|
1.
Is personal grooming
in my home more expensive than grooming salons?
Because personal
grooming at your residence is a specialty service, it is expected to be a bit pricier
than a traditional grooming shop. Gas, personalized
service, convenience and travel/time expenses are factored into the prices you
see. See price link below.
My personal
goal for Spa Dog is to make the grooming experience at your home a high quality,
pleasant experience well worth the price. I have worked at grooming shops and I know
first hand what the experience is like for the pup, groomer, and the owner. I would
whole heartedly prefer my precious pup to be pampered by a home groom than be subjected
to the atmosphere a traditional grooming shop brings!
Please click on the link for Services & Prices for more detailed information.
2.
What if my pet is aggressive or bites?
Spa Dog does
not groom aggressive dogs. Spa Dog
reserves the right to refuse service to an aggressive or biting dog.
If a dog becomes aggressive during the groom, the session may be stopped
and the client will only be charged for the part of the groom that was completed.
If the biting or aggression is mild, the groomer reserves the right to use a soft
nylon muzzle to help contain the behavior.
Muzzles are a humane and safe way to deal with slight aggression. For a groomer,
our hands are our most important tools.
A dog bite can put a groomer out of work for several days or weeks, which would
be a loss of clientele and income.
3.
What if my pet is severely matted?
If the matting
is severe on a dog, it can be extremely stressful and painful for your pup to endure.
It is impossible to know what is lurking underneath the thick dense clumps of hair…sores,
moles, skin tags, etc. If the groomer
determines the mats are too severe to comb or brush out, the groomer may suggest
a complete shave down of the area.
Other options would be to stop the groom and take the dog to the vet for
consultation.
The best solution
to matted hair is prevention! If your
breed’s hair tends to matt, brushing on a regular basis is necessary.
Another great option would be a shorter more manageable haircut!
Please be aware
that if the groomer works on matted hair, greater risks of nicks and cuts may arise
due to the uncertainty of what is underneath.
While I always take extra care when working with matted hair, please understand
the groomer will not accept liability for this type of injury.
Please click on the link about matted hair for more info!
4.
How long will the groomer be at my house?
I would say
a good estimate is about 2.5 hours per dog. Sometimes shorter, sometimes longer… it
depends on the breed, the condition of the hair, and the complexity of the haircut.
I am a big believer in quality over
quantity. I will stay until the job
is complete and my area is clean, even if it takes longer than I anticipated.
Every dog is unique and some breeds
may take longer.
5.
Is the groomer going to make a big mess in my house?
Rest assured.
Any mess that is made will be completely cleaned up.
One of my tools is a device called a clipper vac that eliminates much of
the traditional mess associated with grooming.
The clipper attaches to the vac and lifts and sucks the pet hair and dander
as I groom the pup. Any remaining hair from scissoring or other messes will be completely
cleaned up before I leave. Many clients
prefer the groom take place in a closed off area like the bathroom or utility room
to keep the mess contained. Basically,
what I need is a bathtub or utility sink to bath the pup, good lighting, and a plug
to run the grooming tools. If you have a super furry pup or one that sheds a lot,
I can always blow dry them outside in the backyard if you have a plug or extension
cord.
6.
Why does Spa Dog have a weight limit of 70 lbs or less?
Because I groom
alone, it is much more manageable for me to focus on the medium to smaller breeds.
Please feel free to ask about special exceptions for larger dogs.
7.
What is an anal gland and why is it helpful to keep them expressed?
Have you ever
seen your pup scooting its rear on the carpet?
Well, chances are, your pup is trying to express the anal glands.
These glands can become stopped up and even impacted, which can lead to “stinky
butt syndrome”,
discomfort,
unsanitary carpets, as well as health issues for your pup. Larger breeds have fewer
problems naturally expressing their glands, but the smaller breeds often need extra
help. Many clients choose to have this
optional service performed as a regular part of the groom.
The anal glands will be gently expressed externally to remove the foul discharge.
If the glands are impacted (which is
also common), you will not be charged for the service, and I will recommend having
them expressed internally at your next vet visit. The charge for this service is
$5.00.
8.
Why is it important to brush my pup’s teeth?
Besides the
obvious benefit of fresher breath and cleaner teeth, proper oral health care for
your pup can add 2 to 5 years to their life according to Oxyfresh.com.
80% of pets over the age of 2 have periodontal disease.
Just as with people, improper oral care can lead to serious, often deadly
conditions such as heart, lung, kidney, and liver disease…not to mention premature
tooth loss. Proper care can add years
and quality to your pet’s life!
This optional
service is $5.00.
Check out the link for Pet Dental Care for more information.
9.
Why do I have to sign paperwork about my dogs vet records and pet liability release
forms?
God forbid
anything ever happens to any of my clients’ dogs, but being prepared in case of
an unforeseen accident is the only way to be. In the case of
an emergency, I need to know if you are OK with me bringing your pup to the nearest
vet for treatment if necessary. I also need to know your pet’s history, up to date
vaccinations, and any medical problems or meds that your pup may be taking.
During my schooling,
our instructor was demonstrating a groom on a Golden Retriever when without any
warning signs; the dog just lowered his head and fell over right in front of us
all. The dog urinated and appeared
to have stopped breathing. As I looked on in horror, I saw the importance of knowing
canine CPR! My instructor knew exactly
what to do, and within 10 seconds she was giving the lifeless dog CPR.
After about 2 of the longest minutes of my life, the dog showed signs of
breathing again. The instructor’s boss
had already called the vet’s office and the dog was immediately transported. As
it turned out, the dog had diabetes and basically had a low blood sugar episode
and collapsed. I’m happy to report the dog fully recovered, but it was definitely
eye opening to how quickly things can escalate to an emergency situation.
Grooming is a stressful event for any dog,
especially geriatric, no matter where they are groomed,
or who is grooming them. Unforeseen
medical problems can come to surface during any stressful or anxiety ridden event.
I deeply care about all the pups I groom, and I know that having a plan is the responsible
thing to do. Our instructor taught
my class canine CPR that same afternoon in light of the medical event we all witnessed.
Some minor
occurrences in grooming can be dealt with at the site of the groom without the need
of vet medical attention. While accidents are by no means a regular occurrence,
all groomers encounter them at some time or another if they groom on a regular basis.
Hydrogen peroxide, septic powder, and liquid bandage are common items many groomers
travel with.
During
nail trimming, if the quick of
a nail is grown out too long or the nail is cut too short, it can lead to
minor bleeding.
Small nicks and cuts can happen with a sudden jerk from the pup or an unforeseen
mole or skin tag, or irritation under the skin. The first aide products mentioned
above should be able to remedy these situations at your home.
One of the
reasons severe matting is such a problem, is that it is impossible to know what
lurks under a matt until after the fact. Nicks and cuts are at a much higher risk
during de-matting procedures. This is also why a groomer should not be held responsible in the case of injury
while dematting hair.
If an injury
warrants vet care and it is the fault of the groomer, the groomer will pay for the
cost. However, there are times when
the groomer is not at fault and the client must assume responsibility for the injury.
Such was the case with the diabetic dog.
A licensed vet will be able to better diagnose the problem.
Again, grooming
in general is stressful, especially for geriatric dogs. The owner must be aware that unforeseen medical problems
can arise during a grooming session. Having your
grooming done in your own home will definitely cut down on the stress and anxiety
of your pup!
Click here to go to new customer forms.
|
