Day Spa Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! It is in the best interest for your pets and the other visiting pets. We ask that your pet is current on their rabies, DHLPP (dogs), and the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine. Just like when you visit a boarding kennel or a dog park, your pet is at risk if he/she is not protected. Viruses like kennel cough have an incubation period of up to 7 days with no warning signs. We have no way of telling if yours or another pet is carrying this virus. We can not be held responsible if your pet becomes infected with this virus. We ask that you bring in your current shot record for our records. If you do not have them you can have your vet email us before your first visit.

Do you accept Titers in lieu of vaccinations?

Yes titers are accepted in lieu of vaccinations. However, there is no titer for Bordetella so it may be in your best interest to have your dog vaccinated for this.

What is a Titer?

A titer is a blood test that measures the amount of antibody in the blood to a given disease agent. For example, a parvo titer would show the amount of antibody against parvovirus that a dog has in her blood. Some diseases have been studied enough that scientists know what level of antibody protects against that disease, so this level is called a "protective titer." Please see our helpful links page for more information on titers, Dr. DOMORE and the rabies challenge fund.

How much does it cost to groom my pet and why don't you list your grooming rates?

Grooming rates vary depending on the breed of your dog, coat condition, size, temperament, and the type of services you choose. We do not list our grooming rates since the list of AKC breeds is very extensive and many of our grooming clients are mixed breeds.

Do you tranquilize pets before you groom them?

NO NEVER! We will not tranquilize a pet in order to groom it. In fact it is against the law to do so. Our stylists are well trained to handle nervous pets, and will discuss with you what options you may have. If a pet is too agitated to be safely bathed or groomed, our staff will not attempt to force the service on the pet. He or she will be sent home and you and your stylist will decide what to do next.

How often should I have my dog groomed?

This all depends on the breed, type of coat, and the style you choose. This also depends on the amount of time you want to commit to brushing at home. We recommend bathing your pet every 2 - 6 weeks. A visit to the Spa at least every 6 weeks is recommended to maintain your pet's nails and natural beauty.

Modern shampoos and conditioners have put to rest old myths about too frequent bathing. The magnificent coats of today's show dogs prove that shampooing every week or so can be a good thing. We offer the highest quality products that are specially formulated for pets, which is important in order to maintain coat luster, control skin and coat problems and we always follow the shampoo with a conditioner. We can make special recommendations for your pet's hair and skin type. We offer many spa packages so be sure to ask us about them!

At what age should my puppy visit the groomer for the first time?

It is very important to bring your puppy in as soon as possible but definitely by the time it gets all of its shots; this is usually between 4 - 5 months. Puppies are much easier to train and get into a routine. Don't make the common mistake of trying to handle it yourself and bring them in between 9 months - 1 year old. Sometimes for their first visit we will just bathe them and trim up their feet, face, and hygiene. We do not overwhelm a pet during its 1st visit. This way it is more pleasant for them and they get used to the process. But we also recommend that you start brushing your puppy as soon as you bring it home. Some poodle breeders start shaving the feet and face on their puppies as young as 2 weeks old to get them used to the process. And these puppies are a 'dream come true' to work on.

My dog is scratching and licking all the time, what is causing that? Could he have Fleas?

The most common cause of this is allergies. These are most often caused by pollen, dust mites, dog food and flea bite allergy

Some dogs become allergic to flea saliva. If this is the case, the bite of a single flea can send a dog into a crazy state of chewing (which you should treat as soon as possible because this may become an obsessive behavior even after the fleas are gone), especially around his tail and on his belly and inside hind legs. Dogs with flea bite allergy are often frantic to ease the itching and may chew themselves raw. Many even break out into a rash called flea dermatitis.

Some inhalant allergies are seasonal. Dogs may be affected by inhaling grass pollen in spring and summer or ragweed pollen in late summer and early autumn. If this is the case, the dog will start to scratch and bite his body, lick his paws, shake his head, and rub his face along the carpet for relief from the itch when pollen grains are swirling in the air. However, many dogs suffering from allergies itch year-round because they are also affected by household dust, mold spores, and other irritants.

Some dogs that have allergies to other components of their environment will also exhibit some dietary problems, but whether these problems are true food allergies is often difficult to determine. Several studies have shown that some ingredients are more likely to cause allergies than others. In order of the most common offenders in dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn, and soy. As you may have noticed, the most common offenders are the most common ingredients in dog foods. Please see our Nutrition page for more information on natural foods and nutrition.

I want my dog short but not shaved. How do I explain this?

Shaving and clipping is essentially the same thing. Shaving does not necessarily mean your dog will come home with no hair. Blades come in all different lengths from short to long. We have blades that will leave over and inch of hair on your dog as well as comb attachments to leave the coat even longer. When you come in, you and your stylist will decide which length will work best for you and your dog. If you have a busy lifestyle it is not fair to leave 3 inches of hair on your dog only to have them go to the spa and either be de-matted or shaved down. That's not fun for anyone! We can help you make this important decision depending on your lifestyle, the breed, the type of coat and your dog's temperament!

Do you groom cats?

No, I'm sorry as of now we can not accommodate cats.

Why should I brush my dog? My dog is full of mats, but he looks kind of cute! Why does my groomer tell me that this is bad?

All dogs require regular brushing in order to keep their coats healthy and untangled. If you can imagine how your head might feel if you didn't brush your own hair for a few days, you'll have a small idea of how important regular brushing is for your companion animals too. For some breeds, daily brushing is recommended. Long haired breeds and double coated breeds have a tendency to mat more.

A matted coat causes numerous problems for your dog. First, it's terribly uncomfortable because as the hair mats tighter and tighter, it pulls on the surrounding skin. If mats are left untended, the skin can actually split and get infected. A matted dog that gets wet outside in the rain for instance may end up getting moldy before the mats finally dry, or may get a fungal infection on his skin. These are uncomfortable for the dog of course, and in some cases this will warrant an expensive trip to the veterinarian for treatment.

I would like my dog mat free, but I don't want to shave him down. Can my pet stylist save his coat?

De-matting a dog is not pleasant for the dog or the pet stylist. Since it's likely that your dog is not used to grooming (otherwise he most likely wouldn't be matted), he may not be cooperative to begin with. To de-mat a dog, a pet stylist has to pick apart the mats, and this means pulling the hair. Uncooperative dogs do not tolerate this pulling very well. It's stressful for them as well as the pet stylist, and is painful too.

So what are my options if my dog is matted?

If your dog is matted when you arrive for an appointment, we will be happy to explain other options. Often the best solution for the dog is to simply clip the coat and remove the mats. Then we will start over from scratch and find a length that works for both you and your pet. You can make appointments to bring your dog in more frequently. Your dog may not always need a full groom, but bringing him in for a regular "bath and brush outs" in between full grooming appointments will help you avoid more costly de-matting. More importantly you'll avoid unnecessary stress and health problems for your dog!

My dog just came from the groomer, and now he is itching. Why?

Some dogs may have very sensitive skin especially around certain areas of their body. When clipping sensitive areas the clipping action may cause skin irritation or what we call clipper burn. Please let your pet stylist know right away if that ever happened to your pet before or if it happens at all, so we know to either use a longer blade or apply a topical treatment on the area right after the groom. At home you can apply a diaper rash cream, or gold bond medicated powder or anything similar. Discourage your pet from scratching the area, and contact your vet if the condition worsens. Puppies can be sensitive after their first clipping - their skin will usually get used to the blades. When dogs are severely matted and those mats are removed, the skin that is exposed to the air will start healing, and that causes it to itch.

My dog has short hair. Does he still need to be groomed?

Of course! All dogs should be groomed on a regular basis. It is good for them to come to the Spa to be pampered and get used to the process. This will cut down on the shedding and the smell. You can decide with your pet stylist how often to bring your short haired dog. It usually depends on how long you can stand them to be dirty and smelly!