Pet Grooming Orange County

Most Common Canine Health Problems

By

While well-cared for pets are less likely to become sick, there are still some common conditions that can affect your dog regardless of the type of care you provide. It’s important to learn all you can about these conditions so that you can spot them early. This gives you the best chance at successful treatment. 

The following are the most common health problems seen in dogs:

Skin Issues

Dogs can experience multiple skin issues ranging from parasites to fungal infections. These conditions may be extremely uncomfortable for your pet. It’s important to seek help at the first sign of a problem.

Check your dog regularly for fleas and ticks. Keep an eye out for missing fur, redness, dry patches, or other abnormalities. If you notice your dog scratching or licking more than usual, you might want to visit the vet. Skin conditions get worse over time. It’s crucial you have them dealt with quickly.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are extremely common, especially in dogs with floppy ears. If left untreated, ear infections can cause pain, discomfort, and permanent damage to the ear.

Dogs with ear infections might scratch at their ears. Excessive discharge might be present as well as a persistent odor. Ear infections are easy to treat but do require a trip to your veterinarian.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are one of the leading causes of inappropriate urination. If your dog suddenly begins eliminating in the house, is more tired than usual, or seems to be thirsty all the time, it’s time for a trip to the vet. Treatment typically involves antibiotics.

Dental Disease

Over time, plaque and tartar build up in your dog’s mouth, increasing the risk of periodontal disease. Dental disease in pets can lead to multiple problems. In addition to making it difficult for your dog to eat, bacteria buildup in the mouth can spread to the bloodstream affecting the heart and kidneys.

Preventing periodontal disease is easier than treatment. Make sure you have your dog’s teeth brushed every time they visit the grooming salon. Visit your vet for more detailed cleaning.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog grooming for pets living in and around Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our services.

Taking Care of Your Puppy’s Coat

By

Small puppies require regular grooming. This helps them become accustomed to being brushed and bathed. It also helps keep their coat free from tangles and mats. This is especially important for longhaired breeds.

Regular Brushing

Brushing is important for both long and shorthair breeds. Regular brushing removes dead hair and stimulates the production of natural oils, which help moisturize your puppy’s skin and coat. For shorthaired breeds, brushing reduces the amount of shedding. This might not seem like a big deal now, but can become a major problem when your pet grows up. Getting them used to being brushed now will save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Longhaired dogs become tangled and matted extremely easily. These mats are uncomfortable for your pet and can lead to nasty skin infections and other issues. It might be helpful to use a wide toothed comb on your puppy prior to brushing.

Nail Trims and Ear Cleaning

Puppy nails are naturally sharp. These nails will continue to grow over time. If not trimmed regularly, they can become uncomfortable and cause problems for your pet. Getting your pet used to having their nails trimmed now can prevent future problems.

Certain breeds of dog are more prone to ear infections. Usually the first sign of a problem is spotted during routine ear cleaning. Keep your puppy’s ears clean using soft cotton pads and a safe ear cleaning solution.

Professional Pet Grooming

If you are unsure how to groom your new pet, we can help. Claws N Paws offers pet grooming for pets of all ages. We know how to properly care for your new pet so that they become comfortable with the grooming process. It’s recommended that you bring them in early and often, even if they only need a nail trim. This helps them get used to the sights and smells of the grooming salon.

Nail trims do not require an appointment. If you’d like have your puppy bathed, please call 714-962-1005 to schedule an appointment. Please let us know the age of your puppy when calling. This helps ensure that we reserve enough time to properly care for your pet.

 

Should You Let Your Cat Outside?

By

There’s a lot of debate over whether or not it’s a good idea to let your cat go outside. While many people believe it’s cruel to keep your cat inside, the statistics and facts prove otherwise. Allowing your cat to go outside exposes them to numerous dangers, reducing their lifespan and putting other animals at risk.

While most pet parents have good intentions when they let their cat outdoors, there are numerous reasons why you shouldn’t. Below, we detail the top reasons why it’s better to keep your cat indoors.

Reduced Lifespan

Allowing your cat outdoors reduces their lifespan by as much as three to five years. Every single time a cat is put outside, their life is at risk. Common dangers include vehicles, other animals, diseases, and ill-intentioned people. While not every cat that goes outside will get killed, their chance of being injured is extremely high.

Reduction in Bird Populations

Cats are natural hunters. Unfortunately, even the best fed housecat will hunt and kill other animals for sport. While you might think that this is a small problem, it’s actually quite large. Cats kill an approximate 1 to 4 billion birds each year in the United States. This not only affects bird populations, it increases the amount of insects we have to deal with, as birds often feed on these common pests.

Overpopulation

Cats reproduce extremely fast. Many people don’t realize that cats can become pregnant at just four months old. Once they give birth, they can reproduce almost instantly, producing a large amount of offspring in just a short amount of time.

It’s important to have your cat spayed or neutered, even if they never go outdoors. Cats are excellent escape artists and will find a way out if they have the opportunity to reproduce. Spaying and neutering reduces the desire to go outdoors and eliminates the chance of reproduction.

Cats Can Easily Become Trapped or Lost

Cats like to squeeze into tight spaces. They will often follow small critters into unfamiliar territory. Once a cat becomes trapped or lost, they often don’t make it home.

Final Thoughts

Many people believe that cats become bored when left indoors. This is true for both outdoor and indoor cats. Cats need regular interaction. Keep your cat happy by playing with them daily. Claws N Paws Day Spa offers a variety of toys for your cat. Please visit our grooming salon to see our selection.

 

 

 

Spraying and Urination in Cats

By

There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with a cat that’s doesn’t use its litter box. In fact, inappropriate elimination is one of the most common reasons given when adult cats are abandoned at the shelter.

While most people automatically assume that cats are spraying to mark their territory, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes improper elimination is caused by a medical problem. Whatever the case, elimination outside of the litter box should never be ignored. 

Cats use scent to communicate with each other. Your cat may mark its territory by chin rubbing, scratching, or spraying urine. Spraying is more common in unneutered males and unspayed females but sometimes continues after alteration.

Spraying in spayed females and neutered males is rarely due to behavioral issues. Most of the time, it’s caused by stress or medical problems. If your neutered or spayed cat is spraying, the first thing you need to do is take them to your veterinarian.

UTI

The most common cause of urination outside of the litter box is a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI causes your cat to experience pain when urinating. This can cause them to avoid using their litter box.

UTIs are easily diagnosed and easily treated with antibiotics. Cats typically begin using their litter box immediately after treatment.

Stress

Stress is another common cause of inappropriate elimination. A stressed cat will likely show other symptoms such as excessive licking, aggressiveness, and/or irritation. Stress can be caused by numerous factors. The most common include changes in the home environment, the addition of new family members or new pets.

Spending more time with your pet or reducing exposure to stressful experiences can help them overcome these issues.

Cleanliness

Cats like things tidy. Proper litter box maintenance is extremely important. Your cat might avoid using its litter box if it’s unclean, or if you’ve switched to a scented litter.

If you have multiple cats, you will need multiple litter boxes. A good rule of thumb is one litter box per cat. Make sure these are placed in different locations so that each of your cats feels like they have their own space to eliminate.

Make sure that you fully clean any areas where your cat has eliminated. Even the faintest odor can cause them to return.

Final Thoughts

With a little patience, improper elimination can be resolved. The first step is to visit your veterinarian. If your cat is not spayed or neutered, now is the time. It’s much harder to stop an unaltered cat from marking its territory.

 

 

 

 

Why Does My Dog Smell Bad?

By

Pet parents can become obsessed with the various smells that come with living with a dog. Sometimes the smell is easily resolved, other times it’s related to a health problem that requires treatment. It’s important to get to the root cause of the smell to determine whether or not your pet requires more than just a bath.

Bathing At Home

Bathing your dog at home can help them smell better. Unfortunately, this is often temporary. Most dogs begin smelling bad shortly after being bathed. Sometimes, they even smell worse after a bath.

Most people do not have the tools and equipment needed to properly clean their pet at home. A professional groomer uses high-powered sprayers and dryers to get them clean and ensure they are completely dry after their bath. This is important. Leaving your pet wet can cause them to develop a mildew-like smell shortly after being bathed.

Most people don’t realize that their dog requires their anal glands expressed during their bath. This is especially true for small dogs, as they do not have the muscle strength needed to clear these glands themselves. The anal glands are located on either side of the rectum. They fill with fluid, which can turn solid and cause serious health problems if not removed regularly. If not expressed, these glands can cause your dog to smell extremely bad.

Skin Conditions

Dogs are prone to several skin conditions that can cause them to smell. These conditions might cause oily skin, bald patches, or sores to develop. Sometimes the only sign of a problem is a continuous yeast-like smell that does not go away with regular professional bathing.

If your dog is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to take them to a qualified veterinarian. A vet will diagnose the problem and prescribe the appropriate medication. This is typically a special shampoo, although your vet might prescribe other medications as well.

Ear Infection

Ear infections often cause the ears to smell. If you notice a bad smell coming from your dog, inspect their ears. Call your vet if dirt, redness, or other irritation is present.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming in Orange County, CA. We can help you determine the cause of your dog’s bad smell. Please contact us to set up an appointment.

 

 

Do Cats Need Grooming?

By

There seems to be a lot of opinions regarding whether or not cats need to be professionally groomed. Some people have their cats bathed every month, while others never visit a professional groomer. So what is best? The answer depends on your cat, their needs, and your personal preference.

Cats With Special Needs

Sometimes cats need a little help getting clean. This is especially true for elderly cats and cats with certain diseases and/or disabilities. Elderly or ill cats might urinate or defecate on themselves and need a little help getting clean. Sometimes they are physically not able to clean themselves or they might have a condition that causes excessively oily skin. If your cat cannot properly clean itself, a monthly bath can help keep their coat clean and healthy.

Longhaired Cats

Longhaired cats require more work than shorthaired breeds. Longhair can become tangled and matted. Mats are uncomfortable and can lead to sores and infections. Once matted, your cat must be shaved.

A monthly bath and brush might be just what your longhaired cat needs to keep clean and tangle-free.

Allergies

People with allergies often have their cat bathed regularly. Monthly baths help remove the dander that causes allergic reaction. After their bath, the cat is fully brushed to remove loose skin and hair. Although this method will likely not help someone that is severely allergic, it can help mild to moderately allergic individuals coexist with their furry friend.

Dirt and Debris

Cats are curious by nature. They can get themselves stuck in some very interesting situations. Sometimes, a cat’s actions will leave them dirty or covered in a variety of substances. As groomers, we’ve seen cats come in with all kinds of things stuck in and on their fur.

If your cat has managed to make a mess of itself, please contact your local groomer to setup an appointment. Improper cleaning can leave your cat dirty and miserable. Depending on the substance your cat has on its fur, it might even be dangerous for them to attempt to clean themself. Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional cat grooming at our full service salon in Fountain Valley, CA. Please contact us to setup a grooming appointment today.