Pet Grooming Orange County

How Pumpkin Can Help Your Cat or Dog

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With fall just around the corner, pumpkin is everywhere. You can find almost anything flavored or scented with pumpkin. This year, consider including your pet in the fun. Pumpkin has several hidden health benefits for your furry friend that will persist past the autumnal trend.

Health Benefits

Pumpkin contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber helps constipation by drawing water into the GI tract and softening stool. Meanwhile, soluble fiber helps diarrhea by draining excess water out of the GI tract when there is too much. This delicate balance works to regulate an otherwise healthy animal’s bowel movements. For this reason, many pet owners turn to pumpkin for weight management.

In addition to fiber, pumpkin contains many other nutrients that will leave your pet feeling fantastic. Vitamins A and C build immune system health and support vision. Zinc promotes healthy skin and coat. Cucurbitacin has been known to fight intestinal parasites.

While other foods may contain the same nutrients, many pet owners choose pumpkin. This is because its taste and texture are more palatable to even the pickiest of pets. In some cases, mixing pumpkin into a new food can motivate a fussy eater to try it. That being said, some pets have different taste. Not every pet will enjoy pumpkin as a meal supplement.

Introducing Pumpkin to Your Pet’s Diet

Pets can eat canned or fresh pumpkin. Do not give them pumpkin pie filling or anything with added sugars. For cats, start with a single teaspoon and increase as needed. For dogs, do the same with a tablespoon. The issue at hand is also important; constipation requires more pumpkin than diarrheal problems.

Not An End-All Solution

Although a tasty and healthy treat, pumpkin will do little for a sick pet. It is not a “cure” so much as a relief to troublesome symptoms. Monitor your pet’s health and behavior. Diarrhea accompanied by weight loss or dehydration is likely a symptom of something more serious.

Additionally, pumpkin cannot be used as a meal replacement. Dogs and cats cannot survive without meat in their diet.

Claws N Paws in Fountain Valley, California provides professional grooming services to both cats and dogs, as well as boarding services in our cats-only boarding facility. For more information, call us at 714-962-1005.

Is Your Pet’s Food Making Them Sick?

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We all want to take good care of our pets. Proper care includes making sure your pet gets enough exercise and eats a healthy diet. Unfortunately, not all pet foods are created equal. Many cheaper foods can actually make your pet sick. This is because low quality pet foods often contain insects, mites, and mold. Exposure can lead to chronic allergies and disease.

About Mold

Molds are members of the fungi family. Unlike other fungi, mold spores are invisible to the naked eye. Mold reproduces quickly by creating small, seed-like particles known as spores. Because mold spores are microscopic, they spread easily on the bodies of mites and weevils. When this occurs, it doesn’t take long for an entire bag of dog food to become contaminated.

Mold Poisoning

Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to mold spores commonly found in lower quality pet foods. An even greater danger lies in the potential ingestion of the poisons produced by mold. Although rare, symptoms of mold poisoning include:

  • Fever
  • Jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes
  • Dark colored urine
  • Persistent violent bouts of vomiting
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Death

Even small amounts of mold can accumulate in a dog’s liver, causing serious problems over time. Unfortunately, there is no known cure once mold enters the liver.

Avoid Poor Quality Pet Foods

Every time you choose to feed your dog commercial pet food made with cheap, low quality cereal grains you put them at risk for mold poisoning. It isn’t clear how much mold needs to be present to cause a problem. Even small amounts of mold in pet food should be considered unsafe.

In order to protect your dog from the potential dangers of mold ingestion, avoid buying cheaply-made pet foods that contain grain by-products or mill waste.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. Our groomers have years of experience providing a wide range of grooming services for our clients. For more information about choosing a pet food, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

 

Stopping Cats From Clawing on Furniture

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Stopping Cats From Clawing on Furniture

Clawing is a natural behavior for cats. Cats scratch to mark their territory and sharpen their claws. While totally natural, cats can do a lot of damage to furniture, drapes and carpet. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why people surrender their cats to the shelter.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to stop your cat from destroying your home. Let’s take a look at the top three ways to stop your cat from clawing your furniture.

Use Deterrents

If you want to stop your cat from scratching your favorite chair, then you need to make it as unpleasant as possible for them. There are many products available over the counter to deter cats from scratching.

Cats are extremely sensitive to both smell and touch. Deterrent sprays smell bad to cats and sticky strips are annoying. Both of these deterrents are extremely effective.

Offer Alternatives for Your Cat to Scratch

In order to stop your cat from scratching your furniture, you need to offer them a suitable alternative. Cats need to scratch. If you take away their favorite scratching place, they’ll naturally move to another one. Offer your cat scratching posts, boards or furniture. You might need to experiment with different types until you find the one your cat prefers.

Trim Your Cat’s Nails

You might not be able to stop the scratching altogether, but you can reduce the amount of damage being done. Trim your cat’s nails every four weeks. If you are unsure how to cut their nails, or your cat is being uncooperative, visit Claws N Paws Day Spa for a kitty pedicure.

In order for these methods to be effective, you must work with your cat to discover what works and what does not. Try using different types of scratching materials and deterrents.

These tips can help decrease or eliminate unwanted scratching. These options are much more humane than declawing or surrendering your cat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa can help keep your cats claws trimmed. We offer full service grooming for cats. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment. Nail trims do not require an appointment.

Winter Grooming for Dogs: Why It’s Important

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Winter Grooming for Dogs: Why It’s Important

Many people believe that dogs do not require regular grooming throughout the winter. However, grooming during the winter is extremely important to your dog’s health and well-being.

Dogs are more susceptible to skin and coat issues in the winter. Their skin can become extremely dry from indoor heating. This can cause excessive licking and scratching, leading to painful sores and infection.

A dog’s coat can become tangled and matted if not properly maintained. This is especially true for double-coated breeds. Matted fur is extremely painful. If it becomes wet from snow, frost or rain, it can increase your pet’s discomfort.

Regular grooming helps you spot problems with your pet’s skin and coat. This allows you to address these issues before they can become a much bigger problem. The following tips can help you take care of your dog this winter.

Keep Them Dry

When spending time outdoors, your pet’s coat can become damp from frost or rain. A damp coat can cause chills and dry, itchy skin. It’s important to properly dry your dog’s coat immediately after returning home.

Brushing

Make sure that you continue to brush your pet throughout the winter. Brushing helps prevent tangles and mats. It also helps your pet shed their winter coat. Brushing stimulates the skin to produce more oil. This helps moisturize the skin and protect it from damage caused by dry indoor heating.

Nails

You probably won’t take your dog on as many walks during the winter. Without the hard ground to wear them down, nails can quickly become too long. Long nails are prone to cracking and breaking. Make sure you trim your dog’s nails every four to six weeks.

Professional Grooming

Professional grooming is the best way to ensure your pet’s skin and coat is well maintained throughout the winter. During your pet’s grooming appointment they will receive a bath, blow dry, nail trim, ear cleaning and thorough brushing.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service grooming throughout the winter. We use soothing oatmeal shampoo to protect and moisturize their skin. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

 

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.

Supporting Cat Rescue

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Supporting Cat Rescue

Cat rescue groups are committed to the rescue of homeless, unwanted domestic cats. These small non-profit rescue groups support a no-kill community where they do not euthanize cats that are not adopted. However, not all animals can be adopted into a new home. Some animals are simply too aggressive to be adopted. These animals pose a danger to prospective family members or other animals. Other animals might be too sick or injured to be candidates for adoption. The no-kill concept simply means that no healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized for lack of an adoptive home.

Cat rescue groups are dedicated to finding safe and loving forever homes for the cats and kittens that are under their care. Rescue groups are non-profit organizations. They are funded exclusively through donations. Rescue groups help communities provide safe shelter, veterinary care and socialization for stray, abandoned or abused cats until suitable permanent homes can be located.

Prior to adoption, cats and kittens are tested for diseases, given vaccinations, spayed or neutered and checked and treated for ear mites, fleas and worms. Cats that are spayed and neutered live longer, healthier lives, don’t roam as much or spray to mark their territory and reduce the stray cat population.

There are a few things that you can do to help your local cat and kitten rescue:

Volunteer

Rescue groups frequently need good people that are able to help with rescue efforts, foster cats and bottle-feed kittens. Ask your local rescue group if they are in need of volunteers.

Donate money or items

You can help your local cat rescue by donating money or other items such as cat food, litter, kitten formula, blankets, towels, cat toys and scratching posts. Check with your local rescue group to find out if they are accepting donations.

Support local businesses that support rescue efforts

Many wonderful businesses support rescue efforts. Check with your local rescue to find out who supports them!

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 all profits from 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.