Feline and Canine Body Language

The process of grooming a dog is so much more involved than many people realize. Not only are we bathing, drying, cutting hair, and trimming nails to make pets sparkle, groomers are constantly watching for subtle body language signals from pets.

Every cat and dog give signals to how they are feeling about certain things. While we all know that a hissing cat is an unhappy or scared cat, did you know that a cat who is blinking their eyes slowly is a cat who trusts you? They feel safe in your presence. A cat who falls asleep on the couch beside you trusts you. A cat who falls asleep in your lap really trusts you. A cat who falls asleep in your lap and begins to dream trusts you with their very life! Head boops are a sign of deep affection. When a cat rubs their cheeks against you, they are claiming you as theirs.

While groomers will generally only see the alert, upset, and sometimes downright angry side of a cat, dogs show a much wider range of emotion during their visits. Groomers are constantly on watch for signs that a dog is becoming stressed. Things like turning their heads away, sideways glances, big yawns, and lip licking are all signs that a dog might be feeling a little too stressed out by their grooming. A stressed dog might try to sniff the table while turning away in an attempt to tell the groomer that they want to retreat in peace. Unfortunately, we can’t always allow the groom to end at that moment so it is up to the groomer to recognize these signals and change the dog’s mind! Something as simple as a scratch behind the ears and some kind words can make all the difference!

Groomers want to see a happy, relaxed dog. This is a dog who has

an overall “soft” appearance. They don’t appear tense or nervous. Their movements are wiggly. They might flop a little when moved around. Their tails might wag at a steady rate. If they are panting, their lips are loose and not tight against their teeth. They might suddenly burst into a wiggly play bow as the groomer walks around the table. The ultimate goal of any groomer is to convince every dog they see that this is how grooming should be!

Many dogs are not so sure though. They might show signs of being stressed or simply just nervous. They might be tense, shifting their weight from paw to paw. They might keep one paw slightly raised. Their ears might either be constantly moving or pinned back against their heads. A groomer needs to know the dogs they work so they remember if this is normal for the dog or not. During times of high stress such as around the holiday seasons, even the most mellow, relaxed dog might become more tense for their grooming sessions simply due to all the changes around them.

At times, groomers might use their own body language to “talk” to the dogs in a way the dogs are more likely to understand. They might half blink or do a small yawn to show they are relaxed. They might drop their shoulders and turn slightly to the side to be non-threatening. Or, if a dog is starting to act up, a groomer might stand taller and more square to show they are not going to put up with foolishness. A particularly rambunctious dog might even receive a hard, direct stare to show the groomer means business. As soon as the dog settles and looks away, the groomer will then relax, yawn a little, and continue on. Quite often “talking” to the dogs in their own language produces better results than trying to coo and calm them with human language!

“Talking” to dogs with their own body language goes beyond the grooming salon as well! If your dog is nervous around certain things such as blowing plastic bags while on a walk, putting on an aura of calm by being relaxed and yawning a little, can help to put your dog at ease! If it doesn’t bother you, maybe it isn’t so scary after all! You can even “talk” to your cat by slowly blinking at them or rubbing your cheek against theirs when they come to you for attention!

Aging and Bumps

We all love our pets dearly. During trying times, they make us laugh, snuggle away our tears and fears, and just generally keep our spirits up. They give us something to look forward to every day.

Almost in a blink of an eye, our pets go from super energetic youngsters to enthusiastic adults. Their baby fuzz grows into their adult coats. Their feet no longer seem huge and awkward. Their attention span grows even if treats are not involved.

Our dearly departed master of the lumps and bumps, Commander

Cody Honey Badger (mayherestinpeace).

The progression for adult to senior seems to happen more slowly. Sometimes so slowly it is almost unnoticeable. Generally speaking, 7 years old is considered to be senior age for dogs. Depending on the individual breeds, large dogs can be considered a senior as early as 5 while small dogs might not be seniors until they are 10 to 12. 7 is a middle-of-the-road type generalization. Cats are a little different in that they usually don’t show any signs of age until they are very old. 9 is usually considered the beginning of old age for cats though some don’t show actual signs of aging until they are around 12. Some cats never seem to age at all! Around senior age mark, animal professionals (groomers, vets, dog walkers, etc) start to keep an eye open for behavioral and physical changes. Owners might start to notice a few things as well. Muzzles might start to get a hint of silver. Eyes might start to develop a slight clouding.

While keeping a close eye on your pet’s health is important for their entire lives, it is more important than ever to watch them in their golden years. It is not uncommon for pets to develop stiff joints, bad hips, hearing trouble, or vision problems. They are much more likely to begin popping out lumps and bumps on their skin as well. These bumps can be anything from old-age warts to benign cysts and fatty tumors to more concerning cancerous growths such as melanomas and carcinomas.

Any time you find a new bump on your pet, it is important to note a few things about it. Pay attention to the size and placement of the bump along with the surface texture and color. Have your vet check out any new bumps as they crop up, especially if they are in areas that could present problems later on. Areas such as the face and ears, paws, and near any joints can cause secondary medical concerns down the road. By knowing where the bump was and what it looked like when you first noticed it, you can help your vet figure out if the lump is growing and changing or if it has stayed the same. This will assist your vet in deciding if this bump is something that needs to be further investigated or if it is simply an old age lump that is nothing to worry about. Most of the time, the vet will preform a needle biopsy, a quick, simple procedure where they take a small sample of material with a fine needle to look at under a microscope. If the bump ends up being something concerning, the smaller it is, the easier it is to remove and generally the better the outcome will be!

Of course, knowing about new lumps and bumps and their diagnosis helps your groomers as well! We can be extra sure to keep an eye on any bumps and let you know if we notice any changes. Sometimes changes happen so slowly they go virtually unnoticed until there is a drastic difference. There are innumerable cases where a groomer noticed something an owner did not and ended up saving a pet’s life! Knowing will also mean we can keep your pet as comfortable as possible. Some lumps might be tender to the touch. Some surgical sights can remain sensitive long after the wound has healed. Or, if the pet is generally not sensitive but suddenly is, we can alert owners to a change in behavior which can then be brought to the vet’s attention.

Lumps, bumps, and warts can happen to any pet of any age but are much more likely to pop up on an older animal. Finding them early is so important for proper treatment if treatment is needed. While you are stuck home with your buddies of all ages, give them a good once over at least a couple times a week. Pet them slowly to feel for bumps. Check their paws and nail beds for anything that looks weird. Check their gums as well if they will let you! Be as proactive with your pet’s health as you are with your own! And as always, call your vet if you have any concerns at all. Their phones are pretty busy these days, but they will always be there to help you out!

PIck-up and Communication: A Reminder

As spring gets into full swing, grooming salons become a busy place! The increase of muddy yards means a lot of dogs need frequent baths. Dogs who are left a little longer for the winter will start to come in for those short spring hair cuts.  As soon as the stay-at-home orders lift, everyone will want to get their pets in for a good clean up! Groomers might be stretched a little thinner than normal trying to accommodate owners and pets alike.

Since we run a very small salon, we have a very limited space to hold onto pets after their grooming has been completed. We just wanted to take a brief moment to remind you that we ask you to be here within one hour of receiving the call letting you know your pet is ready to go home. Our day is a tight dance. We are counting on Fluffy going home so we can clean her kennel and use it for Bob who is expected to arrive shortly after Fluffy leaves. If Fluffy is still here when Bob arrives, we might not have a place for Bob to hang out!

If you know you might be a little late picking Fluffy up, just let us know! Let us know when you make the appointment so we can have an extra kennel available just in case. We do have crates at our homes for our own dogs we are happy to bring in if needed. If something comes up after you have made your appointment, give us a call or shoot us a text message to let us know. We will do our best to accommodate or we will let you know if it would be best to reschedule for another day.

The same goes for dropping off early. We ask that you arrive no more than 10 minutes early for your appointment so we have time to check Fluffy out and clean her kennel. If Bob arrives too early, we might not quite be ready for him! Again, communicate your needs and we will let you know how we can best accommodate them!

We understand things come up. You might not know until the day of your appointment that you need to drop off early or pick up a little later. Just let us know a soon as you can so we can figure something out! Communicating also eliminates the worry factor as well. We do genuinely worry about our clients when they do not show up on time! Was there an accident? Is there a traffic jam? Did someone suddenly become ill? Did the doctor appointment not go well and someone now has to be rushed to St. Louis for specific testing with a specialist? Your groomers are definitely two “Worst Case Scenario” worriers! Let us know what is going on so we don’t stress your pup out!

We anticipate being busier than usual once we are able to reopen.  If you can, please schedule your pet's grooming appointment on a day and at a time where you are not likely to be busy during their service.  This way, you can be ready to come get them as soon as we call.  It is looking like we will be completely booked for at least a few weeks when this is all over.  Help us keep things running extra smoothly so everyone can get the services they need as quickly as possible! Thanks! 

All Dogs Need Grooming

When we think of dog grooming, we tend to think of show dogs with their beautiful, flowing fur or their perky poms and top knots. Poodles and Shih Tzus immediately pop into most peoples’ heads as examples of grooms. Scruffy terriers with their carefully hand stripped coats might join the mix. And who can forget a perfect Schnauzer cut too?

Grooming goes far beyond styles for the show ring. It even goes beyond hair cuts in general. All dogs need to be groomed. Even short haired and hairless dogs will benefit from a bath, brush, and deshed treatment. Why? It is pretty simple!

Just like humans, dogs shed their skin cells in a 21 day cycle. The new cells form under the skin and mature over this period of time. Once they reach the surface, they hang around for a while before dying and shedding off, revealing healthy new cells underneath. The process happens in a never ending cycle starting the day they are born. It happens with humans too! Unlike humans, the skin surface for a dog is under a layer of fur. This can prevent those old cells from sloughing off in a timely manner. Dogs may develop itchy dandruff, flaky patches, yeast infections, or a host of other problems if they are not able to shed this skin.

Shedding hair can become a problem for even shorter haired pets. All dogs shed. Even so called “non-shedding” breeds like poodles and bichons shed. They simply shed less since their hair has a much longer growth cycle. Their kinky fur also tends to hold that shed fur in, potentially creating mats if it is not brushed out on a regular basis. Any dog with hair longer than an inch or two in length is at danger of developing mats. The longer the hair, the more easily it tangles. But even shorter haired dogs can have shedding problems. Their shed fur can impact into their coat, creating a thick, tight, hard to remove layer of fur and dander.

The good news is that grooming helps to solve both the problems of proper skin overturn and shedding! A proper bath with quality, pet specific shampoos and conditioners along with a good blow and brush out will help all the excess skin cells blow away. The shedding hair will come out as well, preventing any mats or impacting. You pet’s coat will be softer, shinier, and brighter after a bath. They will feel amazing too! Regular appointments will help to keep their nails in tip top shape as well!

Even hairless dogs and cats will benefit from a good scrub. They might not have as much hair to shed, but their skin is still prone to build-ups. They can develop black heads and zits. A moisturizing bath and an exfoliating scrub can greatly reduce the problems!

Help even your short haired buddies feel their absolute best by getting them on a regular grooming schedule. They will absolutely adore all the attention they receive in the salon and at home afterwards too!

Continued Education: Why Is It Important?

We all know our doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and even veterinarians do continued education courses every year. We have all heard about trade shows for everything from the automotive industry to all things home and garden and even science and technology. Did you know there are trade shows and continued education courses for groomers and other pet professionals as well?

Its true! Trade shows and classes happen all across the country all year long. There are single day, specialized classes hosted by groomers and salons that cover very specific topics such as how to groom a specific breed or how to achieve perfect faces. There are small, 2 day, home town type shows as well as huge, week long expos! There are grooming competitions for all breeds and breed groups. There are creative grooming competitions as well where groomers show off their dying and scissoring skills. There are classes taught by the captains of the industry on everything from breed standards to breed cuts to techniques for using clipper combs to hand scissoring to handling cats and even information on skin and coat health. There are certification courses for things like safety and sanitation and first aid. The trade floors hold more products than you could ever ask for! New shampoos and conditioners, the latest and most updated equipment, bows and bandannas, scissors and brushes, grooming wear like smocks, pants, and aprons, and even things like leashes, collars, and toys for the awesome pups in your life! There are often folks who sharpen blades and shears as well as folks who can give you all the information you ever wanted about nail grinding accessories and electric tables. A day or week at a good expo can be a groomer’s dream come true. Yours truly dreams of going to Super Zoo in Las Vegas some day!

It isn’t all fun and games though. Mostly it is, but there is a serious side to these expos too. Those classes I mentioned before can be vital for groomers of all skill levels. Even the most seasoned groomer can learn a thing or two by attending seminars.

Each year, we attend a grooming expo in the St. Louis area. We spend our time at the show in order to gain new knowledge we then use to help your pets have the best grooming experience they possibly can! Even though we have spent almost a combined 25 years in the pet industry, Stacey and I admit that we do not know everything there is to know. While we have diverse backgrounds and training, there are still “holes” in our knowledge. Attending these trade shows is one of the best ways to “fill in the blanks” as it were.

We have taken classes on things such as Asian Fusion grooming to learn how to make those adorable round, teddy-bear looking faces. We have taken classes on using clip-on combs to achieve a natural looking hair cut. We have gained tips and tricks for making poodle top knots absolutely perfect. We have learned how other salons operate and taken some of what they do to make our salon what it is today. We have gained new knowledge about the cycle of skin growth, how shampoos and conditioners affect a dog’s skin, and even how to keep our salon as safe and sanitary as possible. Every year, we look forward to the new knowledge we will gain so we can pass it along in what we do!

We understand that it can feel a little frustrating when you try to make an appointment somewhere only to find out the business will be closed for a few days. However, when we close for trade shows, please remember that we are going so we can provide the very best for your pets!

Trade shows aren’t the only places we learn though. In this day and age, everything you ever wanted to know about anything at all is available with just a few clicks of a mouse. YouTube is a great source for learning, though you do have to take any information gained with a small grain of salt since there is no way to really know a person’s actual qualifications and background. Even keeping this in mine, there are innumerable videos on tips, tricks, and techniques on everything from how to shave a reluctant poodle’s feet to how to achieve a perfectly layered yorkie style head in under 10 minutes. There are product reviews to watch. There are handling tips. There are just plain fun grooming videos of happy dogs and happy groomers!

Books and magazines play a role in a groomer’s continued education as well although these tools might contain out of date information almost as soon as they hit the shelves. The world moves so fast now that print can hardly keep up! However, printed books about breed standards and proper breed cuts will always have a place on a groomer’s book shelf. Many magazines will contain more product and tool reviews that can be referenced later on. Some will even have step-by-step guides for certain cuts or techniques that can be handy to have nearby!

We will never consider our education to be complete. There will always, always, always be new things to learn, new places to learn them, and wonderful new people to learn from. As we learn new things, we will be sure to bring them home to our little salon in order to create the best grooming experience possible for your furry friends!

Hema-What Now?

**This week’s educational blog will contain talk of blood and injuries. Though it will not be graphic and I will not include graphic pictures, if these things bother you, you might want to skip it!**

Hematoma. It is a word you have probably heard groomers, and maybe even your own doctor, use from time to time. It is often accompanied by a brief explanation of what a hematoma is. Many people still have questions though! So today, we are going to dive into what a hematoma is, how they form, what their relationship to grooming is, and how we can treat, or preferably, prevent them from happening.

What is a hematoma? By definition, a hematoma is a collection of blood outside of the blood vessels. In a way, it is similar to a bruise, however, a hematoma is much more serious. Bruises are caused by small breaks in small blood vessels which lead to minor leakage and the classic black/blue/purple/yellow discoloration of the skin. A hematoma is a much larger break in the larger blood vessels. This can lead to a pooling of the blood in the area near the break. Instead of turning into that classic nasty bruise, the skin will often be red and may appear to be inflamed. Many times, a hematoma is a serious issue that needs medical attention and sometimes even surgical drainage.

So how do hematomas form? What causes those blood vessels to break? In both humans and animals, they can be caused by injury. Generally, there has been some sort of trauma in the area. This can be caused by something like a car accident or a fall. They can also occur during things like blood draws, especially if the patient is on any sort of blood thinners or has an underlying medical condition.

When we talk about hematomas in grooming, they are generally caused by matted fur. The ears on floppy eared dogs are the most common place for hematomas to develop. When their ears mat up, the blood flow becomes restricted due to the skin being pulled tightly. As the groomer shaves off the mats, the blood rushes back in. This rush is not what causes the hematoma to form however it is a major contributing factor. As the blood rushes back in, the dog’s ear will then start to feel weird. Imagine your foot has been asleep for so long that you have gotten used to that tingly sensation. Suddenly, the sock that is too tight and causing the sensation is pulled off. Now you have the pins and needles feeling. You can’t help but twitch your foot around, trying to make it go away! The dog feels much the same way. They begin to shake their heads, often violently, literally trying to shake the sensation away. As their now super sensitive ears flap around, they smack against their own heads, causing further damage to an already compromised area. The blood vessels in the ears begin to pop through the combined centrifugal force and the blunt force trauma. This blood then either pools in the ear, causing a pillowy swelling, or it breaks through the flap at the tip of the ear and leaks out. This causes further irritation, causing the dog to shake it’s head even more. Neither scenario is one a groomer or owner wants to see!

In a non-grooming setting, hematomas can occur for a number of other reasons. The dog may have suffered from some sort of injury to their ears. They may have gotten water in their ears and have been trying to shake and scratch it out. They may also have an ear infection, mite, or flea infestation that is bothering their ears, causing them to shake their heads around. While it is not as common, even dogs with pricked ears like German Shepherds and Chihuahuas can suffer from hematomas. Cats can also develop hematomas as well!

How can we prevent hematomas from forming? It is a simple yet complicated task really. The simplest way to make sure your dog never ends up with a hematoma is to make sure their ears are as healthy as possible. Check their ear canals frequently for any signs of build up or strange smells. Yes, you should know what your dog’s healthy ear smells like! Strange odors can be the first indication of an infection. Treating an infection early can prevent a whole host of problems further down the road! Watch for excessive scratching of the ear and ear canal along with head shaking. These can also be an indication that something is wrong. Keep long-haired dogs’ ears brushed and combed to the skin. If you have trouble keeping up with longer ears, ask your groomer to style the ears shorter. Many long haired dogs look absolutely adorable with fluffy heads and short or shaved ears! This might be an option for your pup, especially if they enjoy running wild outside and come back with the whole world tangled in their ears!

At TLC Pet Services, if we think any matting on your pup’s ears might be tight enough to cause a hematoma to develop, we are going to ask you to consult with your vet for safe removal. We want everyone to be as safe as possible! If we do elect to shave off mats, there are still steps we will take. First of all, any shaving is done slowly, often in stages. By shaving the ear a third at a time, it gives the blood flow a chance to return slowly, lessening the risk of excessive shaking. Secondly, we will shave any matting off before be bathe your pup. This way, as soon as they are in the tub, we can rinse their ear flaps with cool water to help lessen the uncomfortable sensations. A towel or Happy Hoodie may then be wrapped around your pup’s head to hold the ears close to them. The light pressure from the wrap will further aid in the slow return of blood flow along with preventing them from flapping their ears all around. Thirdly, if at any point we feel that there is a risk of the dog shaking their head and developing something, we will not hesitate to wrap their head, give you a call, and ask you to please come take them to the vet! While a hematoma is generally not life threatening in most cases, early treatment will be best for faster healing and a better cosmetic outcome.

How are hematomas treated? Always consult your vet if you think there is anything wrong with your pets! In the case of a hematoma, the vet may take one of a few treatment routes. They may wait and see what happens if the hematoma is small. Sometimes, small pockets will reabsorb over time and require no further treatment. The vet may opt for drainage and placement of a drain tube to keep the area from refilling while it heals. If it is a large hematoma or it continues to reoccur after drainage, the vet may suggest the surgical option of opening the area, removing any clots, and finding and closing up any leaks to prevent further filling. The entire area is then sutured down, sometimes using buttons, to help the skin reattach and lay properly on the dog’s ear.

We strongly believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are concerned about your pup’s ears matting up between grooms, let us know! We would rather modify Fluffy’s hairstyle now to prevent any problems than find out she has been to the vet three times because she developed a hematoma that just won’t go away!

How We Handle Nervous Nellies

Not every dog loves leaving the comfort of their home to come see the groomers. Sometimes, these dogs don’t like to leave the comfort of their homes for anything! While we all picture a happy-go-lucky, head-out-the-window, tongue-flapping-in-the-breeze dog when we think of taking our canine companions on a road trip, this isn’t always the case. (I live with two dogs who hate the ride but love the destination! Go figure!)

Nervous dogs exist. Some are nervous to the point of needing meds to help them through their daily lives while their people work with them to accept the world around them. Others can just be a little anxious when things change. All Nervous Nellies deserve a little extra kindness and understanding, which we definitely provide!

Most dogs will act like a nervous wreck when they walk into the salon. They are in a place they have a serious love/hate relationship with. They love seeing the groomers. They love the extra attention they get. They love how they feel afterwards. But then there is the bath, the kennel, the dryer, and the actual haircut process that they might not care for as much. Don’t even talk to them about nail clips! It is not uncommon for your pets to shake, shiver, and hide behind you when you drop them off. They play it up for their parents! They make it look like this is the most horrible place you possibly could have brought them too, maybe even worse than the V-E-T! However, as soon as you leave, most dogs will do a complete 180. They whine and cry as you walk out and down the steps. As soon as you are out of sight, the fussing stops, they turn to look at us, and they say “Hey! Hi! How are you?! I missed you!”

There is a small group of dogs who don’t have this turn around though. They might not fuss quite as much as when you are in the lobby, but they still act quite nervous even though they have been in to see us a dozen times. What do we do with these Nervous Nellies?

Well, we treat them much the same as we do every other dog! Nervous dogs need to learn to have confidence in themselves and in the world around them. Many times a nervous dog is not one that has been abused or had a bad experience with a groomer in the past. It is a dog who has been under-socialized. They didn’t get key experiences at the right times during their development. Or it could be that they suffer from chronic anxiety and depression just the same as many humans do. By not coddling them, cooing at them, and baby talking them, we can slowly start to help them know that grooming is no big deal!

Wait. Why no baby talk and extra cuddles? Isn’t that going to help the dog feel more secure?

Yes and no. There is no hard and fast answer. For some dogs, and extra snuggle will make them feel safe and sheltered. Other dogs will feel restricted and trapped. High pitched baby talk can have a similar effect. Some dogs will react positively because it is something they are used to at home and associate with good things. Others might associate high voices with small children which might make them even more nervous. Some dogs will also view this sort of treatment as a positive reward for acting fearful. They shake, they get extra attention. They cry and jump at their mom’s ankles, they get picked up and snuggled. Dogs are incredibly smart and can very easily manipulate humans into giving them what they want! While it is not entirely possible to reinforce the fear the dog might be feeling (rewarding fear does not make for a more fearful dog), rewarding the behaviors does mean that the dog will likely continue showing them!

Nervous dogs will always be handled with care and consideration. If they react in a truly nervous manner to anything such as the clippers being turned on, their feet being picked up, or even the grooming loops being put over their head, we step back and modify what we are doing. Nellie hit the roof when we turned on the clippers? We turn them off, distract her with a few pets and ear rubs, then turn the clippers on further away while also giving her positive attention. Now the clipper noise can be associated with good things like ear scratches! We might turn the clippers off and let Nellie sniff them, showing her that there is nothing to be scared of before moving them away and turning them on again. After a few repeats, most dogs will figure out that there is nothing to worry about. If Nellie tries to yank her paws away from us, we hold them gently while talking softly to her. We rub and massage her paw. As soon as she stops pulling, we let go and tell her she is a good girl. We don’t want to teach her that yanking away fearfully is going to give her what she wants. We want her to know that calm behavior is better! If putting her head through the loops causes her to panic, we will pick her up for a moment until she calms down and then put the loop over her while we hold her. She gets the reassurance she needs while we can put on the needed equipment to keep her safe.

Things like the bath and dryer can be hard for even the most well adjusted dogs. Being nervous by nature, Nellie is likely to have problems with one or both of them! We adjust the water temperature, pressure, and sprayer settings until we find something she will tolerate. It could be the shower setting and warmer water or the soaker setting with cooler water. If it takes an extra minute to rinse her because she doesn’t like higher water pressure, so be it. We can always start low and raise the pressure slowly until it is at a rate that makes it quicker and easier to wash her coat. Nerves for the dryer can be reduced by placing cotton balls in her ears, wrapping her head in a happy hoodie, using only one dryer engine, or just not using the dryer at all! While the high velocity dryer makes drying faster and makes the final groom look better, if Nellie is that nervous and fearful about it, we will just skip that step. We can let her dry in a kennel with a fan or kennel dryer and then fluff her up with our smaller stand dryer before her final cut.

Speaking of kennels, what if Nellie hates to be kenneled? What do we do then? Again, there are a few options we will try. First of all, we have two main types of kennels we use. One is the kennel bank which has solid sides, top, and back with a wire grate floor. These kennels have wire front doors so the dogs can see out but not to the sides and back. Some dogs prefer these as they feel safer and more secure in a “den.” The second type of kennel we have is wire crates. These are the crates with a solid tray on the bottom but open wire sides and tops. Some dogs feel better about being able to see all around them so they know what is going on. If we put Nellie in a wire kennel and she panics, we might try placing her in the kennel bank just to see if she feels better. Some dogs like to have a towel to sit on. We can arrange that too. If neither of those options work, depending on the day, we can try placing her in an exercise pen in the grooming area with us. This is made from just wire panels. It is larger than a kennel and has not top on it. Some dogs like it. Some dogs don’t because they are still enclosed. If none of these options work, we will talk to you about doing an express type groom where we groom Nellie straight through without stopping. This type of groom only works if she accepts either the HV dryer or the stand dryer though!

A nervous dog might also benefit from being groomed on a quieter day. While we cannot ever guarantee what days will be quiet and which days won’t, we can at least make more of an effort to not book dogs we know to be barkers on days with dogs we know to be nervous. In other words, we will make an effort to try! If Nellie’s appointments are pre-booked, it will be even easier to control who is there with her. She might benefit from being the first dog of the day or one of the last. We will always make the effort to figure out what works best for her!

While we modify our techniques for each dog, we will always make an extra effort for nervous dogs. We want them to know that the grooming salon is nothing to be worried about. They might take a little extra time, require a few extra breaks, or even require frequent, short visits to get used to it all, but we will always make every effort to help them feel happy and confident through the entire process!

No Sedated Dogs!

We have all heard of That Dog. The one that maybe lives next door and never has a very pretty hair cut. The one that gets way too long before being shaved way down. The one that screams bloody murder for being brushed. The one that turns into Cujo when it’s nails or feet are touched. That dog that has been kicked out of every salon in the area and now must go to their vet twice a year for a fully sedated groom. We might have thoughts like “Well the groomer clearly didn’t try hard enough,” “All dogs can be trained!,” or “You just need to find the right groomer!”

The truth is that by the time a dog is to the point of a sedated groom, the groomers have tried many, many, many times. They have tried different times, different techniques, different frequencies for grooming. They have tried using different tools. They have tried getting assistance. They have tried grooming when there are no other dogs in the salon. They have tried having their coworker groom the dog since sometimes dogs and people just don’t click for many reasons. If they are a good groomer, they have likely tired more things than you can think of trying to gain this dog’s trust and find that one magical key to getting them groomed. And while most dogs can indeed be retrained for grooming with time and patience, many will also need a little extra medical help in order to get there. That is where sedation comes in.

“Sedation” can be anything from a mood altering medication like Prozac to help lessen anxiety to Trazadone which, while it is an antidepressant, has the benefit of making dogs sleepy, to Acepromazine which can tranquilize an animal for 6-8 hours. Sedation can even include full anesthesia at the veterinarian’s office. It all depends on the dog. A dog who is just scared might benefit from the Prozac or Trazadone. A dog who is full on aggressive might need the Acepromazine or full anesthesia.

At TLC Pet Services, we have decided that we will not groom any dogs who take any prescribed medications for the sole purpose of grooming. If your dog takes Prozac on a daily basis for general anxiety, that is acceptable since you are likely to already know any possible side affects and can let us know about them. If your dog takes Tramadol for pain and they end up sleepy, we don’t want you to not give it, but we might ask you to ask your vet about changing the dose on a groom day to avoid the sleepies. Daily medications, even if they are or can be used for the purposes of altering moods and sedation, are okay as long as you let us know what they take, when they often take it, and any side affects you have noticed. We don’t want anyone skipping daily meds just to get groomed after all!

The reason we do not groom sedated dogs is safety. While many, many groomers out there will groom sedated dogs, the risks often far outweigh the benefits. Every dog reacts differently to drugs. Some dogs will seem sleepy and woozy but then snap and become extra violent, lashing out without giving any warning signs. They might loose any bite inhibition they have, resulting in worse injuries for the groomer or even for themselves. Some dogs will fight through the sedative, causing the unpredictable behaviors. They might suddenly start thrashing around, trying to escape from the grooming loops and table, resulting in injuries to themselves and their groomers. There are heavier sedatives out there that might be prescribed if others have not worked. These can cause the dog to be completely aware of what is going on but be unable to react to the stimuli. How scary would it be for you if you were terrified of a vacuum cleaner and someone then gave you a drug, waited for it to kick in, then started vacuuming around you? You are 100% aware of the noise and the sensation. You are still terrified. But, you can’t do anything about it. You are not likely to react well next time someone brings a vacuum near you while you aren’t sedated!

Without professionally trained staff and equipment to monitor even lightly sedated dogs, we will have no way of knowing if your dog is staggering on the table because the medication is working or if it is because they are experiencing a medical emergency. The signs of a heart attack, seizure, or breathing problem might be reduced or not even present because the sedative is masking them. By the time the signs are clear, it might be too late for your pet. Even if we are fortunate to see the signs early on, we still have to rush your dog from the salon, to our cars, and then to the nearest vet who can help us. It will take a minimum of 5 minutes to get to the vet. Those 5 minutes could mean the difference between a healthy recovery and one with complications or even the death of the pet.

Even if your pet does not experience a medical emergency under sedation (which is most likely to be the case), their behavior can be a challenge. A sedated dog is a wobbly dog. They sway and stagger. They might randomly fall over. They move unpredictably. It is much more likely that your dogs is going to step into our clippers or shears and receive an accidental nick or cut. They might end up with bumps and bruises from accidentally staggering toward the edge of the table and stepping off. It is much, much harder to achieve a decent groom on a head that is always lolling to one side or the other. It is also much, much more dangerous to groom a lolling head as an eye might suddenly be where the shears are supposed to be!

So what should you do if your pet needs sedation for a groom? Talk to your vet! Not every office will provide sedated grooming but they will likely know which offices in the area do. Depending on how bad the dog is for grooming, some vets will provide fully sedated shave downs even if they do not provide regular grooming services. They are not pretty grooms but they are functional!

We never want to reach a point where we have to dismiss your dog from our salon. It causes us as much distress as it causes you! However, if we ever tell you that you need to talk to your vet about a sedated groom, please remember that we have your pet’s best interest at heart. We want them to be safe and happy. We hope that with time, effort, and retraining, they can reach a point where they can come back to see us in the future!

(Hypothetically) There Has Been An Emergency! This Is What We Will Do For Your Pet!

You brought your pup to the groomer. You expect to get a call in a few hours telling you Prince is all ready to come home. Instead, you get the call no one wants to hear or even make: there has been an accident.

We strive to be the safest salon there can possibly be. We take great care and caution when working with your pets. After all, these are little living beings with their own thoughts, feelings, and moods. Bad days can happen to pets just as much as they can happen to people. We pay close attention to their moods and feelings so we can anticipate how the groom is going to go and if Prince needs a few extra breaks on any given day.

In the event of an emergency, there are certain steps we will take to ensure Prince gets the correct care. First of all, the injury will receive a fast assessment. Is anything bleeding? How severe is it? Is it a scratch on the surface in a sensitive area? Is it a small nick on a mole or wart? Was there already a scab we accidentally opened up? Or is it a fresh, deep cut? Is there any injury at all or has Prince simply collapsed? Is he having a seizure? Is he not breathing? What is wrong?

As with humans, there are some minor injuries that require only a band-aid and monitoring. A quicked nail hardly bothers most dogs and can easily be “fixed” with stypic powder AKA Quick Stop or even cornstarch or flour at home. A weeping wart is a skin issue that can open easily. Sometimes they soften and open in the bath tub. Sometimes they open just by the dog bumping them on something! These generally require no more than a quick cleaning and time to scab over before we continue grooming. (If you know of any bumps or warts on your pet, feel free to remind us of where they are and definitely let us know about any new ones you find so we can watch out for them!) Much like a weeping wart, a pre-existing scab can sometimes soften and fall off during the bath, leading to possible redness or even bleeding. Sometimes, a small scratch on a spot of dry skin or in a sensitive area can look horrible but in reality just needs a little time to settle down. We are not vets nor do we pretend to be! When it comes to minor lumps, bumps, dings, and pre-existing wounds, we will always advise you of what we found and let you know how we would proceed with our own pets. Should you feel that you want a vet’s opinion on the matter, we will be happy to help you with that as well. Remember, we will never, ever hide anything from you nor will we ever lie about it. If we caused a minor scratch on Prince’s belly because he zigged and we zagged while combing him, we will own up to it and let you know! If the wart above Prince’s eye started oozing in the tub again, just like it has done every other time he has been in, we will still let you know. If we found a bump with a small scab on his neck under his collar area during his blow out, we will let you know and even show it to you if we can find it again.

If the injury is something more serious, a cut caused by the shears or clippers, an accidental poke to the eye with a slicker brush, or even a quicked nail that will not stop bleeding, fast action is required. We will not hesitate to wrap a bleeding injury in a clean towel and whisk Prince away to a vet’s office. We keep a small travel carrier in the back atop our kennel bank. It is easily accessible in even the most dire emergency. Prince will be placed in the safety of the carrier before heading straight to one of our own personal vehicles. Larger dogs will be leashed to the seats in our vehicles to prevent any escapes. We have worked hard to build a relationship with several area veterinarians. These are vets we take our own pets to as well as local vets who have offered to help us whenever we need them.

We will do the same thing if Prince appears to be suffering for any medical condition. If he has collapsed and is not breathing, we will rush him to the vet as fast as we safely can. If he appears to be having a seizure that shows no signs of stopping, we will rush him to the vet as fast as we safely can. If he is having a hard time breathing, standing, if he appears to be “loopy” and out of it. Anything out of the ordinary, Prince will be rushed to the vet.

We will call you immediately using your primary contact, your secondary contact, and even your emergency contact numbers. In fact, as soon as one groomer is aware of the problem, the other will be calling first a vet to notify them of the situation and then you, the owners, will be called. We will leave a message at each number but we also will not stop trying to reach you until we either get you or we reach someone who knows where you are. We will stay at the vet with Prince until you arrive. If you or someone you know is unable to go to the vet to be with Prince, we will stay with him. If the vet says Prince needs to stay in their care for a little while until you can pick them up, we will update you and either wait for you at the vet’s office if you want us to or return to the salon knowing that Prince is in the best possible care. If you cannot get there and the vet says Prince is okay to go home, we will update you and bring him back to the salon with us.

Have you noticed the certificate on the wall by the door? Our owner, Stacey, is certified in pet first aid and CPR! Every two years, she completes a course and renews her certificate, making sure she is up to date with any new information out there so you can be confident that Prince is safe in her salon. This summer, Jess will also be earning her certificate! We feel that keeping up to date with this type of learning is, though not mandatory in the industry, essential for any and all personnel who work with and around animals. Should we ever hire another groomer or bather, they too will complete courses and earn their certificates if they do not already have one. By taking hands-on learning, you can be sure that we have practiced the skills needed in the event of an emergency.

How about the framed posters above our leash holders? Have you noticed those? Wonder what they are? These posters are basic first aid reminders. In the event of an emergency, these posters hold vital information on how to do certain things such as help a dog who is choking, the steps for CPR, how to make an emergency muzzle, and even how to recognize and stop various types of bleeding. While our CPR and first aid certification training covers these topics and more, Stacey feels that the reminders need to be there for everyone to see just in case. We all forget things sometimes, especially when we are stressed! These posters are small reminders about how to help the pets in our care should we ever need to.

Please know that even a minor incident like quicked nails can upset even the most battle hardened groomers! We never want anything bad to happen to any pet left in our care. Accidents make us feel like we are the worst groomers on the planet. They can make us question our entire career path. When I say we feel awful, it hardly describes the sinking, horrible feeling. If we have had to rush your pet to a vet for any type of an emergency, even one not caused by a groomer, we are likely to be crying and feeling just as low as we can possibly feel!

As always, if you ever have any questions about any of our emergency protocols, about who we would take your vet to in case of an emergency, or how we might handle a specific emergency, please do not hesitate to ask! We take great pride in what we do. We always want you to feel comfortable with us and our salon!

Fleas and Ticks: Start Now To Avoid Infestations This Spring!

With spring on the way, it is time to start thinking more about fleas and ticks, especially if your pet is not on a preventative during the colder months.

Missouri’s wacky weather means it does not always get cold enough for long enough to really kill off any fleas and ticks that could be lurking in our yards. It is a good idea to keep your pet on some sort of preventative year round for this reason.

Even if your pet is on a preventative, the spring pest boom can mean that they still have a few problems. The very best way to prevent a full on infestation is to check your pet and your home constantly for unwanted visitors.

The fastest way to check your pet for fleas is to use a fine toothed flea comb. The teeth on these combs are spaced so closely that fleas and flea dirt cannot slip through them. The downfall is that if your pet has a very long or dense coat, you may not be able to get down to their skin but we will cover that in just a minute. Using the flea comb, make a single swipe from the base of your pet’s neck all the way down to the base of their tail. Upon looking at the comb, you will hopefully see nothing more than a few stray hairs. You may, however, see a live flea or two or just small, black specks. If you see a flea, talk to your vet immediately about the best ways to get rid of them. If you only see specks, you will have to do a little more detective work. Tap the specks onto a white paper towel. Add a few drops of water directly over the specks and wait. If nothing happens, these are probably just little flakes of dirt your pet has picked up by rolling around. I know mine love to roll in the dirt and often have me questioning! If the specks start to dissolve and turn a rusty reddish color, it is flea poop AKA flea dirt. This means there are fleas on your pet, even if you can’t find any with the comb.

For your longer and thicker haired pets, if you cannot get a comb down to their skin or through their coat, part the hair at the base of their tail. This is the most common place to find flea dirt. If you see those tell tale black specks, try to pick a few off and do the paper towel experiment. The belly is another common place to see live fleas. If you flip your pet on their back, you may catch a glimpse of a flea or two scuttling away to safety. You may also notice small red bumps where fleas have been biting them. These can be present anywhere on the pet but are easiest to see on the belly.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts to find something, you won’t and your pet will still be scratching at their necks or chewing on their legs and hind quarters. This might be a sign of fleas but it could also be a sign of a skin or joint problem. If you have any doubts at all, talk to your vet. 

Should your pet have fleas on them, it is almost guaranteed that you have fleas in your home. The life cycle of a flea goes through four stages: eggs, larva, pupa, and adult. While most products will kill larval and adult fleas, the eggs and pupae can be harder to eliminate. This can cause a vicious cycle where you have treated your pets and your home, you don’t see any more live fleas, the itching has stopped so you breath a sigh of relief and relax. Six weeks later, your pet is once again chewing on their hind quarters and there are more adult fleas! The infestation is not back. It has simply continued because the recent crop of eggs and pupae survived. When treating your home, approach it as though the home is infected for at least three months, even if you are not seeing any live fleas. Keep your pets up to date on their preventatives. Wash their bedding constantly in the hottest water possible. Use sprays, bombs, and powders on a regular basis. Or, call an exterminator. The benefit of spending all the money on an exterminator is that they will likely guarantee their work. If the fleas come back in six to eight weeks, the exterminator will return to fix the problem. Even if your pet has never had fleas and shows no sign of fleas, make a habit of checking their bed regularly. You may spot some flea dirt or even dead adult fleas. Dead adults can mean that their preventative is working but there may be a bigger flea problem in your home or yard than you think!

To further combat the issues, you may want to have your yard treated as well. However, keep in mind that while you will be killing the fleas and ticks, you may also be killing beneficial insects as well. In the case of an extreme infestation, there may be no other choice of course.

Ticks can be harder to track down and eliminate since they are not as mobile on your pets as fleas are. Ticks prefer areas with easy access and/or high blood flow. Common places to find ticks are the groin, feet, lower legs, armpits, chest, and around the face and ears. Many times, you can find ticks on your pet simply by patting them. If you feel a lump, part the fur and check it out. If you find ticks, you can remove them carefully with tweezers or with various tick “key” type products available at most store. After removing ticks, keep an eye on the bites. Watch for changes in bite size, skin color, skin temperature, and to be sure any raised lumps are not getting larger. If you have any doubt as to whether or not something is normal, have your pet checked out by a veterinarian. If you have found a large number of ticks on your pet, it is a good idea to have a vet check them out anyway since ticks can carry some gnarly diseases!

To help keep ticks at bay, keep all tall grasses and brush mowed down in areas your pet frequents. Be sure their preventative covers ticks as well, especially if they run in the woods and fields. Did you know that Virginia Opossums eat ticks in your yard? If you have a friendly neighborhood possum, don’t chase it off! Allow it to hunt through your yard at night! You’ll have fewer bugs in the long run!

As the weather yo-yos toward warmer temperatures, keep your eyes open and be proactive! Help your pet, your family, and your groomers have a comfortable spring by preventing any infestations before they start!

Safety and Sanitation Certified Groomers: What Does That Mean?

You have probably noticed us mentioning Safety and Sanitation Certification on this page before. It is something we take great pride in and something that definitely sets us apart from the rest! But what is it? What does it mean for your pets?

Our Safety and Sanitation Certifications through the Intellectual Groomers Association means that we have completed a fairly intense course on the subject and we have passed a knowledge quiz. The course covers nearly all aspects of cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing necessary to keep the salon environment as healthy as it can possibly be. We learned not only about various products which are human and pet safe to clean and sanitize, but also what daily, weekly, and monthly protocols we should have in place. We also learned about various aspects of tub, table, and emergency safety.

One of the very last things we would ever want to happen is a happy, healthy dog coming into our salon and then hearing two or three days later that they had to go to the veterinarian with an infection they likely picked up from us. It is so easy for things like fungal, bacterial, and viral infections to be spread through a busy shop completely by accident. No groomer would ever intend for a dog to become ill but we might not know that another client is! It only takes a moment of inattention for something like a fungal foot infection to be spread from one dog to another because a crate or table wasn’t cleaned and disinfected properly. Therefore, we have taken our new knowledge to heart and follow it to the letter!

Between every single pet, there is a lot of cleaning going on! The shammy towels we use as a first towel on your pet is placed in a vinegar solution which kills most of the common skin bacteria and fungus a pet might have. The wet towels we use on your pet are placed in the laundry bin. We NEVER reuse a wet towel on another pet. Period. A damp towel might be used to mop up water on the floor, but never on another pet. Yes, we do a lot of laundry all in the name of being sanitary! After your pup has been in our tub, not only do we rinse down and wipe out the hair, we also squeegee the water off the walls then spray them down with a peroxide based disinfectant. This is allowed to sit on the tub and walls until the next pet is brought over for a bath. Even though the cleaner is safe for pets and people, we still rinse the tub down before placing your pet in it. We do the same for the safety loops, the drying table, and even the dryer hose. Everything is cleaned and then disinfected before being used on the next pet. After your pet is done on our grooming tables, a similar process takes place. The removable table covers are vacuumed and placed in the laundry. The table top, even though it was covered the entire time, is sprayed down with the same peroxide based disinfectant. The grooming loops are sprayed and moved to the laundry bin. A fresh table cover is placed on the table top. A fresh loop is hooked up. Every tool that touched your pet is cleaned and disinfected before it is used on the next pet either with spray, heat, UV light, or ozone depending on the tool.

Have you noticed the cart between our grooming stations? That cart holds two of the most important disinfecting tools we have! We have a small heat sterilizer which we use for our shears. Any hair or dirt is wiped from the shears. They are then placed in the unit which contains small, heated glass beads. The high heat the beads are exposed to is then evenly transferred around the metal of our shears, killing any pathogens that might remain on them. The microwave-looking box is a sterilizer unit. This uses both UV light and ozone to sanitize tools which either cannot be exposed to high heat or that do not fit into the heat sterilizer. Clipper blades and attachments, combs, brushes, and other tools are placed in this box for 20 to 30 minutes. The combination of UV light and ozone destroys any and all pathogens, making the tools safe and sanitary for the next pet in line.

Once your pets are all gone for the day and the shop is ready to close, the more aggressive cleaners are brought out. These are excellent at cleaning and disinfecting, they are 100% safe to use in the presence of animals, but due to their nature, we feel it is safer to wait until everyone is gone to eliminate the potential risk of irritating someone with a sensitive throat or lungs. Best Shot 256 is used to wipe down all the kennels used during the day, even if we cleaned them with the peroxide based cleaners after a pet checked out and it was not used again. The tub and tables can be sprayed down as well. We will even wash down the walls and baseboards with Mrs. Meyers cleaners on a regular schedule to be sure there are no sneaky pathogens hanging out there, waiting for something to touch them and transfer to a tub, table, or towel! The floor is swept, vacuumed, scrubbed, and mopped with Best Shot, ensuring there is as little hair and dirt on it as possible. Twice a week, we even set up an ozone machine which helps to sanitize the air in the building, reducing the possibility of airborne pathogens and even mold and mildew. In the future, we hope to install a UV/Ozone sanitizer in our heating/AC system to further aid in our quest to be as sanitary as humanly possible.

While sanitation was the main focus of the course, safety was a big part as well. While we already knew the basics of never walking away from a dog on the table or in the tub, it covered other aspects of safety we might not think about, such as having a plan in case of a dog escaping, an aggressive intruder, or even a fire. We do have plans in place for each scenario! Of course, prevention is the best way to approach each of these.

There are times you might show up for your appointment only to find the door locked. You can’t get in! Don’t worry! There is a doorbell. Why is the door locked even though we knew you were coming? If we are working alone, keeping the doors locked is the safety option for us and your pets! If a pet manages to get out of their crate, off the table, our out of our control, the gate is our first line of defense. They can’t get to the door. However, an athletic or determined dog can potentially clear that gate! By having the door locked, we can assure that an unsuspecting owner coming for an appointment doesn’t accidentally open the door while we are trying to coral the Houdini, thus allowing the escapee access to the outside world. While we are in a small, safe neighborhood, we also have to worry about the possibility of an intruder coming into the salon as well. By keeping the door locked when we are not expecting anyone, and when we are alone in the salon, we can keep an aggressive intruder at bay long enough to call the police for help, thus keeping ourselves and your pets safe and sound!

We are confident our little salon will be safe from all but the most aggressive of storms given that it is made from solid brickwork. However, fire is still something that we have to worry about. While our fire risk is low, it is always a possibility. Rest assured that we have a plan in case of fire that does include getting your pets out quickly and safely! If there is ever a fire in the building, all pets will be evacuated through the nearest exit. They will go into our cars as quickly as possible. Our cars will then be moved far enough away from the threat to be safe but not so far that you will have a hard time finding us. Owners would be notified as soon as possible of the incident so they can come collect their pets.

If you ever have any specific questions about our safety or sanitation protocols, please ask us! If you are concerned about any product we use, we will be happy to show you what we use and how we use it. If your pet has any allergies or sensitivities, please let us know so we can adjust for their well being! While we never use products in close proximity to your pets, we do understand that they might be sensitive to products being used in the same room. So ask away! Let us know! We’re happy to adjust to accommodate your furry friends! 

(P.S. - Jess recently passed her class as well!  We are waiting for her certificate to arrive in the mail so we can hang it on the wall with Stacey's for everyone to see!)