Groom’d: Tips For Keeping Senior Dogs Comfortable During Grooms

Editor’s note: PETS+ is the media partner for GROOM’D, the annual grooming-focused pet trade show presented by World Pet Association. The PETS+ team will be reporting live from Atlanta, GA, Friday through Sunday. To not miss any of the action, like our Facebook page and sign up for the daily GROOM’D ebulletin at petsplusmag.com/bulletins.

GROOM’D Seminar Snippets: Jay Scruggs, owner of Here Comes the Groom Mobile, offered tips on comfort grooming for senior dogs while demonstrating on one such dog recovering from hip surgery. The goal of comfort grooming is to do what you can to keep the dog safe and comfortable while working. Keep the loop loose so as not to tighten around the trachea, Scruggs said and recommended using Groomers Helper or a similar product.

Scruggs stressed the importance of knowing some of the issues that can occur when dealing with senior dogs. For example, senior dogs can have strokes when being bathed, and it is important to know what to expect and how to handle situations when they arise.

Because the goal is to keep the dog comfortable, if the dog wants to sit or lie down, Scruggs recommends letting them. Although not ideal, sometimes you just have to work around them. He tries to keep grooming sessions short, calm and easy, and he limits scissor work. This often means the cut isn’t the “right” cut for the breed but looks similar based on what the dog will tolerate. Scruggs gave the example of a senior Bichon Frise he groomed recently who is going blind. Instead of cutting the dog’s head to the standard, he rounded it to give it a similar look because the dog couldn’t stop bobbing their head around. Bottom line: Only do what the dog can and will tolerate!

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