Dog Groomers
As dog groomers, we have limitations under the veterinary surgeons act 1966. We should never diagnose or advise on treatment. We should always refer the dog to be seen by the vet should we spot something within the grooming session.
Always recommend the customer books the dog onto a regular grooming schedule to ensure good skin, coat and nails, and it helps give owners an education every 4, 6 or 8 weeks, up to a maximum of 12 weeks so they can better help look after their dog’s skin and coat in-between grooming sessions, too.
We have a responsibility to check vaccination records for when booking dogs into the salon to make sure they are up-to-date. It’s important to check such things of the core vaccines which should be administered to the dogs routinely against such things as Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Parovirus, Parainfluenza, Laptopirosis. If the dog is travelling in and out of the UK, ideally the dog needs to be vaccinated against Kennel Cough, too.
Owners
Owners have the responsibility to keep up-to-date with in-between grooming sessions at home to prevent their dog’s coat from matting. The owners are responsible for providing regular exercise within reason; weather dependant, and give their dog a healthy diet to make sure they are not under or over weight. They should also do regular health checks on their dog, and administer any treatment should they be provided by their vet.
Vets
Vets have a responsibility to prescribe anti parasitic treatments and administering them where applicable, run routine health checks to make sure the dog(s) are not over or under weight and provide a regular exercise routine. They are able to neuter or castrate the dog to stop them from producing, along with spaying to stop the females from entering into their seasons.
