Pet Care - Grooming

What can I expect from my pet’s groomer, and how often should my dog or cat be groomed?

Grooming is an essential part of your pet’s well being, and all dogs and cats need to be groomed on a regular basis, regardless of hair type and length. Not just another day at the salon; a professional groomer will massage your pet’s muscles, recognize skin irritations or evidence of fleas, check anal glands, offer nutritional advice, tips on grooming and training, and note changes in your pet’s behaviour since his or her last visit that could be linked to the onset of illness.

Groomers are very artistic, and the finishing style will vary from groomer to groomer. Be specific about how your pet is styled if you have any preferences. Double-bathing (to ensure a very clean coat and healthy skin), foot pad shaving (to remove mats and debris from the bottom of the feet), and thorough drying (to prevent hotspots, straighten the hair, and give a much more professional look) are all important details the groomer usually includes as part of the total package.

Many groomers will also inspect your pet’s mouth, with some also offering basic dental cleaning services (in addition to your pet’s regular veterinary care). Excess tartar can lead to future heart and systemic problems from bacteria on the teeth being swallowed continually, so a regular cleaning is a great way to help extend your pet’s life. Another good way of maintaining a healthy mouth is to feed tartar controlling snacks or raw meaty bones; these scrape tartar away from the gumline and keep your pet’s breath smelling good! (well, maybe that’s a stretch, but the breath will be tolerable rather than foul).

Ears should be plucked and cleaned at every grooming visit, as wax build-up and hair growth can lead to moisture retention and painful infection.

Long nails can be caught on carpet easily, resulting in a broken nail, or worse, a broken toe. Some nail ends can grow in a curve and become lodged in the foot pad, causing pain and infection. Nails should usually be trimmed every 6-8 weeks.

Long or curly coated breeds should be groomed every 6-8 weeks, depending on coat type, style, and the owner’s ability to maintain the coat. Smooth haired pets should have nails trimmed, ears cleaned, and teeth inspected every 6-8 weeks.

A favourite saying in the grooming industry is: “pet Beautician, not  Magician”. No matter how polished an owner’s pleading and negotiating skills are, matted coats cannot usually be saved. De-matting is a painful process, and difficult for the groomer who must get a sharp tool into the coat under the mats in order to remove them, without injuring the pet. Most shops charge an hourly rate for this type of work, and because it is a slow, meticulous process, it can get expensive. Instead, many shops offer convenient low cost brush-out programs on a weekly or bi-weekly basis which will keep your pet looking pawsitively beautiful in between haircuts.

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