How to choose a safe groomer for your pet

A good groomer leaves your pet clean and relaxed, and notices things you might miss, like spots on the skin or a sore ear. The wrong one can hurt or frighten an animal so that it fears being handled at all. A few questions before the first appointment make the difference.

The usual services

• Bath and dry with a shampoo made for pets.
• Brushing and detangling long coats.
• Nail trims and cleaning the outer ear.
• Clipping or trimming to suit the breed.
• At your home or in a salon; each has its advantages.

Questions before you book

• Have you handled my kind of pet? Cats aren't dogs, a Persian isn't a baladi cat, and big dogs need experienced hands.
• Do you ask for the vaccination card? If not, the animals there may not be vaccinated.
• Do you use heated cage dryers? Hot air blown on a closed-in animal can be dangerous, especially for flat-faced dogs.
• Is someone with the animal the whole time? Or is it left tied to the table alone?
• Do you sedate? Sedation is a vet's decision. A groomer should never give medicine on their own.
• What happens if there's a cut? Which vet is nearest?

On the first visit

• Check that it's clean, smells clean, and that tools are cleaned between animals.
• Ask whether you can stay close the first time or see the work area.
• Keep the first appointment short and simple, such as a bath and nails, so your pet gets used to it.

Clipping in an Egyptian summer

• Double-coated dogs (Husky, German Shepherd) are protected from the sun by their coat. Ask your vet before shaving them right down.
• Big mats in Persian cats sometimes need clippers rather than scissors, which can cut the skin.

Red flags

• Refusing to let you see the place or who will handle your pet.
• Shouting at, yanking or hitting a scared animal.
• Your pet comes back cut, limping or terrified with no clear explanation.