Health benefits of Pet Grooming

Contrary to popular belief, regular pet grooming doesn't just enable critters to look pretty. While many people believe that these services are silly and frivolous, particularly in regard to the proliferation of posh pet spas, this is a very important industry when it comes to pet health and wellness.

This is especially true for pets that may have special needs, such as animals that are handicapped or elderly, and those that have matted fur, facial staining or skin, coat and other issues.

So here's what pet groomers need to know about pet health and how to deal with these potential scenarios.

Pet Grooming Should Focus on Pet Health

While it's certainly gratifying to make Fido and Fluffy look fabulous, the first thing any groomer should be mindful of is promoting the optimal health and wellness of each pet. As such, it's very important to pay close attention to the pets one services to determine if there are any issues that may require the attention of a veterinarian.

These may include:

• Ear or eye infections
• Skin lesions
• Cuts
• Swelling
• Parasites
• Severely bad breath, which could indicate dental disease
• Problems with nails or claws...and other issues.

Pet Grooming Considerations for Older Pet Health

Like people, pets are now living much longer. The senior pet industry has in fact, begun to boom, with various products and services now available for the furry oldsters. As such, many pet groomers are increasingly servicing golden age critters that require entirely different procedures and approaches from younger pets.

For one, older pets often suffer from arthritis and other joint issues, whereby they may be uncomfortable standing for long periods of time. So when performing pet grooming services for these clients, you might place them on their sides or allow them to lie down, on a dry, soft towel.

In addition, many older pets have vision problems. So it's very important to ensure that they are properly secured to the grooming surface, and keep a close watch on them at all times, lest they accidentally fall off of the table.

Older pets also require different grooming techniques. As pets age, their coats and skin change and often become thinner and more sensitive. So be aware of this when selecting which methods and tools to use when clipping and de-tangling their coats, depending on coat length and degree of matting. You may want to consider switching to a lower numbered blade or a modified scissor trim and from a comb to a brush, for example.

And as older pets are often more sensitive to heat, it's important to use drying devices with the utmost caution. The same goes for bathing elderly pets.

Encourage the owner to bring a favorite toy or treat to comfort the pet, and make allowances for bathroom breaks for the oldsters.

As you perform pet grooming on the seniors, talk to the pets to comfort them, especially before initially touching them. They may be nervous and stressed, so do your utmost to put them at ease.

Overall, it's best to keep appointments for older pets short and sweet. At this point in their lives, ensuring the pets' comfort is more important than making them look pretty.

Puppy Grooming

On the opposite end of the spectrum, groomers many times have youngsters as clients.

As long-time pet groomers know, servicing puppies presents a particular set of challenges. The little ones are often squirmy, frisky and/or frightened by this new experience.

So providing a positive, pleasurable initial experience is crucial for these new clients, who in many cases will become lifelong customers, and whose parents will rely on you to maintain their new pets' health and well-being. Thus, lots of TLC and patience are required with these critter clients.

Pet Grooming is Also Important for Pet Nail Health

A pet groomer should always check the pets' nails and trim these accordingly. This is especially important for older pets that are less active and therefore may suffer from ingrown and other nail issues.

Unless a cat is (heaven forbid), declawed, no kitty should leave your shop without having their nails trimmed. You could also offer this as a standalone service as regular nail trimming is a far better alternative to declawing, which can cause serious health and behavioral issues in cats.

Pet Grooming Requires Being Prepared for Different Furry Clients

While the majority of pets that seek grooming services are dogs, there are times when you will be asked to service other species, including cats. While many pet groomers run from cats, I suggest learning how to provide services for kitties because this is a growing client base.

One kitty service that is very much in demand is the lion cut. This is tricky, so I encourage pet groomers who wish to offer this to get as much education as possible in regard to the proper techniques. Moreover, every cat that comes into your salon for a hair cut should be bathed, without exception.

Meanwhile, other critter clients you may service include exotic pets such as ferrets, rabbitsand the like. I recently was at a pet shop that offers pet grooming and met a lady who had brought her newly adopted guinea pig in for a visit! The poor guy previously belonged to a family that neglected him, and he was a matted, dirty mess. Not only did he look a let better after his pet grooming service, it was obvious that he felt a heck of a lot better.

Pet Grooming Operators Should Be Great Communicators

As I have mentioned many times before, pet grooming is an unregulated industry that does not require licensing or formal education. So it's very important for groomers to take the initiative to get educated and learn the proper procedures in regard to the different kinds of pets they may service.

Always ask each pet parent about any health or behavioral issues a pet may have, and service the individual pets accordingly. As I mentioned in a previous story, it's a great idea to ask every client about any pre-existing health or other issues pets may have. And find out as much as you can about the most effective ways to service all of your furry clients.