Pet Grooming Orange County

Why Does Pet Grooming Take So Long?

By

Why Does Pet Grooming Take So Long?WHY GROOMING TAKES SO LONG

Pet groomers hear this question all the time. While most people believe that grooming a pet is as simple as popping it into the bath and running a clipper over it, this couldn’t be further from the truth. From the moment that your pet enters a grooming salon it is being assessed.

It can be difficult for pet parents to notice small changes when they see their pet every day. However, competent groomers are able to spot many health problems and issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. While your pet is being groomed, your groomer is handling every single inch of its body. Your groomer serves as an early warning system, alerting you of any lumps, bumps, sores, wounds, nail issues, skin problems or restricted movements. If something is wrong, your groomer is bound to discover it. In addition, your pet groomer can offer you valuable advice on a variety of problems from training to dealing with the passing of a pet.

While your pet is being groomed it receives a number of different services. The ears will be cleaned and checked for signs of infection. When necessary, excess hair in the ears will be removed. Your pet’s teeth and gums are inspected for infection. Their nails are trimmed. When necessary, the hair between the pads is removed, and the sanitary area is clipped to promote optimal hygiene at home. Your pet’s skin and coat will be evaluated for the most suitable shampoo. Before its bath, your pet’s coat might need tangles removed or its undercoat blown out. Once in the bath, your groomer will check and express the anal glands and possibly soak your pet in a therapeutic shampoo. After its bath, your pets coat will be thoroughly dried and combed. If desired, your pets coat will be clipped and styled. This is only a small list of the steps involved in the grooming of your pet.

When a dog is regularly groomed every four to six weeks the grooming process typically doesn’t take very long. However, if your pet is extremely matted or dirty, you can expect them to stay for quite a while. For example, the dogs in the picture above took three groomers over three hours to finish. An experienced groomer will not rush the grooming process. They will do what is necessary to ensure that your pets coat is properly taken care of.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been providing quality pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, California since 2001. 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!!

Importance of Rabies Vaccines

By

Importance of Rabies Vaccines

In the United States vaccinations for dogs and cats are common. This makes it easy to forget the reason why we vaccinate in the first place. Vaccines for pets were created in response to past outbreaks and epidemics that killed thousands of animals. These outbreaks are far less common now because of widespread vaccination programs. However, in developing countries and shelters everywhere, you can see the negative effects of not vaccinating. Pets are euthanized every day because of preventable illnesses.

While parvovirus and distemper infections are common in developing nations, the disease causing the most problems worldwide is rabies. Worldwide, rabies kills approximately 55,000 people every year. In areas where animals are not typically vaccinated for rabies, the disease can quickly spread from animals to people and escalate into a full blown outbreak.

The best way to prevent rabies outbreaks is by vaccinating a large enough portion of the animal’s population in order to create what is referred to as “herd immunity”. Herd immunity creates a level of resistance sufficient enough to prevent the virus from causing an outbreak. While individual animals might become sporadically infected, the overall number of animals infected remains low.

In the United States, if your pet remains unvaccinated and does not catch the disease it doesn’t mean that the practice of not vaccinating is safe. It only means that your pet is lucky enough to live in a country where the level of illness is relatively low because many other pets are vaccinated. However, if your pet ends up in a shelter situation or other location with a large number of unvaccinated animals, the likelihood of your pet becoming sick is extremely high. Worse still, this type of situation increases the likelihood of an outbreak in the United States. In fact, outbreaks of rabies in all parts of the world can be found with a quick Google search.

Claws N Paws Day Spa requires proof of vaccination before grooming. This is to protect our groomers and clients from preventable diseases. 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!!

 

Common Cat Haircuts

By

Common Cat Haircutsclaire_anderson

A cat’s coat is important for a number of different reasons. It keeps the cat warm and allows it to regulate its temperature. Most of the time a cat will keep its fur groomed on its own. However, sometimes the fur might require extensive grooming and clipping. Grooming a cat’s fur can contribute to the overall health and comfort of the cat, especially if the coat has become matted. There are many different grooming styles for cats. Let’s take a closer look at the most common cat haircuts.

Stripped

Also known as shaving or clipping, a stripped grooming style involves shaving the cat’s fur close to its body. This style of grooming is necessary if your cat’s fur is extremely matted.

Lion Cut

The lion cut is a grooming style where the cat’s body is clipped short but the fur on the head, feet and tail are left alone. This type of haircut is extremely popular for cats as well as some breeds of dogs.

Sanitary Haircut

A sanitary haircut does not affect the overall appearance of the cat’s fur. In fact, most people will not even notice that this type of haircut has been given. A sanitary haircut is a functional haircut. Cats with longer fur sometimes get excrement stuck in their fur. A sanitary cut trims down the fur in such a way that this will not become an issue.

Partial Haircut

A partial haircut involves clipping the fur on the cat’s inner thighs, armpits, chin, tail and sanitary area. The fur on the cat’s back, sides and tail are left as they are. This type of grooming neatens up the cat’s appearance.

Peekaboo Haircut

A peekaboo haircut involves shortening the fur on the cat’s underside and blending the length into the longer fur on the cat’s back. While this type of haircut gives the cat the appearance of a full coat, it reduces the work necessary to maintain the cat’s underside which can easily become matted and full of debris.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming Orange County’s cats and dogs since 2001. Our experienced groomers understand that grooming can be stressful for cats and know how to reduce that stress while providing them with excellent care. We will be happy to discuss with you which type of haircut is best suited for your feline friend. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

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

Is your Cat Over-Grooming Itself?

By

Is your Cat Over-Grooming Itself?11_07_07

Cats groom themselves for several different reasons. The most common reasons are to remove dirt and debris from their coat, to regulate their body heat and to remove themselves from a stressful situation. However, sometimes the grooming becomes excessive. If your cat is over-grooming one particular area or if it is beginning to remove its fur, your cat could be suffering from something more serious such as fleas, allergies or too much stress. The best way to determine why your cat is over-grooming itself is to consult with your veterinarian. Let’s take a closer look at the most common reasons that cats over-groom.

Fleas

Both outdoor and indoor cats can come into contact with fleas. Fleas attach themselves to a cat’s skin and suck their blood. When a flea’s saliva comes into contact with the cat’s skin, it can cause an allergic reaction. The cat will over-groom itself, sometimes removing its fur, to relieve the itching. Eliminating fleas on your cat and in your home is the only way to stop this type of over-grooming.

Pregnancy

Female cats that are pregnant will constantly groom their genitals in order to prepare themselves for the impending birth. Although this type of grooming might seem excessive it is completely normal.

Stress

One of the leading causes of over-grooming in cats is stress. Stress grooming, or psychogenic alopecia occurs during an extremely stressful period in a cat’s life such as a move or the introduction of a new pet. During stressful times, a cat might focus on one specific area and lick the spot excessively, sometimes removing its fur or causing injury. Cats that suffer from this type of condition typically focus on their abdomen and the inside of their legs.

Ticks

Like fleas, ticks can cause a cat to obsessively groom one area. Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to a cat’s skin and drink their blood. This can cause an allergic reaction that leads to over-grooming.

Food Allergies

Cats commonly develop allergies to the ingredients in commercial cat food such as chicken, fish, corn, wheat and beef. These allergies can appear without warning in cats as young as five months or as old as fifteen years. Giving a cat the same food every day for several months or several years makes it more likely that your cat will develop allergies. When a cat develops a rash from food allergies it will obsessively lick at its paws, legs and stomach.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming dogs and cats in Orange County, California since 2001. For more information or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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

Why Professional Pet Grooming?

By Leave a Comment

Why Professional Pet Grooming?why_professional_pet_grooming

Regular grooming is essential for your pet’s overall health and happiness. While many pet parents are tempted to groom their pets at home, there are many benefits to using a professional pet grooming service instead. The top five benefits include:

  1. Professional pet grooming is safer
  2. Professional pet groomers are able to spot the early warning signs of disease
  3. Professional grooming provides stress-free nail trims
  4. Professional pet groomers have the proper equipment and experience necessary to groom all types of pets
  5. Professional pet groomers can provide you with valuable tips

Pets can easily become injured during the grooming process. Attempting to groom your pet at home can lead to cuts, scratches and severe skin irritations. Professional groomers understand how to properly groom your pet without causing them any injuries. A professional groomer knows how to spot skin conditions and understands which products will not cause further irritation.

A professional groomer will thoroughly inspect your pet for any cuts, thorns, or punctures that you might have gone unnoticed by you. Groomers are extremely familiar with a pet’s anatomy and can alert you of any abnormalities such as lumps, discolorations, rashes, lesions or bald patches. This can help you detect the early warning signs of illness. Additionally, they can tell you if your pet has any parasites such as ear mites, fleas or ticks.

Most pets require a nail trim at least once a month. However, pets don’t typically enjoy the process, making the task extremely difficult for inexperienced pet parents to accomplish. Struggling pets can quickly become injured by the wrong nail clippers, or from too much nail being cut. Professional groomers have the proper equipment and know exactly how to hold your pet in order to cut their nails to the appropriate length.

Much like humans, pets can have many different types and lengths of hair. Different breeds require the use of different grooming supplies. Professional groomers understand which supplies must be used on each breed to avoid irritations and to provide the best results. In addition, a professional groomer will be able to give your pet the perfect haircut whenever necessary.

Professional groomers can provide you with valuable tips for the health and well-being of your pet. For example, a professional groomer can make dietary recommendations for your pet based on the quality of their skin. They can also give you tips for regular maintenance such as how often to brush them, which tools to use and how to clean their teeth.

Claws N Paws Days Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s pets since 2001. Our loving groomers treat each pet like their own. Give us a call to set up an appointment, or stop by for a visit today!

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