Health

When it comes to choosing products to use when grooming cats, proceed with caution.
Groomers are at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing what products are truly safe for cats because there are currently no laws regarding labeling for pet care products.

Dermatophytosis, or Ringworm as this condition is referred to, is caused by forty or so different keratin–loving fungi dermatophytes with Trichophyton and Microsporum being the most commonly diagnosed.

Spring (aka Mud Season) can be a busy time for us. And wouldn’t it be nice if we weren’t so exhausted and could enjoy the warmer weather and flowering gardens? Does it seem like that’s out of reach? Are we doomed to never stop and smell the roses?

Sebaceous Adenitis, or SA, is a skin condition that can be found among all dog breeds and is not considered common.

Groomers have had a tough year. We are called to work with pets. We try and help them feel better and look good, sometimes in spite of the condition they come to us in. We battle owners who don’t tell us any health concerns that could impact grooming and get mad if we can’t salvage a pelted coat.

Adult dogs have forty two permanent teeth and cats have thirty. Those teeth are meant to last a lifetime. However, just like people, pets can develop dental problems. What does pet dental health have to do with grooming? Actually, more than you may think.

Show of hands: How many of you have been bitten by the pets in your care? I bet most of you, myself included, have raised your hands. But does it have to be that way?

Many of us have seen “bad skin” come through our shop at one time or another and have been frustrated by the lack of improvement. I interviewed seven veterinarians and asked them about the most common skin issues they see.

Cats love their tails! Tails convey a cat’s personality and are used for communication and balance. Most cats are very particular when it comes to human intervention with their tails. As groomers, we want to get those tails fluffy and clean for the humans who love them.

Hot spots, also known as pyotraumatic dermatitis, are surface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance.

You might think that pet nutrition has little or no correlation to the grooming industry—but in reality, it does. We have all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” And that statement really rings true for our furry friends.

Belle, a two–year–old Shih Tzu, started coughing a few days after her grooming appointment. At first, her owners were not worried, but soon the occasional cough became persistent and then she started sneezing and had a runny nose.