Pet Grooming Orange County

Feline Vestibular Disease

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Cats rely on their superior abilities to jump, stalk, run, and maneuver the world in their own special way. When these abilities are compromised, it can be disorienting or frustrating. This is a reality for cats with vestibular disease.

What is Vestibular Disease?

The vestibular system is located in the inner ear. It consists of a complex arrangement of nerves that govern balance as well as head and eye movements. When this system becomes damaged, it can throw off your cat’s equilibrium.

Thankfully, this syndrome is easy to spot. Often, a cat with vestibular disease will experience a head tilt to either side. As a result, the cat’s mobility will be visibly thrown off. They may walk in circles or fall over. Often, these cats will have eye problems. Cats with vestibular disease may move their eyes in back and forth, left to right, or rotary motion. They may also experience nausea.

There are a few causes of vestibular disease. Infections of the middle and inner ear can affect the vestibular system. Exposure to toxins (even antibiotics) can also affect this system. In more extreme cases, a brain tumor can cause vestibular damage. This is more common in elderly cats. However, many cases of vestibular disease are described as idiopathic. These cases are not traceable to any specific cause.

What Should I Do If I Suspect My Cat Has Vestibular Disease?

You will want to schedule a visit to the veterinarian immediately. There is no specific test for vestibular disease, but your vet can help you determine its cause. Tests may include MRIs, skull X-rays, blood and urine tests, or ear cultures. Your vet will pick from these tests based on clinical symptoms and your cat’s medical history.

Depending on its cause, treatment for vestibular disease varies. Symptoms typically subside after 24-48 hours with supportive care. This may include hand feeding or fluid administration. If your cat is nauseous or vomiting, your vet may prescribe anti-nausea medication. If they detect an ear infection, they will prescribe antibiotics.

Claws N Paws Day Spa provides professional grooming services to your cat or dog. We also provide cats-only boarding services in our adjacent facility. For more information or to make an appointment, contact us at 714-962-1005 or stop by today!

Grooming for the Spring

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After a long winter, spring is just around the corner! The sun is coming out, and soon enough you and your pup will be too! You’ll want your dog looking and feeling their very best before hitting the park. Get the best out of this season with these simple grooming tips!

Spring Cleaning

During the winter, your dog’s coat likely grew much thicker. This is due to the drop in temperature and extra time spent indoors. A bath will help clean out winter grime, but it will also release loose fur that has accumulated over time. Many pet owners prefer to take their pup to a professional groomer; equipment such as industrial dryers are unmatched when it comes to loosening excess fur. However, some choose to bathe their dogs at home. If this is you, make sure to thoroughly rinse out all shampoo and conditioner. Your dog’s skin will otherwise become irritated, an unfortunate combination with spring allergies.

Brush It Out

The loosened fur will need to go somewhere. A gentle brush following your pup’s bath will help remove it. Additionally, regular brushing also helps to distribute the natural oils across your dog’s skin. Your groomer can do an intensive brush, but brushing between appointments is always a good idea! Plus, it can be a great bonding experience for you and your furry friend.

A Little Off the Top

Spring is an excellent time for a trim.Trimming your dog’s fur removes tangles and damaged hair, leaving the coat softer. Your dog will certainly appreciate a shorter cut as the weather begins to warm up. For this step, make sure to visit a professional groomer. Grooming at home can lead to unfortunate mishaps, such as post clipping alopecia.

Nailed It

Nail trimming is important year-round. However, short nails are especially important during warmer months. On walks or runs, long nails can gather a surprising amount of dirt. This is ultimately very uncomfortable for your pup. Long nails are also more likely to get snagged or cut on outings. To prevent this, invest in some doggy clippers or schedule a regular nail trimming with your local groomer. 

You can find all of these services at Claws N Paws Day Spa. Located in beautiful Fountain Valley, California, Claws N Paws provides a wide variety of professional grooming services to both dogs and cats. For more information or to book an appointment, contact us at 714-962-1005 or stop by today!

Pyometra and Your Pet

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As pet owners, we must be aware of the unique things that can make our furry friends ill. Pyometra is a life-threatening infection that affects female cats and dogs, but not humans. It is important to know about pyometra to ensure your pet will have a long, comfortable life.

What is Pyometra?

Pymoetra is a secondary infection occurring in the uteruses of dogs and cats. When an animal has been in heat, they can retain high levels of progesterone for up to two months. This builds up over an animal’s lifetime. Given that the dog or cat has not been pregnant, the uterine lining will continually grow thicker. Cysts begin to grow and secrete fluids, creating ideal conditions for bacteria to fester. Then, bacteria can enter the reproductive tract in a variety of ways. Typically, this occurs through urinary tract infections and fecal contamination.

What Does Pyometra Look Like?

Pyometra can be difficult to spot. If the cervix is open, pus will drain out of the uterus. Look for unusual discharge around your pet’s tail or on surfaces they have recently laid on. Cats clean themselves regularly, so it can be harder to identify pyometra in cats than dogs.

Animals with pyometra may act differently. They often exhibit “energy changes,” becoming more lethargic or depressed. They may also experience appetite changes; many animals with pyometra develop anorexia. Increased water input or urination can also be causes for concern. Symptoms will be stronger in cases of closed cervix pyometra. Along with the other symptoms, they may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or fever.

How Is Pyometra Treated?

A pet with pyometra will need to have their uterus removed. Cats or dogs in the early stages of pyometra are better candidates for surgery. At this point, the procedure is comparable to a spay. As pyometra progresses, the surgery becomes more complicated. The animal will be hospitalized for a longer period of time. She will also require antibiotics.

How Can My Pet Avoid Pyometra?

The best way to avoid pyometra is to get your pet spayed. Spayed pets will not experience periods of heat. It is best to do this at a young age, so the uterine lining does not have a chance to thicken at all. However, spaying at any point in your pet’s life will help her avoid pyometra.

At Claws N Paws, we always have you and your pet’s best needs in mind. We provide professional grooming services to both dogs and cats at our location in Fountain Valley, California. Right next door, we provide boarding services in our cats-only facility. Stop by today or call 714-962-1005 for more information or to make an appointment.

Kennel Cough in Dogs

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Like us, our furry friends can fall under the weather. The canine form of the “common cold” is kennel cough, and many dogs will experience it at some point in their life. Knowing the signs of kennel cough will help you ensure that your dog is safe and comfortable.

What is Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough, also known as canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) or Bordetella, is a contagious affliction of the upper respiratory tract. A dog with kennel cough will have an inflamed trachea and bronchial tubes. In this sense, it is similar to the common cold in humans.

Dogs catch kennel cough when they inhale certain bacteria. The most common of these are Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus, and mycoplasma. Combinations of these and/or less common viruses lead to the more serious cases of kennel cough. Dogs are most likely to contract it in shelters or canine boarding facilities when they are in close, enclosed proximity with other dogs. Other factors such as cold weather or travel-induced stress may increase a dog’s susceptibility to kennel cough.

What Are the Symptoms of Kennel Cough?

Look out for a persistent, dry cough. Many pet owners note that the “kennel” cough sounds like a goose honk. In some cases, this severe cough can lead to retching. They may also show signs of illness such as sneezing, a runny nose, discharge from the eyes, lethargy, or loss of appetite.

How Is Kennel Cough Diagnosed?

If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, take them to the vet immediately. The diagnosis is fairly simple; your vet will assess your dog’s symptoms and exposure and use these to make the diagnosis. Potential tests include blood chemistry tests, a complete blood cell count, a urinalysis, fecal exams, and chest X-rays. In more serious cases, your vet may test for pneumonia using a radiograph.

How Can You Treat Kennel Cough?

Uncomplicated cases of kennel cough will go away without medical treatment. Rather, your doctor may prescribe general supportive care like rest and good nutrition. Severe kennel cough, on the other hand, may require antibiotics. This is because kennel cough can become pneumonia, which poses a much more serious threat to your dog.

We at Claws N Paws care about you and your pets. At our location in Orange County, CA, we provide a wide variety of professional bathing and grooming services to both cats and dogs. For more information or to book an appointment, contact us at 714-962-1005 or stop by today!

Valentine’s Day Safety For Pets

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It’s Valentine’s Day, which means that you may be introducing new gifts or decorations into your home. Unfortunately, some of these products can be dangerous to your pets. Share the love this holiday by ensuring a safe and comfortable home!

Flowers

Flowers are a beautiful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Many are harmless, but some are less so. Calla lilies, azaleas, daffodils, chrysanthemums, daisies, carnations, tulips, and hydrangeas are all common in flower arrangements but toxic to dogs and cats. While these are the most toxic, other flowers can harm pets in other ways. If ingested, flowers such as morning glories, amaryllis, and peonies can cause digestive distress such as vomiting, diarrhea, and gas. Contact with cactuses, primroses, and ficuses can cause rashes.

Meanwhile, flower arrangements often contain roses, sunflowers, gerber daisies, orchids, and snapdragons. These are all nontoxic to pets and can be kept in your home. To be safe, keep all flowers away from your pets. This also reduces the possibility of breaking vases, which cats are known to do.

Candles and Scents

Certain ingredients in candles can be dangerous to your pets. These include paraffin, lead, acetaldehyde, benzene, and toluene. Burning candles that contain these ingredients can cause a variety of different complications. Instead, look for candles made of soy, bluecorn, or beeswax.

However, artificial scents can also be problematic for dogs and cats. Studies have shown that candle and air freshener scents make us and our pets sick over time. Furthermore, essential oil scents such as peppermint, wintergreen, tea tree, and eucalyptus are extremely dangerous, especially to cats. As a safety precaution, avoid using essential oils at home.

Chocolates

Another traditional (and delicious) Valentine’s Day gift is chocolate. Chocolate is dangerous to pets, but only when consumed. Keep any products containing chocolate wrapped and far away from your animals’ reach.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa, your pet’s needs are always first. We provide professional grooming services to both cats and dogs. Additionally, we provide boarding to cats in our adjacent facility. For more information or to book an appointment, contact us at 714-962-1005 or visit our Fountain Valley location today!

Feline Dental Care

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February is National Cat Health Awareness Month! This February, why not focus on the little things? Cats rely heavily on their teeth, which are much more delicate than they appear. Feline dental care is an important, but often forgotten, part of owning a cat.

Dental Problems in Cats

Feline periodontal disease affects approximately 70% of cats by their third birthday. Unchecked plaque build-up solidifies and becomes tartar over time. Eventually, this tartar will dig into and under the gums. This introduces harmful bacteria to the gums, triggering continued infection and damage to the surrounding teeth. Affected teeth may fall out. Furthermore, periodontal disease can cause organ damage to the kidneys, liver, heart, and nervous system.

It can be extremely difficult to detect dental disease in cats. The most common giveaway is their breath. Cats with dental disease will often have foul-smelling breath. There are a few more signs, including:

  • Visible tartar on the teeth
  • Drooling
  • Difficulty eating or refusal to eat
  • Missing or loose teeth
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Red or swollen gums (gingivitis)
  • Weight loss

These signs are often subtle and therefore very easy to miss. It is important to keep a close eye on your cat if you think they might have dental complications.

Dental Care

Feline dental care begins with good nutrition. Some foods are better for your cat’s teeth than others. Some pet owners find that dry food scrapes teeth clean, while wet food remains in the mouth for longer periods of time. However, good ingredients and a balanced diet are the most important factors in preventing dental disease.

It is also important to establish a teeth cleaning routine. This is easiest to do when your cat is still young. Cats cannot use human toothpaste, but there are special formulas made specifically for your feline friend. Use your finger (and perhaps a bit of gauze) the first few times to get them used to the process. Eventually, you can switch to a bristled finger brush or other cats-only toothbrush. Feline teeth should be brushed once daily, or at least twice a week.

Cats should have a dental checkup at least once a year. Veterinarians are trained to detect the subtle signs we tend to miss. Talk to your veterinarian about proper dental care at home; they may recommend specific foods or treats for additional care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa provides professional grooming services to your cat or dog. Contact us today at 714-962-1005, or stop by our location in Fountain Valley, California!