Pet Grooming Professionals – What to Look For and How To Keep Your Pet Safe

     We tend to ask friends and family members for recommendations for physicians, automotive technicians, and pediatricians.  Why not do the same for a pet grooming professional?

     Your pet is a beloved member of the family.  When you leave your pet with a relative stranger for grooming purposes, you want to make sure your pet will be safe while he’s away from you.  When it comes to pet grooming professionals, what questions should you ask?  Here are some tips on what to look for when it comes to choosing a pet grooming professional and some information on how to keep your pet safe when entrusting him to a relative stranger.

1. As mentioned above, the first thing step is to ask for referrals from your veterinarian or from friends who take their pets to a groomer. 

2. Prior to leaving your pet with a pet groomer, visit their shop without making an appointment.  If they don’t know you’re coming, you’ll see how they really do business.

3. When you enter the shop, does it smell foul or does it smell sanitized?  You can tell a lot about a pet-grooming establishment as soon as you enter the front door.

4. Ask politely to see the grooming area.  Is it clean?  Are the cages in good repair?  Is there fresh water available for your pet?  The towels or blankets inside each cage should be clean. 

5. Take a look around the grooming area.  Do you see an unusual amount of pet hair on the floor?  If you see several colors of pet hair, be skeptical.  In between each animal, the groomer should be sweeping and sanitizing the area to prepare for the next pet. 

6. Check out the grooming tools being used.  Just as we would want a surgeons tools to be clean and sanitized, a pet grooming professional should keep his tools clean and tidy as well.

7. How about the grooming professional?  Is he or she dressed nicely?  Do they appear to have good personal grooming habits?  Make sure to look over their clothing for dried blood or other suspicious stains. 

8. Request to watch a pet being groomed.  If they refuse, think twice about using this pet groomer. 

9. Listen to how the grooming professional speaks to the animals.  If they speak firmly and positively, they will most likely handle your pet in the same manner.  The opposite is also true.

      Once you’ve decided to give a particular pet-grooming establishment a try, there are still a few more steps to take once your pet returns from the groomer.  A professional pet groomer will share with you up front if your pet sustained any nicks or cuts during the grooming session.  Accidents do happen sometimes when a pet reacts quickly and unexpectedly.  However, if the groomer hides these things from you, move on to another groomer.

     Many times pets will seem a bit upset when they first return from being groomed, especially after their first visit.  However, if your pet continues to react strangely or seem unusually afraid after visiting the groomer, you may want to try a different grooming service.
 
     By taking the steps outlined above, your pet will stay safe when in the company of someone you may not know very well.  When your pet returns to you happy, looking great, and smelling great, then you’ve found yourself a pet grooming professional!  Be sure to tell others about a good experience as well as a negative one.  The pros out there need good publicity!