Pet Grooming Orange County

Spotting the Signs of Kidney Disease in Pets

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Spotting the Signs of Kidney Disease in Pets

Kidney disease is extremely common in both dogs and cats. In fact, as many as 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 10 dogs will develop this condition within their lifetime. As a pet parent, it’s your responsibility to notice any changes with your pet. Early treatment can stop or slow the progress of kidney disease.

Symptoms of Kidney Disease

The symptoms of kidney disease are a result of your pet’s body trying to compensate for the kidney’s decreasing ability to properly flush toxins from the system.

Signs of kidney disease include:

  • Reduced skin elasticity
  • Dry gums
  • Unkempt appearance
  • Over grooming the recto genital area
  • Saliva stains around genitals
  • Urine scalding
  • Fur loss around the kidneys and bladder
  • Constipation
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Vision problems
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urine output
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Weakness
  • Bad breath
  • Depression

Many of these symptoms might be signs of another illness. It’s important to have your veterinarian examine your pet if you notice any changes to their health or behavior.

Types of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease might be chronic or acute. Chronic kidney disease can be hard to spot because symptoms develop slowly. Acute kidney disease happens suddenly and typically requires emergency treatment.

Kidney disease becomes more common as pets increase in age. Pets that have suffered from acute kidney disease are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease later on. Certain breeds of dogs might be more susceptible to this condition.

Early treatment of kidney disease gives your pet the best possible chance at a long and happy life. When caught early, progress of the disease can be stopped or slowed.

Catching the Signs of Kidney Disease

Your groomer will examine your pet at every visit. Regular grooming is important as it can help you catch changes to your pet that you might have missed.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming in Orange County, California. Our experienced groomers are well trained to spot the signs and symptoms of a number of diseases. However, grooming should never replace regular check-ups with a qualified veterinarian.

Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Grooming Tips for Dogs

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Fall Grooming Tips for Dogs

As we officially make the switch from summer to fall, it’s time to say good-bye to the short haircuts of summer and welcome in the longer coats of winter. This transition requires some extra care on your part.

Longer coats are more prone to tangles and matting. Special care must be taken to keep your dog happy and healthy this fall. The following tips can help.

Brushing

Breeds with shorter coats, such as Labradors and Chihuahuas, need to be brushed once a week to remove loose hair, dead skin and to disperse natural oils throughout the coat. Dog breeds with longer hair, like Yorkshire Terriers and Collies, should be brushed daily. Without regular brushing, long coats will become tangled and matted. If mats develop close to the skin, your dog will need to be shaved. This is not ideal for the cooler months of fall and winter. Ask your groomer for brush and comb recommendations for your pet’s coat.

Bathing

Regular bathing is an excellent way to prevent unwanted skin and coat problems in the fall and winter. However, you need to be careful not to bathe your pet too often as it can dry out their skin. It’s recommended that you have your pet bathed every four to six weeks. At this time, a professional groomer can check your pet’s skin and coat for issues, trim their nails and clean their ears. Regular grooming is an essential part of taking care of your pet.

Flea Control

Many people believe that fleas are not a problem during the fall and winter. While these pests do hibernate when temperatures drop, just one warm day can wake them up. It’s important to continue treating for fleas throughout the fall and winter.

Protect Your Pet From Lawn Chemicals

The cooler weather often means spending more time outdoors with our pets. However, it’s important to remember that many people treat their lawns with dangerous chemicals during the fall. Fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides can all be dangerous if licked off the paws and ingested. After spending time outdoors, wipe your pet’s feet before coming inside.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming and mobile pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment.

Fall Dog Grooming

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Fall Dog Grooming

Proper grooming is important year round. Grooming keeps your pet looking and feeling its best. It also improves their comfort through changing seasons. Fall grooming is extremely important to the overall health and comfort of your pet.

Heat and humidity levels change throaughout the fall. Once the weather cools, your pet’s coat will begin to grow. This additional growth can hide skin and coat problems such as matting, tumors and sores. Pet grooming in the fall is a critical part of preparing for winter.

Breed Specific Dog Grooming

There are six different types of coat. Our experienced pet groomers know how to work with each type.

Smooth Coats – Dogs with smooth coats such as Greyhounds and Dachshunds have a short, single layer coat that lies close to their body. These coats require regular brushing to maintain their healthy appearance. In addition to regular grooming, dogs with smooth coats should be brushed weekly to remove dead skin and loose hair.

Double Coats – Double coated breeds such as Huskies and Malamutes require extra care as the weather changes. These breeds can become easily matted as their thick undercoat grows in. In between regular grooming sessions, it’s important to ensure that dogs with double coats remain clean and tangle free. In order to properly brush a double coat, separate the layers and thoroughly brush or comb each one.

Wire Coats – Wire coated breeds include Airedales and Irish Wolfhounds. These breeds have a soft, short undercoat and a coarse outer layer. Regular professional grooming is necessary to keep wire coats well maintained.

Curly Coats – Breeds such as Poodles and Bishon Frises have thick, soft curls that sit close to their bodies. Regular grooming and brushing in the fall keeps curly coats manageable and helps to prevent tangles from forming.

Long Coats – Long coated breeds such as Yorkies and Shih Tzu’s have fine hair that is prone to tangles. Professional grooming is required to keep these breeds looking and feeling their best.

Hairless Coats – Hairless breeds such as the Chinese Crested require little to no brushing. However, they do require regular grooming. These breeds often have extremely sensitive skin.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers a variety of pet grooming services in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

Autumn Safety

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Autumn Safety

Summer is officially coming to an end. Autumn will bring crisp breezes, gorgeous foliage and everything pumpkin. Autumn also comes with some unique dangers for our pets. It’s important to do all you can to keep your pet happy and healthy this fall. The following tips can help.

Keep School Supplies Away From Pets

As the school year gets into full swing, you might find your home full of school supplies. When ingested, common items such as glue, markers, crayons and pencils can all cause a problem for your pet. Dogs especially seem to like the taste of glue. These everyday items can upset your pet’s stomach and even cause a dangerous blockage. Make sure that school supplies are kept well out of reach of pets.

Beware of Mushrooms

Mushrooms grow everywhere during the fall. While many types are not dangerous, others are toxic. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever and elevated heart rate. Without proper treatment, mushroom poisoning can cause liver and kidney failure within three to seven days. Whenever possible, keep your pets away from mushrooms and watch them for signs of mushroom poisoning.

Keep an Eye Out for Snakes

If you enjoy hiking with your dog, make sure that you watch for snakes. During the fall, snakes begin preparing for hibernation and they are much more likely to strike. It’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the venomous snakes in your area.

Keep Pets Away From Holiday Treats

During the fall, our homes tend to be full of food. From Halloween candy to calorie-dense casseroles, these treats can be deadly for our pets. Keep desserts, candy, fatty meats, bones, gravy and side dishes out of reach of pets and encourage guests not to feed them table scraps. Onions, garlic and chocolate are all extremely toxic to pets, and highly fatty foods can lead to life-threatening pancreatitis.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers professional pet grooming for both dogs and cats in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our grooming services.

 

 

 

Fall Grooming

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Fall Grooming

Summer is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. Many people grow out their pet’s coat during the fall. Even if you plan on keeping it short, you probably want to learn how to properly care for it. The following fall grooming tips can help.

Preventing Mats

With longer hair comes a greater possibility of mats. Mats not only look unsightly, they can cause your pet harm. Mats often hide sores and other skin conditions. The warm, moist skin beneath these tangles provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Infections are extremely common in severely matted pets.

Prevent mats and tangles by brushing your long-haired pets daily. Your groomer can recommend the right brush or comb for your pet. Regular grooming appointments are important as well. A professional groomer can find and remove mats before they are able to become a problem. Pets that are allowed to become severely matted must be shaved. Regular grooming is your best defense against tangles and mats.

Regular Bathing

Bathing is important if you want to prevent problems with your pet’s skin and coat. Regular bathing removes dirt and debris, making your pet look and feel their best. During bathing, your groomer will check your pet for any issues with their skin and coat. Baths should be given every four to six weeks. Bathing your pet more frequently can strip the natural oils from their skin, making them dry and flaky.

Fall Haircuts

Many people allow their pet’s coat to grow longer in the fall. However, this isn’t necessary if your pet stays inside most of the time. Whether you decide to keep your pet’s hair short or let it grow for the fall, our groomers can help.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming services in Orange County, California. We provide top notch grooming services from our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley. Our groomers have years of experience and are well prepared to handle a wide variety of situations. We offer bathing, brushing and haircuts to all breeds of dogs and cats. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Helping Pets Cope With Back to School Time

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Helping Pets Cope With Back to School Time

Summer is coming to an end and many of us are starting to think about back to school preparation. While you might be excited about this time, our pets don’t typically share our enthusiasm. In fact, it’s not uncommon for them to become depressed this time of year.

Many pets become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of having people around the house. After a long summer of spending time with their favorite people, suddenly everything goes quiet. Both dogs and cats might need some help adjusting.

Ease the Transition

Just like people, pets get used to schedules. If they are used to taking a walk at the same time every day, they will definitely notice when that changes. You can make the transition easier for your pet if you slowly begin adjusting their schedule before the kids go back to school. If at all possible, consider visiting your pet a couple of times throughout the day during the first week of school.

Play Time

Make sure you set aside some time every day to play with your pet. This is good for both their physical and psychological health. Try to set play time in the morning or evening when everybody is home.

Leaving

Leaving the house in the morning is typically the hardest part of the day for pets and their families. Many pets become saddened once they realize you are leaving. Make it a pleasant association for your pet by offering them a treat before you leave.

Back to school time can be difficult for pets and their parents. This time is often filled with back to school shopping, preparation and trying to fit in a few more summer activities. With all the excitement, it can be easy to forget that our four-legged friends require our care and attention. Make sure that you don’t forget to schedule them their monthly grooming appointment. The extra attention from grooming might be just what they need to feel better about back to school time!

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.