Pet Grooming Orange County

Keep Your Pet Safe This Summer

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As temperatures rise in Southern California, it’s important to keep your pet safe. While a day in the sun might provide a welcome escape from the rainy weather we’ve experienced for most of the year, the heat presents a number of dangers for your pet.

Never Leave Your Pet in Your Car

A vehicle acts like an oven on warm days, reaching up to 170 degrees inside. It only takes a few minutes for the temperature inside your vehicle to cause harm to your pet. Never leave your pet in your vehicle alone, even for a few minutes. If you need to go somewhere that you can’t take your pet, it’s best to leave them at home.

Check Sidewalk Temperatures

Always check the temperature of sidewalks and roadways before walking your pet. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot for your pet. It’s also important to make sure you check outdoor areas as well. Your pet should have plenty of room to get away from the sun and off the sidewalk. It might be best to keep them inside as much as possible during the summer. Pets that walk on hot cement risk serious burns to the pads of their feet.

Make Sure Your Pet Has Fresh Water At All Times

Just like humans, our pets need to keep hydrated throughout the summer. Make sure you keep fresh water available at all times. Try putting a few ice cubes in your pet’s water bowl to keep it cool.

Fleas

Fleas become more common during the warm summer months. Make sure you check your pet regularly for fleas. Look for flea dirt, which looks like coffee grounds against the skin. When wet, this “dirt” turns red. This is actually flea droppings. If present, you need to treat your pet for fleas. This is important whether you see live fleas or not.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers summer haircuts for dogs and cats. Our groomers have years of experience providing pet grooming from our full service grooming salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

Deciding on a Summer Haircut for Your Pet

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Summer is almost here. That means it’s time to start thinking about your dog’s summer haircut. While some people shave their pets short during the summer, others prefer to leave the hair long. As long as your pet doesn’t have any mats in their fur, there are numerous haircuts to choose from. Summer is the perfect time to experiment with a new haircut.

Shaving

Despite what many people believe, shaving your pet does not make them cooler in the summer. A pet’s coat helps keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, regardless of how long it is. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

Our Southern California heat can reach extreme temperatures. Dogs with heavy coats designed for year round cold climates might have a harder time staying cool throughout summer. Unfortunately, many of these breeds are not meant to be shaved completely. They have a double coat and shaving them can actually affect the way it grows back. For these dogs, we recommend a tummy shave. This allows them to lay on cold floors to cool off, without affecting the integrity of their coat.

Shedding

Another common belief is that shaving your dog will help prevent shedding. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Short haired breeds still shed when shaved, the hair that falls is just shorter. These tiny hairs can become sharp little slinters, sticking into everything they encounter.

Dirt Build-Up

Certain breeds like cocker spaniels and poodles have a lot of thick hair on their legs. This hair can collect sand, dirt, and other debris during a trip to the beach. If your plan to take your pet to the beach this summer, you might want to consider keeping the fur on their legs short.

Personal Preference

Personal preference is the main factor when it comes to choosing a summer haircut. As Orange County’s premier grooming salon, we’ve seen everything from traditional breed cuts to Mohawks. If you’re unsure what’s best, please stop by our salon to discuss your options with our experienced groomers.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing Your Pet For Boarding

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Preparing Your Pet For Boarding

A pet boarding facility is an excellent choice when traveling away from home. Boarding provides a safe, healthy environment for your pet. However, it can be extremely stressful to leave your pet in the care of someone else. A little preparation and a positive attitude can go a long way towards a positive boarding experience.

Preparation

Before dropping off your pet, make sure that you tour the boarding facility and talk to the people that will be caring for your pet. This will help you determine whether the facility is a good fit. Make sure that you ask questions about exercise, interactions with people and other pets, as well as any concerns you have about medications or special diets.

Prepare all of the necessary paperwork in advance. Have proof of vaccinations, medications, contact information and special diets ready for drop off. It might also be helpful to bring a special toy, a towel or blanket that smells like your home. A T-shirt worn by your pet’s favorite person can also help them feel more comfortable.

Drop Off

Your pet can tell when you are anxious. They will typically become upset as well. The best thing you can do for your pet is to remain calm during drop off. Showing your pet that you are happy and confidant will ensure the best chance of a success.

Pick Up

A smooth pick up is also important. Once you bring your pet back home, they will probably be sleepy. Pets are typically kept active during their time at the boarding facility. Offer plenty of fresh water and small meals until your pet’s energy returns. If at all possible, consider having your pet groomed before coming home.

Claws N Paws offers cat’s only boarding and pet grooming in Orange County, California. Our boarding facility has absolutely no cages. Instead, our feline guests enjoy luxury condos, plenty of human interaction, exercise and mental stimulation. Holiday appointments are booking up fast. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment or to learn more about our cat boarding facility. We look forward to hearing from you!

Holiday Safety

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Holiday Safety

Many of us have already begun thinking about the holidays. There are parties to plan, decorations to hang and menus to prepare. With everything going on, you might not have considered how the holidays can affect your pets.

This time of year can be extremely stressful to pets. There are a number of unique challenges that come with the holidays. It’s up to you to keep your pets happy and healthy.

Halloween

People dressed in costumes ringing your doorbell all night can upset even the most docile pet. It’s a good idea to keep your pets locked in a dark, quiet room until the evening fun has ended.

Keep in mind that chocolate is toxic to pets and too much sugar can lead to upset stomach or worse. Keep candy bowls out of reach of pets at all times, and make sure you instruct guests and children to never feed candy to your pets.

Holiday Meals

Many foods traditionally prepared during the holiday season are deadly to pets. Fatty foods can cause life-threatening pancreatitis and onions and garlic are toxic. In addition to these dangers, bones can splinter and cause damage to your pet’s digestive tract. Always let your guests know that your pets are not allowed to eat table scraps.

In order to avoid temptation or your pet consuming dropped food, it might be best to keep pets away from the table during holiday meals.

Holiday Guests

It’s important to understand how your pet feels about strangers in your home. While some pets relish in the attention, others can become fearful and aggressive with guests.

It’s up to you to let your guests know the proper way to treat your pets. This is especially true if children will be staying with you over the holidays.

Consider Boarding Your Pet

The best way to avoid stress and danger for your pet over the holiday season is to make sure they are in a safe, controlled environment. Consider boarding your pet on the days you feel might pose the biggest problem.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers high quality holiday grooming and cats only boarding. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information or to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

Cat Boarding

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Cat Boardingcat boarding

While you might enjoy traveling, your feline companion probably does not. This is why planning your holiday vacation must also include proper preparations for your pet. Cat boarding can be an excellent solution, but you must choose the right boarding facility if you want to minimize your pets stress during your absence.

Visiting a boarding facility can be a stressful experience for the family cat, especially if they are timid or older. It’s important to visit the facility before you even consider leaving your pet. Keep in mind that certain situations will make your cat’s experience more stressful. These include small cages and kennels that have absolutely no hiding places or elevated cat trees or shelves. Also, the facility should look and smell clean.

Consider preparing a list of questions for the cat boarding facility. You will want to find out if the staff will interact with your cat during its stay. Ask them if they require proof of vaccinations. If they do not require proof, your cat could come into contact with a cat that is ill or unvaccinated during its stay. If your cat takes medication, make sure that the facility is prepared to administer it. If your cat requires a special food or litter, check that you can bring it to the facility. You will also want to speak with your veterinarian before boarding your cat. There might be special vaccinations or pest control that is recommended before boarding. Also, your vet might be able to give you tips about reducing stress during your pets stay.

Remember that your cat will probably be more comfortable if it has some of its own things when it arrives for boarding. This might be a special bed or blanket. Familiar objects with the smell of home might help your cat relax a little bit. It’s also a good idea to bring along some of your cats own toys. Even if your cat doesn’t play with them, their presence might be a comfort in your absence. If your cat eats a special food or uses a special litter, make sure to bring them along as well.

Located right next door to Claws N Paws Day Spa, Claws and Paws Cat Boarding provides a luxurious, stress-free and safe environment for your cat’s away from home stays! When your feline friend needs a place to stay, you can be confident in knowing that we will provide them with the care and individual attention that they need. Free time, one-on-one attention and plenty of space to stretch their legs are just a few of the amenities that we provide.

We intentionally do not board dogs in order to keep a quiet, stress-free environment for our feline visitors. We strive to make the feline members of your family feel safe and secure with all of the comforts of home.

Please feel free to contact us for a tour of our facility or to set up an appointment.

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