Health

3 Simple Ways to Bring Well-Being into Your Work Space

You know the routine well…busy day grooming, dealing with cranky people and crankier pets, and all day your energy level is being sucked dry and drug down until you feel completely devoid of anything positive.
It’s Time to Come Clean

As soon as Karen walked into my salon with her sweet little mixed breed, Simon, I knew something was terribly wrong. She burst into tears. “I have bad news about my dear Simon,” she sobbed.
Air Cleaning 101: Understanding the Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Clean air. We step outside for a fresh breath of it to clear our heads and rejuvenate our spirits. But what have we just stepped out of and what are we stepping back into?
Claws Out: How Overgrowth of Keratin Leads to Cat Claw Problems

While some fear the feline claw as a dangerous weapon, others admire the beauty and functionality embedded at the base of the cat paw. The extension of the skeletal system allows cats to mark their territory, kill prey and gently get the attention of the ones they love.

Groomers vs Allergies

Back when I was a teenager, I could never wear makeup. Every time I applied it, my face would break out in a rash. Not a good look when you’re 15 and sensitive about your appearance. Hypoallergenic makeup had just made its debut and even that would cause a problem.

Feline Hyperthyroidism: The Alarming Facts

I will be the first to admit that I thought my clients were being neurotic or the vets in my area were over diagnosing hyperthyroidism. Almost every cat I groom seems to have a hyperthyroidism diagnosis.

Skin Comes First: There Is No Hair Without It!

Skin is a wonderfully versatile covering for a body. It is the largest organ and performs many functions. It helps retain heat, insulates against cold, and contains the nerve endings to navigate objects and pressure from our surroundings.

It’s Hair, Not Warfare: A Primer on Shedding

Many misconceptions exist about how, where and why our pets shed and what we, as groomers, can do about it. There are many products on the market to address this very real concern but still so many questions about which is the best one and if they really even work.

Holistic, Organic, or Natural: What’s the Difference?

There are many keywords and catch phrases being thrown around in the industry these days. In our quest to find the healthiest cleansers and conditioners for regular and therapeutic care, we are constantly bombarded with the keywords “Organic”, “Natural”, “Botanical”, and the ever present “Holistic”. Here is a simplified guide to help you define these […]

Help Clients Reduce Allergies to Cats

Cats and allergies—we hear it all the time. Almost everyone seems to be allergic to cats. As groomers, we can and do help humans who have chronic or sudden allergies to their cats.

Holistic Grooming It’s Only Natural

As a long time, homeopathic pet groomer, I have always happily been on the outside of the “regular” grooming circle. I have been called the granola groomer, the hippy groomer—I prefer The Oily groomer. As a certified aromatherapist, essential oils and plants play a central part in my practice.

Pet First Aid Kits

Casey licked my scissors while I was trimming up her feet. Tongues bleed. A lot. My grooming manager pulled out the pet first aid kit and thankfully took over.

CBD Oil for Pets: Is It Safe? Is It Legal?

One of my clients now refers to me as her dog’s “dealer”. As in, making sure I bring the weed treats when I come for his appointment. However, I make it clear that the “weed” treats are not medical marijuana but CBD oil infused treats.

Dirty Shampoo!?! Keeping Your Cosmetics Clean

Grooming products come in every conceivable size and shape of container. Gallon jugs, tubes, jars and bottles are some of the many ways our products are delivered to our shops and salons.

Helping Your Hands: Your Most Valuable Tool

How are your hands? Your wonderful, capable, creative hands. Is your skin rough, dry, cracked and irritated? Healthy skin is our first line of defense against bacteria, and maintaining healthy skin is important.

Safety in the Workplace: Bite Prevention

Every year more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs and cats. Have you been one of them? It is a rare groomer indeed that can answer ‘no’. The very nature of the work we do exposes us daily to the risk.

The Twilight Years: Caring For The Elderly Pet

There are not many things that are more rewarding to me than caring for an elderly pet that has given their life in service to their companions. Caring for them is one of my greatest joys and pleasures.

Taking Care Of Your Groomer-Body

“Dear Michell, I have been grooming for about 11 years and I went to the doctor the other day. I was telling my doctor about my various ailments. My Doctor said to me, “sounds like you need to find a new profession”, and then he laughed.

Cats & Shampoo: Know What’s In The Bottle

In the old days, us groomers used Dawn dish soap, Johnson’s baby shampoo, Goop, alcohol and other unhealthy ingredients on cats. Thankfully we have come a long way and shampoo manufacturers have stepped up to the plate and designed safer alternatives for us to use.

Pet Seizures In The Grooming Salon

You’ve been grooming Fluffy since she was a puppy. Now she’s 12 and the last couple of grooms you noticed that she is a little agitated when you turn on the high velocity (HV) dryer. Maybe her vision is not as good or her hearing is deteriorating.

Shave Science: The Facts About Shaving

There is an ongoing battle raging. Shaving down dogs and cats is probably one of the most controversial topics there is in the grooming industry so I wanted to shed some light on the scientific side of the debate.

The Real Dirt On Cleaning

The first thing that a person notices when they enter your salon or mobile unit is how it looks and smells. Good or bad— that first impression is never forgotten.

Keeping It Clean Safetly

At the same time we want to keep our facilities clean and sanitary, we do not want to breathe in noxious chemicals several times a day. There are many studies that link long-term use of such products to chronic health concerns. However, we still have many choices. Differentiating Between Cleaning & Disinfecting Cleaning removes the […]