Can Dog Groomers Clean Teeth? šŸ¦·

Tips on maintaining a dog's dental hygiene through regular grooming practices!

Happy Friday Daily Groomers!

This marks our 1 year anniversary of writing this newsletter which means itā€™s time to expand our team! This week, weā€™ve had a new intern at the Daily Groomer HQ.

Meet Daisy Dukes, an 8 week old Golden Retriever puppy, that keeps us company as we write this newsletter.

She enjoys biting toes, taking naps on the air vents, peeing on our hard wood floors, and she has the worsttt (or best) puppy breath!

So for this weekā€™s email, letā€™s talk all about keeping those pearly whites clean!

Whether you have clients asking for teeth brushing OR itā€™s something that you regularly provide as an add-on or standalone service, brushing your dogā€™s teeth is an important part of maintaining their overall health.

Just like humans, our furry friends are also not immune to dental problems. Preventing dental problems and spotting them as soon as they appear can help lessen the damage for themā€“and for you.

Unlike humans, dogs canā€™t tell you when theyā€™re experiencing dental problems, but there will always be signs. Here are some signs to look for the next time you have a dog on the table:

  • Bad Breath

  • Red or Bleeding Gums

  • Loose or Broken Teeth

While some of these canā€™t be solved without recommending veterinary attention, most early issues can be solved by preventative care as quick ā€œadd-onā€ of teeth cleaning services or by having another set of eyes on the petā€™s dental health!

Here is the basics to nailing the teeth brushing technique:

  • Lift the dogā€™s lip to expose the teeth.

  • Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the teeth.

  • Use gentle, circular motions to brush the teeth and gum line.

  • Focus on the outer surfaces of the teeth, which are more prone to plaque buildup.

  • Start at the front and work your way to the back teeth on one side, then switch to the other side. Spend about 2 minutes brushing to ensure you cover all the teeth.

To get the entire protocol for teeth brushing, make sure you download our newest guide The Professional Groomerā€™s Pocketbook

As a groomer, you may only have your hands on these pets every 6 to 8 weeks. Itā€™s a plus to send your clients home with a toothbrush and educate them on dental home care and recommend a pet friendly toothpaste, or other dental home care options like dental chews, diets or water additives.

šŸ—£ļø What People Are Barking About

The best of the best advice or thought provoking topics shared this week onlinešŸ‘‡

This seems like a slippery slopeā€¦ Morally you feel obligated to help but there are liability issues at hand. A former PetSmart salon manager chimed in and said, helping this older gentleman ā€œis a fireable offense. The animal is in the care of PetSmart until the owner picks them up. If something would to happen while the dogs where in the care of the groom, PetSmart would be help liable.ā€

How would you handle this scenario?

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āœ‹The Groomerā€™s Toolkit

šŸ“š Read - ā€œDo groomers know how to do all breed styles?ā€ This sparked a great discussion this week in The Daily Groomer Facebook Community! Join in on the support from fellow groomers in our private Facebook group. ā¤ļø

šŸ“ŗ Watch - You NEVER know when youā€™re going to need that next groomer. Watch Shannon Oā€™Dore breakdown why sheā€™s ā€œAlways Hiringā€ on  on YouTube.

šŸŽ§ Listen - Customer service can make or break your grooming reputation. Listen to my friend Naz explain her 3 pillars to excellent customer service on the latest episode of The Daily Groomer Podcast.

Thatā€™s all folks! Until next time, letā€™s rock ā€˜n roll šŸ¶šŸ¤˜