Tips For Getting A Dog With Epilepsy (Epi-Dog) Professionally Groomed
Naturally, you can groom your own dog. Or, if you choose to have your Epi-dog professionally groomed, and many do successfully, there are several important things to keep in mind.
First, look for a reputable mobile groomer or a groomer who does house calls. Your veterinarian may even have a groomer on staff, or be able to make a recommendation.
When you have a groomer who does house calls (rather than a mobile groomer), they typically arrive with their own grooming tools and use your bathtub or pet bathing facility. Since I had five Siberian Huskies, one having idiopathic epilepsy and two having had surgeries for blown their CCLs (canine cruciate ligaments), I chose to purchase a walk-in tub for their easy access, rather than have them in our tub and risk slipping or trying to jump out. But you certainly can use your own!
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The tub Gibson and all my FiveSibes, and I, loved.
Click HERE for the link. If out of stock, search around for a
comparable one that is large enough and sturdy enough for your dog,
and has an easy hose/sprayer attachment, and good drain plug.
What’s the Difference Between a
House Call Groomer and a Mobile Groomer?
The difference between the two is a groomer who does house calls will come to your home and groom your dog there using your tub facilities, or an outdoor pet grooming tub you can purchase, as pictured above. While the tub I bought is not currently available, this is a newer version that you can put on steps to bring it up higher. My personal preference was a ground-level one they could walk right in instead of climbing steps. I hooked up the hose and sprayer attachment to the sink inside my house so the water was warm and not freezing cold from the outdoor hose.
A mobile groomer is one who drives to your residence and parks their fully-equipped vehicle, where your dog will enter to be groomed. (I did this after I moved and found a wonderful mobile groomer for Wolfie and Bandit).
In the case of my Gibson, I began his grooming with an in-house groomer at my vet’s. When that groomer left the vet office and switched to doing house calls, I had him groom Gibson, and all five of my Huskies, at my home, where I was present and often helped while they were being groomed.
Since heat/overheating was a trigger for Gibson, and I did not want to risk him getting hot from the dryer. So, our groomer use a hand blow dryer on a cool setting, either in an open space in my house, or (because Huskies are notorious shedders and their blow-outs are like a snow storm!) out on the deck, weather permitting. I’m happy to report, that over all the years of grooming, Gib did well with being groomed at home. An added bonus was that Gibson, and all of my FiveSibes, became very familiar with the groomer, and that helped to minimize the stress of a “spa day.” Thankfully, Gibson never had a seizure before, during, or after being groomed.
Don't Forget the Paws!
Some Helpful Tips When Choosing a Groomer...
Whether you choose a mobile groomer, one who does house calls, or a grooming facility, here are some tips to consider before taking your Epi-dog to a professional groomer:
1. Be sure your Epi-dog has taken his/her anti-seizure medications on time, per usual.
2. Ask for recommendations for a groomer from your veterinarian, vet tech, dog rescue, reputable breeder, pet sitter/walker, and fellow dog caregivers.
3. Check out the grooming place in person. If the lighting is very bright, ask if they can dim them. If there are flashing lights, ask them to turn them off as flashing/strobing lights can trigger a seizure. If the place is too loud, too busy, too fragrant, or too hot, pass on it.
4. Bring your dog back with you to meet the groomer at the facility beforehand. Trust your and your dog’s instincts!
5. Ask to stay with your dog while being groomed.
6. If you can’t stay, inquire whether the groomer has experience with handling Epi-dogs, and knows what to do should the dog go into a seizure. Leave groomer with your dog’s protocol instructions, and wait nearby for your dog.
7. Ask what type of shampoos and conditioners are used, and read the ingredients list. Ask for a mild, chemical and fragrance-free natural shampoo and conditioner.
8. Does your groomer use a dryer in a kennel or a hand-held one? Heat and overheating can be a trigger for dogs with epilepsy, so be sure your Epi-dog is not in an enclosed area with a dryer running, and never left unattended. Ask them to towel dry your dog and/or use a hand dryer in an open space.
9. If your dog has anxiety/stress issues, talk to your vet about what types of medications and/or natural remedies to give your dog prior to a grooming session, and how long in advance.
10. Afterwards, keep an eye on your dog for any pre-ictal signs. If you note any, do your protocol and contact your vet. Keep your dog cool and comfy. Move anything out of the way that could cause harm, i.e. stairs, cords, objects that could fall from above, and other pets; follow the tips on my “Cooling Down an Epi-Dog” veterinarian vetted chart to help keep them cool as a preventative, or during and after a seizure.
11. If your dog is a northern breed (Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, etc.), NEVER have them shaved. The only time this type of breed should ever be shaved is due to vet recommended medical/surgical reasons.
12. Enjoy your beautifully groomed Epi-dog!
This is excellent information! Any dog can overheat, get overanxious at a groomer, or have a bad experience. It's wise to follow your tips even if you don't have an epi-dog.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting this! I didn't know that strong smells could potentially be a trigger. The pup that had seizures when entering our groom salon in the past always had them at a certain spot--right by an aisle of shampoos. I wonder now if it was scents from those shampoos that possibly triggered it.
ReplyDeleteAs Angel Elsa was a standard poodle, she needed to be groomed to maintain that beautiful coat. And as a puppy mill survivor, the stress of going to a groomer was too much for her sensitive soul. Necessity was the mother of invention and over the years I became somewhat competent grooming her using various tricks I learned along the way to clean up her feet, ears and other areas. It often took a few days to complete but I never wanted her to get overly stressed and seize. She never enjoyed it and refused letting me use clippers on her face (but I became pretty good with a pair of scissors), but like all poodles, she seemed to enjoy when she looked good and she'd strut her stuff around and she trusted me which was important. It was a privilege to keep her clean, well groomed and well taken care of and avoiding undue stress. Additionally, it became a great opportunity for us regularly bonding.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! So much to consider when grooming an Epi-Dog. I never thought about all of those aspects before now. Such great information. I started grooming Henry myself a few years ago. I may need a walk in tub still. Actually, I would love a grooming station. Henry likes me grooming him better and I don't have to spend hours fixing what the groomer did to his fur. I'm so glad you discovered all these tricks to keep Gibson safe. An in-home or mobile groomer can definitely be a game-changer. There's not the stress of the grooming salon or barking pups. Excellent article and very informative, Dorothy! You are an inspiration! I'm sharing with all my dog parents.
ReplyDelete