Pet Grooming Orange County

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.

 

 

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.

 

Summer Boarding for Your Cat

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Summer is almost here and many of us have already begun making plans. If you’re like most, you’ll be heading out of town this summer. Whether you’ll be gone for one weekend or three months, it’s important to consider your cat. Cats depend on us to keep them happy and healthy. Your cat relies on you to make sure they have plenty of food, water, and a clean litter box.  

Cats-Only Boarding Facility

Many pet parents worry about leaving their pet when they go on vacation. It can be stressful to leave the care of your beloved cat in the hands of someone else. It’s important to find someone who can properly care for your cat. This should be someone you trust with the experience needed to deal with any problems that arise.

Claws N Paws Cat Boarding offers cats-only boarding in our dog-free facility located in Fountain Valley, California. Our team has years of experience working with cats and know how to recognize and deal with a number of problems. We provide daily stimulation and activities for your cat to ensure they feel loved and get the exercise they require. We feed them twice daily and ensure they have fresh water at all times.

Our feline guests are never kept in cages. We provide each guest with their very own cat condo. Our condos are comfortable, climate-controlled, and provide your cat with plenty of room to move around. Rooms are available in two sizes to accommodate one or more cats.

All of our guests are provided with toys, blankets, and scratching posts. Our skilled cat experts love cats and are well trained to give our clients medication and special diets when needed.

Cat Grooming & Boarding in Southern California

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming at our full service grooming salon. Although pet parents can schedule grooming for their cat at any time during they stay in our boarding facility, many of our clients prefer to have their cat groomed immediately before pickup. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about cat boarding or to set up a grooming appointment.

 

Heartworms Pose a Very Real Threat to Your Pet

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Our pets bring us so much joy. It’s only natural to want to protect them. That’s why it’s so important to learn about potential threats and what you can do to prevent them.

Heartworm disease is one of the most serious threats facing our pets. Heartworms can cause lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and death in both dogs and cats.

Caused by the parasitic worm, Dirofilaria immitis, heartworm disease is spread through the bite of a mosquito. It is not spread from animal to animal like most other diseases. Coyotes, ferrets, sea lions, seals, and other animals can all become infected. If a mosquito bites an infected animal then bites your pet, it too will become infected.

Until recently, heartworm disease has not been a problem in Southern California. However, recent building development and irrigation system improvements have allowed mosquitos to survive.

Three new species of drought-resistant mosquitoes have been found in Southern California. All three types have spread heartworm disease in other countries. Pet owners need to be aware of the potential threat these mosquitoes pose to our pets. It’s important to do all you can to protect your pet from possible infection.

Mosquito Control

Preventing mosquitoes helps protect your pet against infection. Check your yard for standing water, which provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Empty containers regularly including pet drinking bowls and bird baths. It doesn’t take much water for mosquitoes to reproduce. In fact, they can breed in a bottle cap full of water.

Don’t Leave Food Out

Leaving food outside invites wild animals into your yard. In addition to potentially harming your pet, infected wild animals on your property increases the chance of infection.

Have Your Pet Checked Regularly

Most heartworm infections go undiagnosed until it’s too late. Your veterinarian can help determine your pet’s risk. There are heartworm preventative programs to help protect your pet against infection. Your veterinarian can provide you with more information regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of heartworm disease.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. Please contact us to set-up a grooming appointment.

 

Most Common Cat Grooming Questions

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Pet parents often have questions about grooming their cats. While cats don’t need as much grooming as dogs, they do require some basic care. This is especially true for long-haired breeds. Cats require regular brushing, nail trims, ear care, and occasional baths. In addition to keeping your pet happy and healthy, regular grooming helps expose skin issues, which can be uncomfortable for your pet.

As Orange County’s premier cat grooming salon, we meet a lot of new pet owners. The following details the most common cat grooming questions we hear.

When should I start grooming my cat?

It’s important to get your cat accustomed to grooming as early as possible. Hold your cat in your lap and brush them with a soft bristled brush. It’s normal for cats to think you’re trying to play. Continue brushing them, they will understand soon enough that this isn’t playtime.

Make sure you touch your cat’s feet, ears, and tail regularly so they get used to being handled. This will go a long way towards improving their grooming experience.

What do I do if I find mats in my cat’s coat?

Tangles can easily become mats if you do not regularly groom your cat. Mats are painful and can hide skin conditions. It’s important to remove all mats from your cat’s coat.

NEVER attempt to remove mats on your own. Cat skin is extremely thin. Bring your cat to an experienced groomer to have all mats removed.

Do cats really need baths?

Cats groom themselves a lot. This is why most people believe their cat does not need a bath. However, this isn’t always the case. Older and overweight cats might have more difficulty getting themselves clean. If your cat isn’t cleaning itself, oils can gather on the coat, contributing to body odor.

Can I use my shampoo to bathe my cat?

Human shampoos, even baby shampoo, are too harsh for your cat. It’s important to NEVER use human shampoo when bathing your cat. Use a shampoo that’s specially designed for use on cats.

What can I do if my cat struggles during its bath?

Most cats do not enjoy getting wet. It’s important to make bath time as stress-free and enjoyable as possible for your pet. Start slow and offer treats. Use basins filled with water as opposed to running water over your cat.

Contact your local grooming salon if you need help bathing your cat. Claws N Paws Day Spa has years of experience giving cats baths and haircuts. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

Keeping Your Indoor Cat Happy

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Despite what many people believe, it’s not a good idea to let your cat outdoors. Outdoor cats have a significantly shorter life expectancy than indoor cats.

Outdoor cats face numerous dangers including traffic, coyotes and other wild animals, poisons, and more. Even cats that are only allowed outside every once in a while are more likely to die from unnatural causes. This is why it’s so important to keep your cat indoors.

Start Young

Kittens that grow up inside are generally happier to stay indoors later in life. Unneutered males are the exception to this rule. These cats have a very strong instinct to find a mating partner. This is one of the most common reasons male cats go missing.

Have your cat spayed or neutered as soon as possible to prevent them from attempting to find a mate. Neutering can also solve other problems such as spraying, yowling, and aggressive behavior.

Play With Your Cat

Both outdoor and indoor cats require exercise and stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Regular exercise reduces stress, increases the human/feline bond, and may prevent certain diseases.

Set aside a little time each day to play with your cat. Popular toys include feather wands and laser pointers. Some cats even like to play fetch. You might want to experiment with several different types of toys until you figure out which type your cat prefers.

Keep The Litter Box Clean

Cats are tidy creatures. They do not appreciate mess. Keeping their litter box accessible and clean can go a long way towards improving the health and happiness of your cat.

Just In Case – Be Prepared

Sometimes even the happiest indoor cat will sneak out to explore. If this happens you’ll want to make sure they make it home to you. ID tags are a great place to start. You can create ID tags for your cat at most pet stores. The tag should include your name and recent phone number. If you move or change your phone number, you need to update the tag.

Microchipping your cat is one of the easiest and fastest ways to ensure it makes it home. The microchip is placed under the skin at your vet and contains all of your contact information.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers grooming and boarding for cats. Please call 714-962-1005 for information about our services.