Purple Paw LLC - Mobile Pet Spa

08/09/2024

Hunter's Crossing, who knows this pup??

08/06/2024

Kona knows its not summertime without watermelon

07/30/2024

You know it's hot out when the poodles are stuck to fans at 8am 🥵

Stay cool today!

07/17/2024

Pretty little Angel during (and after) her first puppy intro groom 💕

05/28/2024

Tank has the marshmallows roastin!

04/11/2024

Just let me know where to send that invoice 🤪

03/26/2024

Charley 💖

03/26/2024

Murray was born for this 🏊‍♂️

03/25/2024

Adorable Rosie 🐠 🦀 🐙

03/06/2024

Well. Sylvie's sick of this back and forth Illinois weather.
So she's taking everybody snorkeling somewhere warmer!

02/27/2024

Puppy grooming expectations!
So many new experiences from a new person, new noises, and new feelings. Easy, slow introductions are generally the best idea, always moving at the puppy's pace.

The first few grooms are usually very basic introductions.

A puppy intro from Purple Paw, includes:
•Table time - pup is allowed to walk on the table with some limitation from a grooming loop.
•Handling feet, ears, face, with some positive reinforcement and a few small treats.
•Bath time - a tearless sugar scrub facial, a shampoo and conditioner chosen to suit pups coat and skin.
•Towel dried as much as possible
•Intro to the blow dryer, one of the more difficult parts of the groom for many dogs.
•Nail trim
•Intro to a nail file - another loud tool with an odd sensation for their feet!
•Teeth brushing
•Ear cleaning
•Brushing and combing
•Intro to clippers and shears

Anything labeled "intro" is going to be more or less a bit difficult for a puppy compared to other tasks. These are tasks that they may not have seen anything like at your home and often not with their mothers either.

Why is the dryer the hardest part?
The dryer can be a little intimidating to many pups as its a bit loud AND an odd feeling. Many pups haven't felt wind directly on their skin much, if at all, and can spook some of them. Lots of reassurance and short sessions with some positive reinforcement goes right along with dryer intros.

How can you help your puppy get used to grooming?
Consistency! Set up regular, frequent appointments to help your puppy experience the process regularly. At home, you can use an electric toothbrush on feet and around their body to simulate hair clippers and a nail file to reinforce the training at the groomer. A silver metal spoon works great to brush their face to simulate shears.

Grooming can be A LOT for a puppy. Going through the process at their pace, starting early on and continuing regularly can make everyone's life much easier - and set them up to enjoy a regular, necessary part of their life.

02/26/2024

They might get a bit fluffier around the middle in winter as not everyone wants to go for that long walk in the snow (and anyone who's run into me in January will know I'll be the last one to blame you for not making them 😝) but it's important to keep an eye on our furry friends waistlines 💝

Obesity. Not only is this a concern among the human population, but studies estimate that 50 million dogs and 56 million cats are either overweight or obese. That's roughly 56% of canines and 60% of felines.
Dogs and cats are considered to be overweight when they weigh 10-30% above their ideal body weight. Obesity is diagnosed when their weight exceeds 30% of their ideal body weight.

How do you know if your pet is obese? The most reliable source is your veterinarian, however there are a few ways to know.

1. Does the stomach sag of feel bloated/tight? Like humans, this is a clear indicator that your pet is carrying too much weight.
2. Are your pet’s ribs hard to distinguish? By placing your hands on the sides of the chest, you should be able to feel the rib cage without much effort.
3. Dogs and cats should have a distinct taper at their waist, between the abdomen and where their hips go into the socket. Overweight pets are oval-shaped, rather than hourglass.
4. A broad and flat back is another sign they’re too wide on the sides.

There are several reasons why your pet could be overweight, but the root cause is an imbalance between the energy intake and usage.

1. Overfeeding – This is THE #1 reason: consumption of excess portions, high-calorie diets, frequent treats and/or table scraps.
2. Aging – a decrease in activity/exercise due to arthritis and/or some other aging condition, not to mention a natural slowdown in their metabolism.
3. Hypothyroidism – a common disease in pets in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroxine. This hormone regulates metabolism and slows it down.
4. Insulinoma – rare in felines, a tumor on a canine’s pancreas that results in excessive amounts of insulin being produced. Weight gain is a common side effect.
5. Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease) – a tumor on the pituitary or adrenal glands causing an overproduction of hormones, usually cortisol, being released causing increased appetite.

How can you help your pet? First of all you must remember that an obese pet is unhealthy. This does NOT mean you do not love your pet or properly care for them. But obesity is a health issue that must be addressed. Before beginning any type of diet or exercise routine, speak with your veterinarian and rule out any health issues. Have an appropriate plan for your pet and stick to it. There are definitely reasons to keep your pet at an ideal weight:

1. Reduced risk of health issues. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight lowers the risk of kidney disease, high blood pressure, respiratory disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and some forms of cancer.
2. Better quality of life. A healthy weight means that your dog is much more able to stay active, such as long walks or playing with their pals at the local dog park. For cats, playing with toys, employing a cat tower and/or regular catnip indulgences help them burn calories. Extra weight can greatly limit your pet’s mobility and energy levels.
3. Longer Life expectancy. A long-term study of Labrador retrievers from the same litter exhibited that dogs that maintained at a healthy weight lived an average of two years longer than those who were obese.
4. Lower veterinary expenses. Lower risk of health issues can greatly reduce the amount of money needed to treat obesity-related health issues.

02/21/2024

Lola June 💕

02/20/2024

Miss Gracie

02/20/2024

Nellie

02/16/2024

Where are my snow pups at?!
I know alot of my furry clients are absolutely thrilled about this!

Sylvie is ecstatic!

02/16/2024

It may not feel like it outside right now, but Loki promises spring is in fact on the way.
The winter coat's gotta go!

🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 🏵 🌞

02/16/2024

Don't let Lucy and Georgie fool you, they are only this serious when treats are on the line!

02/16/2024

Sophie 😘

02/14/2024

Rosie 🌹

02/13/2024

Charley 💕

02/13/2024

STOP! in the name of looooove - Murray, probably

02/13/2024

Gypsy

02/13/2024

Good girls Chloe and Riley

02/13/2024

Harry 💓

01/31/2024

Groomed nails are not a cosmetic luxury for pets, it's absolutely a necessity to maintain your pet's nails at a healthy length.

Once nails reach a certain length, they can be a very real problem. From minor discomfort while standing and moving, to worsening arthritis in older pets and making basic mobility difficult. It can even cause irreversible damage to the feet and legs if left too long over time. If your dog's nails hit the floor when standing, they are putting pressure on your pet's paws and legs.

Common problems caused by overgrown nails include:
• Splayed foot - Flat feet offer little support to the rest of the body
• Traction issues - Slipping, stairs become more difficult
• Arthritic changes in the toes and legs - Often permanent and painful

In these images, you can see in the 'before' the toes are at a different angle than the relaxed toes in the 'after'. They are forced into unnatural (and uncomfortable!) positions by the overgrown nails, which reduces mobility of the whole foot and sometimes legs.

You can prevent or correct some issues by keeping your pet on a regular nail maintenance program. As a bonus, most dogs who dislike having their nails done at first will learn to tolerate the process when it is done regularly!

01/31/2024

Pretty little Renata

01/31/2024

Elsa always makes a statement 🤭

01/31/2024

We're still a little concerned about the dryer around our poofy face, but Nelson got his first big boy hair cut! Adorable 🥰

01/19/2024

Bear
We can do cocoa slushies, right?? 😬