Dog groomers are those intrepid souls who take matted hounds and turn them into sweet-smelling puppy princes and princesses. They also help prevent or treat these 3 common dog maladies:
1) When red rain is falling down - on your dog's face.
Some breeds, especially smaller terriers, have weird eyelids or blockages in their little doggie tear ducts that keep normal tears from draining inside their faces. Instead, the tears dribble out under their eyes and trickle down their noses, causing unattractive red or dark stains to develop where the tears have flowed.
Another cause of these stains is too much eye irritation, often from eyelid hair. Since a dog's nose holds in moisture, and since dogs are always sticking their noses in nasty stuff, a secondary bacterial infestation can occur in the tear stains, turning them ugly colors and even causing a foul smell.
One way to avoid tear stains is to have a professional groomer keep the area around the eyes and on the snout well-trimmed, which prevents excessive hairs from scratching the eyes. When your dog groomer trims this area, they also remove the potential for more bacteria to grow. Of course, your vet should be consulted if you think your pup's tear ducts are truly impacted.
2) When fleas make your dog want to chew all its hair off.
Some dogs are highly sensitive to the allergens that fleas introduce into their systems when feasting on the poor canines' blood. If your dog starts frantically and excessively itching, scratching and biting at its fur, ask your vet to determine if your pup has a flea allergy.
The sensitivity, called Flea Allergy Dermatitis, can cause your dog to lose significant fur over parts of its body. Additional infections and skin diseases are also a risk, and many dogs who ingest fleas are found to be infested with the tapeworms that fleas carry.
Since the best prevention and treatment for this allergy is getting rid of the fleas, your groomer should be your first line of defense. Professional dog stylists have flea treatment shampoos and dips to get rid of and to repel fleas, and they also have soothing products to help your dog grow back a healthy, hairy coat.
3) When anal sacks make a huge stink.
You may have gone your whole life never caring about what goes on at the back end of your dog, as long as it's not in the house. But one feature of dog anatomy - the anal sacs - will definitely show you what you've missed if they become impacted and swollen.
These sacs are actually glands that secrete a distinctive and gross scent, sort of like your dog's own unique ID card. They help dogs know who is friend or foe, which explains all the sniffing dogs engage in when exploring each others' nether regions. If the ducts in the sacs get clogged, your dog may begin to smell pungent and may also experience pain or severe itching of the rear end.
If your dog has this problem, your vet may recommend squeezing the sacs, in a similar manner as popping zits, to help the excess secretions move out of the swollen glands. If your dog groomer takes over this task, they may become your new best friend. More importantly, their diligence in keeping your dog clean and properly trimmed will go a long way toward avoiding this problem altogether, since bacterial infections are often to blame for smelly, swollen anal sacs.
A clean dog has a better chance at staying healthy, offering less of an opportunity for parasites and bacteria to invade. Your dog grooming professional is a key ally when it comes to your furry companion's well-being, comfort, and appearance.
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