Grooming keeps dogs healthy, confident, and looking good. Following a session, most dogs strut to show their joy in their appearance and how they feel. But beyond the glow, the right grooming specialist in South Denver/Littleton is gentle and loving, spoiling him as he gets clean.

Most importantly, professional groomers can contribute to a pet’s preventive healthcare regimen, almost helping you to collaborate with the vet when health concerns are detected. Visit The Importance Of Pet Grooming | Pet Health | Pet Groomers – for reasons pet grooming is essential.

When a lump is felt while bathing or irritation is recognized within the ears or over the skin, or a number of other issues, the groomer, in a routine session, can spot the problem to head off a serious and expensive medical issue.

The groomer sees a pup much more frequently than the vet and can identify problems in the early stages; these could progress to a severe level by the time a vet performs the six-month exam. How can your grooming specialist help with your pet’s health needs? Let’s examine a few key areas.

The Health Benefits of Dog Grooming

Regular dog grooming is a vital component of a pup’s overall health and well-being.  Many people groom or schedule professional grooming when their dog appears tattered; however, at this point, he’s actually overdue, putting him at risk for health concerns.

Routine care with a grooming specialist in South Denver/Littleton not only maintains a pup’s personal hygiene but also helps pet parents keep tabs on their dog’s overall wellness. When scheduling a consistent appointment with a favored specialist, this groomer will become familiar with your pet.

Any abnormalities in their coat, skin, ears, in their mouth will stand out and can be reported to the vet for further examination. When caught early, health concerns can be more readily treated, with the potential of preventing the worsening of a condition.

Part of a pet parent’s responsibility is ensuring the best group of professionals, from the vet to the groomer to a credentialed dog trainer, are part of their wellness team. Guidance on finding the best among the experts and more tips can be found here.

Follow below to learn the varied health benefits you can expect with regular pet grooming appointments.

Skin issues

A professional groomer sees your pup roughly every six weeks. With consistent bathing, brushing, and cuddling, the specialist becomes familiar with his body. When something seems out of the ordinary, they will immediately detect and report it to you.

You can then reach out to the vet to follow up on the concern. The sooner a skin issue is found, the better the chances for successful treatment. Some common skin concerns dogs encounter and groomers readily notice often before a pet parent recognizes it include the following:

  • Infection: A foul, musty odor typically accompanies the beginning of a skin infection. The skin will be thick, with pustules and redness forming. Hair loss is also common.
  • Eczema: The common signs of eczema include flaking of the skin, dryness, and wrinkling. The skin will be thick with the potential for open sores or a rash and edema.
  • Ringworm: The most prominent signs of ringworm are circular areas of inflammation and scabbing with hair loss. The dog will also have damaged hair and brittle nails.
  • Hotspots: These sores are open and swollen with bleeding or oozing fluid.
  • Allergies: Dogs typically develop hives with allergies, usually around the eyes, ears, paws, armpits, and the groin. The skin will appear dry and flaking.

Fleas or ticks

Groomers are attuned to ticks and fleas on a dog’s body. The longer the problem exists, the more prone the pup is to severe issues. Early detection of fleas, in particular, can prevent the potential for a major infestation. Ticks expose pups to Lyme disease, so the earlier these are found and removed, the better.

When walking or hiking with a pup, it’s essential to check his body when you get back home, particularly if you’ve been in a wooded area or hiking in the wilderness among tall grasses. Ticks prefer moist, warm areas and are challenging for the pup to reach spots such as the ears.

Flea eggs are minuscule and can be confused as sand or flaking, dry skin considering their size and off-white color. Pet parents can confirm a pup has fleas by inspecting his bedding for flea feces which has a crumbly, dark appearance but will turn red when moistened.

Lumps or bumps

Groomers handle pups regularly and pet parents are urged to do so at home so they become familiar with their body. Pups experience varied bumps and lumps, soft and hard with some being more serious than others. Early detection is key to help reduce worsening.

A few common reasons for dogs to have lumps or other abnormalities include the following

  • Mast cell tumors: These are usually firm and reddish in color but have the potential for mimicking other skin issues. The mast cell tumor is cancerous.
  • Warts: These are the result of papilloma and resemble a head of cauliflower.
  • Fatty tumors: Lipomas are another name for the fatty tumor which is a benign growth or non-cancerous. These usually appear on obese or senior pups and are squishy to the touch with a round or oval shape.

Commonly they appear on the belly or chest but it is possible to feel them in other areas. They can grow to a large size in time but vets typically won’t  remove them unless they create an issue for the dog.

  • Abscess: An abscess contains pus and develops under the skin. They are swollen, painful lumps that ooze and produce a bad odor when they burst. These can become severe if neglected leading to the potential for fever.

Even a non-cancerous lump can become infected if neglected. It’s critical to consult the vet when any bump or lump is detected.

Final Thought

These few examples just graze the surface of many ailments of which the severity can be reduced when detected early by South Denver/Littleton grooming specialists. Click here to learn why your pup needs pet grooming.

Pet parents can also notice health concerns by routinely handling their dogs, petting, massaging, and cuddling – it’s tough work, but someone’s got to do it :).