Pet Grooming Orange County

Orange County Groomer Discusses Why You Should Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car

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Orange County Groomer Discusses Why You Should Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car

 If you take your dog with you everywhere you go, it’s important that you never leave them in the car while running errands, even for a few minutes. The consequences of doing so can be severe under conditions much milder than you might realize. The intense heat inside a vehicle, regardless of the make or model, can be brutal and unrelenting. This Orange County Groomer doesn’t think it’s ever worth the risk.

How dogs deal with heat

A dog’s primary defenses against the heat are panting and their coat. Panting releases moisture and their coat is specially designed to provide insulation against the sun’s rays. The average body temperature for an adult dog ranges from 99.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

What happens to a dog in a hot car?

When a dog is left in a hot car, they pant in an attempt to keep cool. The more they pant, the more body fluid they lose. Even after just a few minutes, a dog can develop symptoms of non-fever hyperthermia or heat stroke. The longer a dog is subjected to intense heat, the greater the chance that it will affect all of their vital systems. Even though senior dogs and puppies are at increased risk, dogs of any age that are left in a hot car can suffer from multiple organ failure and/or death.

How hot is too hot?

Vehicles are built from materials that trap, conduct and distribute heat. Parking under a shady tree, using a reflective dashboard or windshield cover or leaving the windows open only makes a very small difference. The interior of a vehicle gets extremely hot, very quickly. The air temperature only needs to be between 81 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for a dog to begin showing signs of heat distress. If it is 89 degrees outside, the interior of your vehicle can reach 123 degrees within just 30 minutes.

What to do if you see a dog alone in a car

If you see a dog alone in a parked vehicle you should always attempt to locate the owner first. Write down the vehicle’s license plate just in case legal action is necessary. Alert the local authorities. If you feel that you must intervene, remember that you do so at your own risk.

Claws N Paws Day Spa believes that if you must run errands on a hot day it’s always best to leave your dog at home. Keep them cool this summer with professional pet grooming. To schedule a grooming appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

 

Fleas Carrying Plague – Why Southern California Flea Control Is So Important!

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Fleas Carrying Plague – Why Southern California Flea Control Is So Important!

We all know how annoying fleas can be. What you might not realize is that fleas can carry diseases. This year, Southern California flea control may be more important than ever before. Just 475 miles away, in Flagstaff Arizona, prairies dogs are dropping dead from plague. Yes, you read that right. The same plague that ravaged Europe in the 14th century is being carried by fleas and killing prairie dogs today.

Residents throughout the Flagstaff area have been notified that plague is present and monitoring is expected to continue for quite some time. The situation is being assessed regularly to determine whether further action is necessary in order to contain the disease.

About Plague

The Plague, also known as the Black Death, wiped out sixty percent of Europe’s population in the 14th century. Caused by a bacterium, there have been three major outbreaks: the Justinian Plague, the Great Plague and the Modern Plague. The most recent outbreak spread through China and into the U.S. during 1860s.

With modern antibiotics and improved hygiene, plague isn’t feared today as it was in years past. However, you will still want to protect your pet from fleas and the possibility of disease. Fleas often bite humans and they are especially attracted to household pets such as dogs and cats.

The incubation period from the time an infected flea bites until when symptoms are experienced is one to seven days. Symptoms include a sudden high fever, body aches and bad chills. Anyone who suspects plague should be seen by a doctor right away.

Protecting your family from fleas is easy. Stop by Claws N Paws Day Spa to discuss flea control options. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 714-962-1005.

Orange County Groomer – Melatonin Use In Pets

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Orange County Groomer – Melatonin Use In Pets

Melatonin is often used by humans to help with sleep problems. What you might not know is that it also has many health benefits for dogs and cats. Claws N Paws Day Spa, your local Orange County groomer, cares about your pets and believes that melatonin use can be extremely beneficial to their overall health and well-being.

Most people think that melatonin is used solely for sleep issues, however this simply isn’t true. When used correctly, melatonin can have many health benefits for both people and their pets.

In people, melatonin is used to:

  • Regulate the immune system
  • Induce restful sleep
  • Reduce skin damage caused by UV radiation
  • Protect against degenerative side effects caused by corticosteroids
  • Reduce the side effects and enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Melatonin also acts as a powerful antioxidant and is often used as part of the therapy for hormone-induced cancers.

What about our pets?

In dogs and cats, melatonin might be prescribed for a number of different conditions including:

  • Sleep problems
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Separation anxiety
  • Type II diabetes mellitus
  • Cancer
  • Alopecia X

Melatonin is generally considered safe when used at the recommended dosage. However, it should ONLY be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. This is because melatonin is a hormone and can interact with a number of different processes in your pet’s body, as well as other medications that they might be taking. Regular monitoring is necessary if melatonin is to be used for a long period of time.

If you feel that melatonin might benefit your pet, we encourage you to talk with your veterinarian.

Claws N Paws Day Spa is located in Fountain Valley, CA. We offer full service grooming services for both dogs and cats. For your convenience, we also offer mobile grooming. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call (714)962-1005.

 

Why You Should Adopt A Cat

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Why You Should Adopt A CatArthur

Cats are typically regarded as low maintenance pets, ideal for people that are too busy to care for a dog. However, the decision to adopt a cat should never be taken lightly. The average house cat lives between twelve and twenty years, meaning that a cat is a long term commitment. Before adopting a cat, you should consider the following.

Even though cats seem aloof, they are social creatures that require your companionship. If you spend most of your day away from home, then you should probably reconsider your decision to adopt, or adopt a pair of cats so that they can keep each other company.

Because cats have a natural instinct to scratch, even if you provide your cat with a scratching post you can still expect some damage to your furniture and carpeting. Declawing a cat or kitten is considered inhumane by most professionals, so you should be prepared to deal with the inevitable damage your cat might inflict.

You will need to determine an easily accessible spot for a litter box. If you have multiple cats then you will need more than one litter box. Keep in mind that the waste will need to be scooped daily from litter boxes.

Before adopting you should consider the financial commitment involved with adoption. There are the ongoing costs of food, veterinary care, cat litter, scratching posts and pet sitting. In addition, if you adopt a kitten, you will have to budget for spaying or neutering as well as the necessary vaccinations.

Before adopting, be prepared to keep your cat safe. Statistics show that cats that go outdoors do not live as long as indoor cats. Cats and kittens should be kept indoors to prevent infectious diseases, parasites and accidents.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. Additionally, we offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. Two doors down from our pet salon we have a consignment shop offering several unique and interesting items. 100% of the profits from all pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

Reasons Why Cats Meow

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Reasons Why Cats Meow

Cats are capable of making a variety of different sounds, including several variations of the simple meow. There are many reasons why cats meow. Let’s look at the most common reasons:

  1. They are hurt
    If a cat suddenly begins to meow excessively, it’s a good idea to have them evaluated by a veterinarian. The cat might be trying to indicate that something is wrong, especially if they are not normally vocal. There are a number of diseases that can cause a cat to feel overwhelmed with hunger, thirst or pain. These feelings often lead to excessive meowing.
  2. They are saying hello
    Cats will often meow to its human when they arrive home or to greet them whenever they see each other.
  3. They want food
    As anyone that has ever lived with cats can tell you, they get very vocal when they are ready to eat.
  4. They want attention
    Sometimes cats meow simply because they want someone to pay attention to them.
  5. They are in heat
    A female cat in heat will often yowl incessantly. Spaying can resolve this issue.
  6. They are stressed
    Cats who are stressed often become more vocal. This is extremely common when cats are taken in the car.
  7. They are angry
    Angry, irritated cats will often scream at each other if they feel threatened. This will sound more like a yowl than a meow.
  8. They are lonely
    Sometimes when cats are left alone for long periods of time they can become anxious and meow excessively.
  9. They are getting older
    Senior cats typically vocalize more than their younger companions.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

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

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Treating Your Dog For Fleas

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Treating Your Dog For Fleas

Fleas feed off of the blood of animals, including our beloved pets. Fleas can cause a significant amount of discomfort and they can be difficult to identify. Flea bites often cause intense itching. A bad infestation can lead to hair loss and severe skin irritation. Dogs with fleas should be treated promptly in order to prevent future problems.

Identifying fleas on a dog can be difficult. Signs of fleas might be easier to spot on the dog’s belly where the fur is thinnest. Flea bites and flea feces are typically more obvious than the fleas themselves. Flea bites are red or pink welts, approximately 1/8 to ½ inch in diameter. Flea feces look like brown or black specs, similar in appearance to coffee grounds.

If your dog has fleas you will need to get rid of them and ensure they won’t return. Over the counter remedies such as flea sprays, shampoos, collars and bombs are often ineffective and can be dangerous to the health of both you and your pet. The best method for getting rid of fleas is to have your pet professionally groomed. A professional groomer knows what products to use to safely eliminate fleas from your pet. If you wish to remove fleas from your dog at home you can use a fine toothed flea comb.  Whatever method you chose, make sure that you wash any areas where your dog has been sleeping, living or playing with soap and hot water.

To avoid future problems with fleas you will need to use preventative flea medications. These might be a liquid that is applied topically, or given in pill form. Ask your groomer or veterinarian for recommendations if needed.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We offer some of the most effective flea treatments for pets. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!