Wellness
Advice from a Professional Dog Groomer Regular grooming is an important part of responsible dog care. Not only does it keep the coat and nails neat and tidy, but it also provides an opportunity to spot any skin issues. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about professional grooming services. By Cheryl Canning What services do groomers provide? Each shop is different, but typical services include full grooming (bath, blow dry, groom whole dog, nails) or a bath and tidy (bath, blow dry, trim feet, face, bum and nails) or just a bath and nails. Many groomers also do walk-in nail trims or feet or face trims. Do groomers deal with anal glands? This has been a controversial issue over the years. Some feel that it is acceptable for a groomer to perform the service, while others feel that it is strictly a veterinary procedure. Each province is regulated individually, and the College of Veterinarians of BC considers it acceptable for groomers to express anal glands ONLY if done externally. I believe groomers should not be asked to express anal glands, as it is a medical issue that should be left for the vet to deal with. Like skunks, dogs empty the anal glands to admit defeat or to show that they are afraid. Therefore, if groomers are squeezing a dog’s glands, other dogs can now smell the anal glands—signalling
fear—so it causes them to think they also need to be scared when in fact they do not need to fear grooming. How do I know when it’s time for my pet to be groomed? It is all personal preference. Once a month would be a fantastic option, but people who cannot afford that should be sure to brush their dog daily and not let them get matted. Monitor the dog’s comfort level in different temperatures. Neglecting the dog’s coat is irresponsible, and it can cause so many issues and put your dog in a lot of discomfort—it’s just plain wrong! How do I choose a good groomer? In my opinion, the best way is to go with experience. Pop-up shops come and go, but not everyone is qualified to groom dogs, so do your due diligence. It’s also a good idea to ask your friends and family who they go to. What should I do if I suspect the groomer mistreated my pet? This is a great question, and from my experience, chances are that nothing
22 Spring/Summer ‘16 - Okanagan Pet Health Magazine
bad happened to your dog at the groomer’s. For example, a dog I had groomed for years, without any issues, had a yeast infection in his skin. It was raw and irritated, and impossible to see under all the fur prior to grooming. When the parents picked him up, they assumed the cracks in the skin on the bridge of his nose were slices from careless grooming. The moral of this story is to always ask questions before jumping to conclusions of mistreatment. That being said, as in any profession, there are people who really shouldn’t be in this line of work; however, I would say most of us are great people who are doing this job because we truly love dogs. Trust your instincts but, as I said, ask questions before assuming the worst. Is it normal for my pet to act differently (hide, lick area, etc.) the first few days after grooming? Absolutely! We are creatures of habit, and no one likes change. Think about it: they are used to their big, furry coats and when they get groomed, they are all of a sudden not www.ohwmagazine.com