Pet Grooming

Pet Grooming covers care of the coat, skin, claws and ears in dogs, cats and other companion animals. A grooming session usually includes a bath with shampoo suited to the coat type, drying and brushing, a full or hygienic trim, nail clipping, cleaning of the ears and the area around the eyes, and, where needed, de-matting or removal of the undercoat during moulting periods. For breeds whose coat never stops growing, a regular trim is not a luxury but part of normal upkeep.

You need grooming when the coat tangles and forms mats, when the animal smells strong even soon after a bath, when the claws grow too long and change the gait, when the moulting season starts, or when a puppy needs to be introduced gradually to scissors, the dryer and having its paws handled. Gentle grooming also heads off skin problems hidden under a neglected coat, which the groomer can spot early and flag to you.

When you choose a grooming salon, check experience with your breed, how waiting animals are kept and kept calm, whether it works by appointment so they do not spend hours in a cage, what shampoos and equipment are used, and how an elderly or anxious animal is handled. Ask for a price estimate based on size, coat type and its condition, because a matted dog takes far more time; ask whether severe de-matting is charged separately and whether a short clip is recommended instead of painful de-matting.

Get the animal used from an early age to having its paws, ears and muzzle touched and to the noise of the dryer, in short, positive sessions at home, because a puppy that is relaxed at its first groom will accept care far more easily for the rest of its life. Between sessions, brushing at home a few times a week reduces mats and lengthens the interval between grooms.

Use this directory to find grooming salons in your city, compare services, hours and reviews, and open each salon's page for contact details and a map before booking a session.