Some
little extras that may save you embarrassment and/or a vet bill:
Don't
be afraid to flush a dog's ears and eyes with water.
There
is no need to apply any type of mineral oil or preparation to a dog's eye
prior to bathing. If fact, an oily substance may only aggravate the situation
should shampoo or dip enter the eye. Simply flush the eyes with cool/lukewarm
water during the rinse.
While
I never interfere with a perfectly healthy ear, I do not hesitate to cleanse
and flush an ear canal that is packed with exudate and debris. Simply apply
shampoo, message gently, and flush. Once the canal is free of debris, apply an
ear wash containing alcohol to aid in drying. You can also apply dip to the
ear canal in cases of mite infestations or to keep fleas from entering the
canal during bathing.
Have
you ever had a customer accuse you of causing an ear infection? They usually
attribute it to getting water in the ear, but because of the ear's structure
this is highly unlikely. I tend to believe that it is more likely caused by
the act of plucking, therefore after plucking hair from particularly hairy
ears, it's a good practice to apply an antiseptic to ward off ear infection
resulting from broken skin.
Money
Saving Tips
Do
you sometimes wonder just how much money you're pouring down the drain, that
is, in the form of shampoo and dip?? I found out that I could cut shampoo
usage by two-thirds using 2-gallon capacity multipurpose sprayers
to dispense shampoo and dip. Yes, this really saves waste and bathers and
groomers agree that it's convenient and easy to use as well. Pump it up a few
times and it's set for several baths; takes a while to dispense 2 gallons so
you're not constantly refilling it. You'll save gallon upon gallon for a mere
$20.00 investment!!
Counseling
Clients:
Clients
will naturally ask for advice regarding coat condition and general grooming
problems, one of which is tear stains on white coated dogs. Suggest your
customer provide bottled water only (preferably distilled) for his/her
pet....seems mineral content in tap water may contribute to staining. Red dyes
in some dog foods may also be a contributing factor. In addition to altering
the dog's intake, it may be beneficial to use a tear stain preparation and/or
to dab a little cornstarch on the 'tear path' in order to keep the area dry.
You
will also get the occasional question regarding flea control and pesticides.
Interacting with your clientele will afford you the opportunity to find out
what's most effective in your area. While the strongest chemical I use is a
pyrethrin dip, supposedly organic and the safest (as toxins go), salon dipping
does nothing for residual effect. Your customers need be told that a flea
problem will never be resolved by dipping alone and, although some
preparations sold by veterinarians seem costly, they may actually save them
money and headaches in the long term. As of this writing, Frontline and
Advantage seem most effective in my area of the country.