Pet Grooming Orange County

Pet Grooming Tips For Summer in Orange County

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Pet Grooming Tips For Summer in Orange County

Summer is a great time to get outside with our dogs. Maintaining their grooming routine is also important during this time of year. Regular pet grooming helps our dogs look good, feel good and keeps them healthy.

While some breeds require the services of a professional groomer, all dogs benefit from a good brushing at home. The right grooming tool can help strip out loose hair, allowing cool air to circulate against your dog’s skin. Regular brushing also prevents mats that can be painful and trap moisture and heat, resulting in nasty skin infections.

This time of year you will want to watch out for fleas and ticks. Adding an extra bath or two might be a good strategy during the summer. Brush your dog before and after their bath and choose a shampoo that is a good match for their skin and coat type. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog well, or else they might develop a bad odor or become itchy and flaky from the shampoo residue. Consider having them professionally groomed to prevent these problems.

Inspect your dog’s ears regularly, especially if they like to swim. Dog’s who’s ears fold over are more prone to ear infections. After your dog goes swimming, wipe their inside earflaps gently with a cotton ball. Your vet might be able to suggest special ear drops for dog’s that suffer from a lot of ear infections during the summer. Swimmer’s ear can be prevented with a drop of white vinegar.

Claws N Paws provides quality full service grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. We can help keep your dog looking and feeling good this summer. We offer brushing, bathing, summer haircuts and flea and tick control. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Bandana

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When Professional Pet Grooming Isn’t Enough To Keep Them Cool – DIY Cooling Bandana

The heat and humidity of summer can be extremely miserable for our dogs. The combination of intense heat and a thick fur coat can make enjoying a full day outdoors with your best friend almost impossible. When professional grooming just isn’t enough to keep them cool this summer, consider making your dog a cooling bandana. These bandanas can be made quickly and easily from materials found at your local craft and hardware shop.

  1. Start by cutting a piece of fabric 4 inches by 45 inches in length. For larger dogs, you might need a piece as big as 60 inches long.
  2. Fold the fabric lengthwise with the print facing in, and sew the long side together.
  3. Press the sewn fabric with an iron. Turn the fabric right side out and press it again.
  4. Sew one of the ends shut.
  5. Slowly pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of polymer granules into the tube. These granules are used for gardening, and can be found at most gardening or home improvement stores.
  6. Sew the open end shut.
  7. Soak the bandana in water for 20 minutes. The granules will soak up the water. Use your fingers to ensure that the granules fill the entire bandana.
  8. Place the cooling bandana in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
  9. Wrap the bandana around your dog’s neck and secure the ends with 2 safety pins.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming in Orange County, California. For your convenience, we also offer full service mobile grooming. For more information about how we can keep your pets cool this summer, please call us at 714-962-1005 today.

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!

 

Be My Furry Valentine

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Be My Furry Valentine

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and everyone is getting ready. Flower shops, restaurants and card companies are all preparing and advertising around the clock. While people everywhere plan the perfect night for that special someone, many of us will be celebrating with our pets instead. This only makes sense considering that our pets provide us with an everlasting supply of unconditional love.

Let’s take a look at the top reasons why your furry friend is the perfect Valentine’s date this year:

  1. Cheap date
    Your pet doesn’t care about visiting the fanciest restaurant in town and they don’t need an expensive gift either.
  2. No need to dress up
    It doesn’t matter what you are wearing, your pet will only care if you are by their side.
  3. You get to choose what you do
    Your pet probably won’t argue with you about what movie to watch or what you will eat.
  4. You can keep the chocolate all to yourself
    Chocolate is toxic to pets so there’s no need to share.
  5. Pets won’t argue (or talk your ear off)
  6. No pressure
    Valentine’s Day can be full of pressure. You must plan the perfect date, pick the perfect gift and look your best. When you spend Valentine’s Day with your pet these added pressures simply don’t exist.
  7. Unconditional love
    Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a celebration of love. Our pets spend every day loving us unconditionally.
  8. Pets are easy to shop for
    Shopping for the perfect Valentine’s gift can be a nightmare. Compared to people, your pet is a lot easier to shop for. If you decide to give your pet a gift, all it will take is a quick visit to your local pet supply store.
  9. Spending time with your pet is good for your health
    Research has proven that spending time with your pet has many health benefits.

Considering getting your pet groomed before Valentine’s Day? 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!

 

Fall Pet Care

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Fall Pet Care

Fall is finally here and the holidays are just around the corner. Let’s take a look at the top fall pet care tips:

  • Canned pumpkin is good for dogs. The soluble fiber in pumpkin can help with digestive issues, while the antioxidants and essential fatty acids in the seeds promote healthy skin, fur and urinary health. In addition, the nutrients found in pumpkin might reduce the likelihood of your pet developing cancer. Try adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin to your dog’s food.
  • Enjoy your time outdoors before the cold weather sets in.
  • Look for signs of allergies. If your pet is itching more than usual, check with your veterinarian to identify possible allergies. Keep leaves raked and grass short to eliminate excessive irritation to your pet’s skin.
  • Brush your pet regularly to prevent shedding. In the early fall pets begin shedding their summer coat to allow room for their winter coat. Regular grooming can help keep excessive amounts of fur from accumulating in your home.
  • Check for fleas and ticks. Talk to your groomer or veterinarian about effective treatments.
  • Keep rodenticides away from pets. During the fall, rodents tend to move inside to avoid cooler outdoor temperatures. Poisons used on rodents are extremely toxic to pets. If they must be used, do so with extreme caution and only put them in places that are inaccessible to your pets.
  • Keep back to school supplies out of reach of pets. Crayons, markers, glue and pencils can all be toxic or cause a choking hazard. Explain to your children that they must keep these supplies away from pets at all times.
  • Remember pet safety when decorating for holidays. Keep electrical cords, small parts and ropes tucked away where pets cannot chew on them or become tangled in them.
  • If you take your pet out during Halloween, keep them close and in reflective clothing whenever possible.
  • Learn the foods that are dangerous to pets. Halloween candy can contain chocolate, which can be deadly to pets. In addition, Thanksgiving dishes can contain onions, garlic or other poisonous foods. Keep an eye on pets trying to steal from the feast.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality grooming services for both dogs and cats in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. 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!!

Autumn Shedding

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Autumn Shedding

As summer turns to autumn pet parents tend to notice more hair accumulating on their carpets, clothing and furniture. This seasonal shedding is not actually triggered by the heat, but rather by the shortening length of day. As the sun sets earlier and earlier, it triggers the animal’s coat to begin the shedding process. This type of extreme shedding happens in both the spring and the autumn. Autumn shedding occurs when the winter coat grows in, pushing out the summer coat. While pet parents cannot completely stop this process from happening they can significantly reduce the amount of hair with regular grooming.

When a pet begins its seasonal shedding process you will probably notice some tufting in the animal’s coat. These are tufts of dead hair that have become trapped in the coat. This hair must be brushed or raked out to avoid any discomfort or matting.

Regular grooming during shedding helps the coat perform its job more effectively. A pet’s coat acts as an insulator against extreme temperatures. It must be free from dead hair in order to do this properly. There are several tools available that can help remove the dead hair and reduce shedding. When using any de-shedding tool it is important to remove all mats before beginning, move in the direction of the coat and avoid using the tool in one area for a prolonged period of time. This is important because it is extremely easy to burn or scrape the skin while de-shedding.

Most people believe that shaving their pet will reduce shedding. However, doing so just causes the dead hair to come out shorter. These shorter hairs easily get stuck in the skin, much like a splinter. Additionally, without their coat, a pet loses their natural insulating abilities.

A professional groomer understands the proper techniques and have the right tools needed for de-shedding. Regular grooming is the best defense against seasonal shedding. Professional grooming is also an excellent way to find problems caused by seasonal allergies and parasites that are common at this time of year.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality grooming services for both dogs and cats in Fountain Valley, California. We also offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment please call 714-962-1005.

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