CHALLENGING SITUATIONS

Senior Dogs

Dogs become Seniors at different ages. Smaller dogs, such as Miniature Schnauzers often have longer lifespans - they become seniors between 6 and 8 years of age and often stay seniors for a longer period than a large breed. Larger breeds with shorter average lifespans, such as Rottweilers, may be considered a senior at just 5 years of age.

Understanding a senior’s needs is very important if the dog is to be comfortable during a groom. Special care must be taken of joints and feet to account for arthritis and muscle wastage. Senior dogs, just like puppies, may not be able to tolerate long grooms. Working with the owner to find the best solution to a meet their grooming needs is a must. Maintenance trims may be easier for the dog than a breed specific trim.

As dogs age, some breeds are more prone than others to hair loss and growing wart-like lumps on their skin. When evaluating the grooming needs of these dogs it is worth considering using an extension comb instead of a blade to avoid injury and bald spots.

Senior dogs do not cope with extended periods of standing on a table and they may become too unsteady or frightened during the use of a high velocity dryer. Sometimes it is best to hand dry these older dogs to prevent panic attacks or other medical episodes. Breaking a groom down over a day or a week can be helpful to these dogs. You might like to clip the dog one day and bath it the next, or have the owner bath the dog at home prior to a grooming appointment.

Geriatric grooming is different again. Great care must be taken when grooming these dogs, and its it important to always groom for their welfare rather than making them look pretty. It is often a great comfort to the dog if a family member is present with a geriatric dog, especially if they are senile or confused. This also allows the owner greater insight to their dogs grooming capabilities.

Be guided by the dog and let them set the pace for the groom. Be gentle and caring, and do not ask too much of these soulful, frail creatures. Give yourself and the dog the time they need in a quiet and stress-free environment. Keep these sessions brief, as geriatric dogs can be very compromised.

NILLA | Elderly Shih Tzu

Take a detailed look at handling and grooming a senior Shih Tzu with Colleen and Nilla (as in, Vanilla!) Each video has a detailed description below highlighting the key points and take away message. Having a good relationship with the owners of senior dogs, and having knowledge and resources to pass on to them to explain what is changing with their dogs grooming needs will help you manage these dogs’ comfort going forward.

The comfort and safety is the most important part of grooming a senior dog who does not handle grooming well.
Communication and understanding with the owner that the dog may be not perfectly groomed, or even unfinished sometimes for their welfare is an important part of the grooming process. It is often kindest to only perform the parts of the groom the dog can handle on the day, and to schedule regular grooms to address any parts of the groom that were not able to addressed at the pervious groom.

EQUIPMENT USED Clippers, Dark Blue ext, #10 blade, #30 blade, nail clippers, slicker brush, comb, curved scissors.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

PART 1 Performing a comfort groom on a senior dog with multiple health concerns Handling a senior dog means restrictions on how they can move - whether it be due to pain or due to stiffness in the joints. Working within the limits of the dog, and using as much extra support as possible to keep the dog stable and comfortable is key to getting a comfort groom done.

PART 2 Eyes, underarms and groin Keeping a senior or difficult dog on a regular schedule can help you make the grooming experience more comfortable for the dog (and the groomer!). If the dog is too sore or fussy to get one part of the body done perfectly one visit, it can be focused on first at the next visit. This means you don't need to keep attempting to groom an area of the body the dog is uncomfortable with, because you will be able to attempt it again in only a couple of weeks

PART 3 Techniques to clip the body & legs of a senior Shih Tzu Clipping as much of the body and legs of an older dog as effectively as possible is a great way to reduce groom time - but only if the dog is tolerating it. Scissoring may be your best option for the welfare of a dog if they have very painful legs.

When choosing a length to clip at, an extension comb is a great choice for a senior dog as they often have lots of warts or skin tags that are very easy to catch under a blade, and they often have quite thin hair that an extension comb will leave a bit more coverage of.

Watch how you are moving the limbs of an older dog. They often have lost quite a lot of muscle as they are moving less, and the joints do not have the same support of the muscles to keep them in place. Just because you CAN lift a senior dogs leg higher than you would normally expect, does not mean you SHOULD!

PART 4 Safely grooming the head on a head shy senior dog The comfort and safety of the dog are the focus of a senior dog comfort groom. Communication with the owner prior to the groom is key. Making sure everyone understands that the groom may not be perfect every time, but that the dog will be comfortable and safe is the real goal of grooming an elderly dog

PART 5 Cutting nails of a senior dog with sore joints Little and often tends to be the best way to cut nails on a senior dog. As they get older and as their mobility decreases, they stop being able to wear down their nails as well naturally, and the quicks grow longer. To get the quicks to recede and keep the dog comfortable, it is best to be able to trim the nails every couple of weeks, in order to get enough length off without quicking the nail.

Assessing the dogs movement and working around the dogs limitations will help to keep them comfortable throughout the nail clip. Some senior dogs may not be able to cope with a one groomer nail clip, and may need another groomer or the owner to give them a cuddle while nails are clipped in order to take weight off their sore joints.

PART 6 Scissoring techniques to groom the legs and feet of a senior dog Senior dogs can have quite painful or deformed legs that can be a challenge to finish with your scissors. While you are doing your prep work, it is a good idea to take note of how the dog moves, and take note of any physical issues that you need to be careful of when scissoring. If your dog has lots of lumps and bumps, choosing a clip length that is longer than the biggest wart or skin tag can help you avoid cutting into one accidentally. As with everything in the comfort groom, communication and understanding with the owner that the groom may not be perfect, and that their comfort and safety are the main focus of the groom is important for the welfare of both the dog and the groomer.

PART 7 Finish the groom by scissoring the tail You will find that as a dog ages, their grooming needs need to be evaluated. A dog that has always had a beautiful long tail and ears may not tolerate brushing so well in their twilight years, and may need to have them taken shorter for their comfort.

Always be on the look out for signs that dogs may need their grooming routine changed as they get older. You may notice that they tolerate less of the grooming process, or that they struggle to stand towards the end of the groom, or - like Nilla - they become more and more head shy the longer you work on their head.