you probably expect them to feel fantastic. They look good and they smell good. But what if they won’t stop itching? Many things can cause skin irritation after grooming. Let’s take a look at the top reasons:

Grooming too much

Most people shower daily so it’s only reasonable to assume your pet should get a weekly bath, right? Not so much. The more often you bathe your pet the more likely it is that you will dry out their skin. This is because every time you bathe your pet you remove oils from their skin. These oils protect their skin and are essential to their health. Even very mild shampoos will dry out a pet’s skin when used too often.

If you bathe your pet between their monthly visits to the groomer their skin will not have any oils left to protect them against professional strength shampoos, brushing and the warmth from the dryer. Once groomed, they will itch constantly because of dry, flaky skin. To avoid this problem try to stick to once-a-month bathing. Use dry pet shampoo in between grooming appointments only when necessary. The exception to this rule would be if your pet requires regular baths with a special shampoo prescribed from your vet.

Waiting too long between grooming appointments

Dirt and dust accumulates in pet hair, causing irritation to the skin. When left too long this irritation continues to get worse, sometimes developing into sores.  Excessive dirt and moisture can cause fungal and bacterial infections of the skin that may not be noticed until after grooming. Sometimes a pet is so dirty that it masks the fact that their skin is irritated. When a pet is matted, the extent of the problem is typically revealed after a haircut. The pet was unable to scratch before the dirt or matted fur was removed. Once removed, the pet begins to scratch, often escalating the problem. This type of irritation is not caused by grooming.

Other types of irritation after grooming

Part of the grooming process is expression of the anal glands. The anal glands are sacs on either side of the anus. These sacs fill with fluid and most small dogs are unable to release it on their own. Your groomer uses a special, non-invasive technique to gently assist them in the removal of this fluid. If it’s been too long since your pet was professionally groomed then this fluid can begin to turn solid. When left far too long, the anal glands can become impacted, which is a serious problem requiring veterinary assistance. Your dog might scoot their butt after their bath. This is a normal response to having their anal glands expressed. Unless you see signs of worms or your pet continues to scoot for more than three days, you don’t need to be concerned.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming for both dogs and cats. To schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

Orange County Cat Groomer Answers – Why Is My Cat’s Hair Falling Out?

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Orange County Cat Groomer Answers – Why Is My Cat’s Hair Falling Out?

As a respected Orange County cat groomer, we often hear people complaining that their cat’s hair is falling out. Regardless of the season, hair loss in cats is referred to as alopecia. If you find that your cat’s hair is suddenly falling out, it could be the result of a number of conditions. It’s important that you discuss any hair loss with your veterinarian.

Medical conditions

Several different medical conditions can cause hair loss in cats. Hair loss can be a symptom of cancer or glandular conditions such as Cushing ’s disease. Other types of medical conditions that cause hair loss include demodectic mange, ringworm, parasites, fungal infections, bacterial infections, fleas, nutritional deficiencies, seborrhea, lice and skin cancer. Since many of these conditions can be severe, it’s important to visit your veterinarian for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Allergies

If your cat is allergic to something they eat they might experience hair loss as well as itching, ear inflammation, redness and excessive licking of their feet. Inhaled allergens can also cause hair loss in cats. Cats with allergies frequently lose hair around their necks and heads, as well as other parts of their bodies.

Drug reactions and interactions

Cats sometimes lose hair as a response to drugs. If your cat is taking medication they might experience hair loss, itching, redness, ulcers, crusts and swelling. Hair loss might also be a sign of a drug interaction. If you are worried that the drug your cat is taking is causing its hair loss, you should talk with your veterinarian.

Excessive grooming

Stress is often a culprit behind hair loss in cats. When cats feel overwhelmed, anxious, apprehensive or frustrated they sometimes groom excessively. This grooming can be so intense that they begin to lose their hair.

Seasonal shedding

You shouldn’t automatically assume that hair loss is related to something problematic. It could be due to seasonal shedding. Indoor cats can shed year round and outdoor cats tend to shed more during the spring and fall.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

Orange County Cat Grooming you Can Trust

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Orange County Cat Grooming you Can TrustService with a smile!

Not many places in Orange County offer cat grooming. Occasionally a grooming shop will accept cats, but they attempt to treat them as if they were dogs. The problem with this approach is that cats require a much different grooming experience. For example, cats cannot be tethered, most dog shampoos are not safe for them, they are slow to trust and they become easily stressed. A cat that is stressed is more likely to hurt itself and those around it. Cats can also suffer from a variety of stress-related health issues.

The owner of Claws N Paws Day Spa has a long history with cats. She began rescuing stray cats and kittens as a child. As an adult, she has continued to rescue and rehabilitate cats and kittens. She received her grooming certification in 1997 and became a highly respected groomer in Orange County. However, she was unhappy working for a corporate retail store. This is because large, corporate shops tend to focus on their bottom line while small, independent grooming shops put more emphasis on the care of their clients. In April, 2001 she opened Claws N Paws Day Spa with a commitment to treat each pet individually in order to reduce stress and make the grooming process as comfortable as possible. That’s what we mean when we say “Grooming with a Loving Touch.”

A few years later, she opened Claws N Paws Cat Boarding next door. This facility offers stress-free boarding for cats. Individual rooms are specially designed for one or multiple cats. Dogs are never allowed in the boarding facility, making it a quiet, comfortable place for cats to relax while their pet parents are unable to be home. Food, water, exercise and human interaction is provided daily to ensure the mental and physical health of all of our feline guests. For more information about our cat only boarding, please click here.

Claws N Paws Day Spa also has many rescued cats and kittens looking for their forever home. Many available kittens have been bottle-fed and all pets for adoption are socialized. Younger kittens have received their first set of shots and older cats and kittens are spayed and neutered. These are different than any cat or kitten you will find at a pet shop. We understand cats and love each one like they were our own. To see our cats and kittens available for adoption, please click here.

Our commitment to cats is what sets us apart from other grooming shops. We have many happy and healthy feline clients. We know what cats need and we always treat them with the respect and specialized care that they deserve.

Please stop by and see why Orange County trusts us with their cats. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

 

Keeping Your Pet Safe When they Are Away From Home

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Keeping Your Pet Safe When they Are Away From Home

When you care about your pet you want to do everything that you can to keep them safe. You take extra steps to ensure that they aren’t able to run into traffic or access anything that could be dangerous to their health. What about when they are they are away from home? Are you doing all that you can to keep them safe?

Your Pets Deserve The Very Best

Most people wouldn’t leave their child with someone that they didn’t know and trust. They would check references and ask friends and family for referrals. It should be no different with your pet. Every year, hundreds of pets are injured or killed when they are away from home. It’s important that you take the necessary steps to get to know the people that take care of your pet. While you might not be able to avoid accidents altogether, you can significantly reduce the chance of injury away from home.

An inexperienced or inattentive groomer can cause serious injuries in a very short amount of time. Answering just one text message on a cell phone makes it possible for a pet to fall from the grooming table. Sometimes pets break their neck when they fall. When left unattended too long, they could suffocate from their restraint.

Cuts and burns are common as well. Burns might occur from improper brushing, dull clipper blades, extremely hot water and grooming dryers. Serious cuts can be caused by scissors or clippers.  Although skin irritation should be expected when a pet is severely matted, almost all serious injuries in the grooming salon are caused by groomer negligence.

Find A Groomer You Can Trust

Choosing a groomer for your pet might seem overwhelming. You want to make sure that your pet is well taken care of when you can’t be there. Ask friends and family for referrals. Your veterinarian should be able to refer you to a respected grooming salon in your area.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s pets since 2001. We are recommended by many local veterinarians and pet parents. Please stop by our grooming salon to look around and meet our groomers. We understand how important your pet is to you. Our groomers have many years of experience and are fully trained to safely care for your pet.

Please call 714-962-1005 for more information or to schedule a grooming appointment.