Is a regularly groomed pet a happier and healthier pet? We think so, and so does that smiling Schnauzer to the left. Besides the eye-pleasing image of a freshly-groomed pet, professional grooming offers pet owners helping hands in maintaining the health of their pets. While providing grooming services the professional groomer examines pets from nose to tail and records their observations are an excellent form of preventative pet health care. During our 40 plus years of providing pet care services we found thousands of suspect conditions that required veterinary care. Groomers across the world find health risks every day unknown to pet owners. Hundreds of pet owners have sent us gifts and cards, called us right back or dropped back in just to thank us for reporting suspect conditions we discovered about their pet while grooming it. Most tell us that we caught a medical condition in time to save their pet discomfort, and even their lives. Photo: Friends of PetGroomer.com Gallery

Most pet owners don't take their pets to veterinarians until there is a problem. Unless they are pet professionals most pet owners don't know how to make a proper inspection of their pets for health care issues. Professional groomers don't actually sell this service, but if they are well-trained and alert they will find suspect conditions quite regularly. Hopefully, they will record their observations and advise pet owners to seek veterinary care. Groomers are often dog's best friends in helping to maintain their health.

Groomers find most conditions by smell (foul odors sometimes caused by potential infections), and feel. When bathing a pet groomers literally run their hands from nose to tail over a pet, and all sorts warning signs of a medical condition can be discovered, such as lumps, bites, cuts, swelling, sores and many more. Groomers listen to pets, and in our experience, we have even heard severe heart congestion and advise medical attention. Of course, we have also found weeds down in ears, weeds lodged skin, rubber bands and paper clips lodged in mouths of pets, and on and on.

Proper nail cutting is another benefit of regular cutting. When nails are not cut regularly and correctly they may overgrow and prevent dogs from placing their full body weight down. The result is usually one sore dog with joint discomfort all over. Proper ear cleaning is another task not done well by most pet owners. Ear problems can result and be very serious indeed.

Flea and tick control is but another added benefit of regular grooming. Groomers are key in helping pet owners prevent infestations and their side effects. Not many pet owners realize that pests can bring along other problems like tapeworms and bacterial infections. Working together to schedule a flea and tick control grooming appointment while an owner's house and yard are sprayed by pest control, groomers help take the bite out of pests.

Skin and coat health requires regular grooming and the right product for each pet's individual coat and skin characteristics. There are so many variations and exceptions with each pet's individual skin and coat characteristics, it's not reasonable to expect pet owners to know on their own the exact care their pet requires. Professional groomers know the various skin and coat types, and the appropriate products, for most pets. They know conditions that require medical attention and ensure that pet owners are notified with a medical advisory.

Most pet owners know very little about professional grooming and maintenance grooming between appointments. It is no surprise then that thousands of pet owners brought us pets with health problems, such as ear conditions and nails that had never been clipped or done wrong. Coats are often matted even though owners said they regularly brushed and combed them. We understand. It takes training to professionally groom a pet and remove undercoat especially in double coated dogs. We believe every breed and mixed breed can benefit from regular grooming by a professional groomer and maintenance grooming by their owners between appointments.

Regular grooming may seem as if it is only about the joy of clean and attractive pets, but professional groomers add an extra dimension of care that helps pet owners to maintain healthier pets.

Photo: A Day in a Pet Grooming School Exhibit

A word of caution for pet owners reading this material. Never assume that every groomer will automatically make a point of providing your pet with a professional grooming inspection and written records of their inspections. We did. We know hundreds of groomers that do. But you should not assume that every groomer does unless you interview your groomer and ensure their professional practices match what you have read here.

We are NOT saying It is the role of the groomer to make in-depth health inspections, that is the role of a veterinarian. Instead, realize that in making pre-grooming inspections and providing grooming services, groomers may observe conditions that might require medical attention. Even the best owners sometimes miss the signs of health problems on their pets. Isn't that great to having some helping hands with your pet care responsibilities? It's a great side benefit of professional grooming. We suggest you read more detailed information on this topic in our Pet Owner Assistance section. Ideally, pet owners should set up a preventative health maintenance program with their veterinarian.