During the worst of the pandemic, fur parents probably asked this question more than any other.

 

Is it universally recognized as essential?

 

PetSmart cited the American Veterinary Medical Association, which “has advised pet parents to continue to ensure their pet is well-groomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 

The veterinary organization, however, disagreed with PetSmart’s interpretation and said that its advice had been misunderstood.

 

“We were trying to convey the importance of keeping animals clean and longer hair coats brushed so as to avoid matts,” a spokesperson for the AVMA said in an email. “The statement was not intended to address the idea of pet grooming as an ‘essential business’.”

 

Pet store chains argue dog grooming is “essential” in pandemic

 

Petco and PetSmart, two of the largest pet supply retailers in the United States, are arguing that pet grooming services are essential to the health and well-being of pets during the height of the pandemic when most of the country remains under stay-at-home mandates allowing only essential businesses to operate.

 

After being closed for two weeks owing to the coronavirus pandemic that caused stay-at-home orders in the majority of U.S. states, the grooming salons at some of PetSmart’s more than 1,660 sites have reopened.

 

“Unlike hair and nail salons for people, several localities have identified professional grooming as a vital part of keeping pets healthy and have permitted pet salons to continue to operate,” a spokesperson for the retailer stated in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. “However, more than half of our salon locations remain closed to comply with government orders and to respect the wishes of some of our associates who have chosen not to return to work at this time.”

 

Both PetSmart and Petco said that they had put social distancing and safety measures in their stores and grooming salons.

 

Why is pet grooming all about providing an essential service?

 

Both the CDC and WHO have said that there is no evidence that pets like dogs and cats can spread COVID-19. There are, however, a few diseases that pets can pass on to humans that can be deadly. Regular grooming can either prevent these diseases or get rid of their causes. In some cases, it can also find diseases that would otherwise stay hidden until pets or their owners are in danger. When we were all stuck in our homes, we were always around our pets, which makes it more likely that we’ll be exposed.

 

Is Professional Dog Grooming Necessary?

 

Even though many dog owners prefer to do the grooming at home, hiring a professional can save you time and effort. To groom a dog, you need a lot of care and patience, especially if the dog is fluffy, a puppy, or has behavior problems. Let’s look at what professional groomers can do for you.

 

 

They Do All of It

 

Professional grooming usually involves brushing, bathing, drying, and trimming or clipping the dog with clean, sanitized brushes and clipper blades. Before giving a dog a bath, the groomer will brush or comb out any mats. This makes it easier to lather the dog with shampoo. They check for signs of infection and clean the dog’s ears. When the dog’s fur is dry, it is trimmed, clipped, or shaved, if that is what is needed or what the owner wants.

 

Most dogs have their hair trimmed around their eyes, on the tips of their ears, and on the bottoms of their feet. They cut the dog’s nails to a length that wasn’t painful since long nails can hurt. Groomers can also use toothpaste made just for dogs to brush their dog teeth.

 

They’re Equipped to Do the Job

 

Professional groomers have all the tools they need to make your dog look his best, including different kinds of clippers, rounded scissors, and a grooming table that can be adjusted. They come with gentle shampoos that aren’t harmful to dogs with skin allergies or irritations or fleas.

 

Groomers have different brushes for different types of coats. The less hair you find on your living room rug, the more hair they take off your dog.

 

They Know How to Handle Dogs

 

 

Dogs that get scared or angry when you try to groom them must be handled gently and with confidence. Some dogs may need to be muzzled while they are being groomed, which is something a groomer can do. If you have back pain or arthritis, getting your dog professionally groomed can help because you won’t have to lift and handle your dog as much.

 

They Handle Icky Stuff

 

Cleaning a dog’s anal glands, giving a muddy or stinky dog a bath, and getting rid of fleas and ticks are not the most fun things to do, but they are part of being a dog owner. A professional groomer knows how to do these necessary but not very fun things.

 

Professional Grooming Offers Health Benefits

 

Professional grooming has health benefits in addition to making your dog look and smell great and cutting down on the time you need to spend grooming your dog.

 

• Regular (but not too frequent) baths help get rid of dirt and keep skin from getting irritated.
• By detangling, coats don’t get matted up and pull painfully on the skin.
• By using the right brush for the type of coat, you can get rid of damaged and dead hair and let a new hair grow for a healthy coat.
• Careful brushing gets rid of dead skin and spreads the dog’s natural oils.
• Lumps, bumps, and skin irritations can be found early on when a pet is being groomed.
• Nail trimming lowers the risk of nail tears, cracks, and painful posture.

 

Frequently Asked Question

 

How Often Should I Have My Dog Groomed?

 

How often you need to groom your dog depends on a number of things, such as its breed, length and type of coat, how much time it spends outside getting dirty, and the weather. It also depends on how you ask a professional to groom your dog. For example, if you ask for a short puppy cut, you might not have to go back for a few months. It also depends on whether you feel comfortable doing some touch-up grooming at home.

 

No matter how often you take your dog to a groomer, whether it’s every six weeks or once a year, it’s best to do a little more grooming at home. Cleaning your dog’s teeth, cutting its nails, brushing its fur, de-matting it, giving it a bath once a month, checking its ears, and cleaning its private parts will make it healthier, more comfortable, and easier to live with.