Communicate About Your Furry Family Member
BY NICOLE IPSON
Our pets are our furry family members, for anyone in the animal industry this is true too. However, your family members are also our family members and that’s important to know. In the grooming industry, we tend to be the people outside of your family that see your loved one the most. We not only clean your pets, but we can also tell you when we think your little ones may be having an off day or not feeling so well. With that in mind, we always keep an eye on your furry family member’s health, sometimes catching things you may miss.
Often times people think that getting their loved one’s groom is a peaceful spa day. Although we do try to make their visit as stress-free as possible sometimes they just don’t enjoy it. Communication with your grooming can help with this problem. Informing your groomer of new circumstances around the home, or more importantly, new health issues can help your groomer to lower stress. This can be especially true with our older pets. Because of issues like arthritis or ligament injuries a groom can be stressful because of the need to position your pet. The need to lift your loved one’s legs can cause discomfort which upsets them.
Make Sure To Let Your Groomer Know About
- Seizures
- Heart Murmur
- Ligament Injuries
- Back Issues
- Arthritis
Everyone knows that pets naturally age faster than humans. A few months for us takes a toll of years on them. So a
12-year-old Shih Tzu can be fine when it comes in for a groom in January but develop health issues 6 months later. Without your groomer being informed of new medical conditions they cannot perform your furry family member’s groom properly. Stress from a groom can trigger stress-related reactions in pets that have been groomed for years without problems. This is why it is so important to let your groomer know what’s going on in your loved one’s life each time you drop them off. It is also important that you take your pet’s age into consideration.
If you have a pet who’s age is 12+ your pet may need extra care. At a certain point, a traditional groomer may not be the best choice for your loved one. Although your groomer will always do their best to care for your pet sometimes a vet groomer may be the better choice. It can be hard for a groomer to express this as we hate to tell people that their furry family members are getting old. However, if you just aren’t sure what you should do, simply ask! A good groomer will help you make the best choice for your pet. Your pet’s health is our #1 priority no matter what. So help us help you and your loved ones and make sure to communicate with your groomers.