Hindlimb Lameness
When a dog has pain in its back legs, for example arthritis, these legs might be painful which can cause aggression in the dog.
Avoid touching the hind legs.
If a dog has painful joints, the groomer should be careful not to move the joints in ways that could be uncomfortable.
Additionally, a dog may not be able to stand for long on the grooming table, so they should be either supported with a belly strap, or given frequent breaks so they can lie down.
Overweight
Obese dogs find grooms harder and more painful.
Their weight can limit their movement, can cause breathing difficulty and their skin folds can trap moisture and dirt leading to infections, sores or mats.
Also heavier dogs can cause injury to the groomer and may require two groomers to groom the dog – you can also use a belly strap to support the dog.
As a groomer, we can help obese dogs by not lifting their legs too high as they can often have arthritis as a side effect of their obesity.
Warm dryer air can over heat an obese dog and create breathing stress, so cooler air should be used.
Obese dogs tire out quickly so they should be given frequent breaks.
Ear discharge and odour
An infected dog’s ear can be painful and stressful for the animal. They may become aggressive and pull away. Also water in the ear can easily make the infection worse.
If we have a dog with an ear infection, one option would be to stop the groom entirely or refuse to clean the ears until the infection has gone. If we discover an ear infection, we will advise the owner to take their dog to their vets for advice and treatment.
Skin-fold dermatitis
Dog skin fold dermatitis (especially in Brachycephalic breeds) makes grooming a lot more complicated and high risk.
Dermatitis in skin folds can be painful and can harbour severe bacterial or yeast infections.
Basic grooming procedures such as washing or blowdrying can aggravate these areas.
The groom should be amended to ensure thorough drying in skin folds, the use of hypoallergenic products with gentle formulas or if there are open sores, discharge or a foul smell, the groom should be stopped and the owner advised to visit their vets.
