Dermatologists emphasize that infections are almost always secondary, not the primary cause. It’s also important to remember that bacteria and fungi exist in competition; eliminate one, and the other often flourishes.

In an ideal world, once the primary “bug” is identified, it gives the veterinarian a starting point for treatment. I say starting point because many of the bacteria we see in skin infections are drug resistant.

Most of us are familiar with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), but in pets the more common concern is MRSP (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius). One dermatologist stated last year that 80% of his patients were MRSP-positive. With this in mind, when clients take their pets to the veterinarian for itching, it’s critical they request a culture and sensitivity test so treatment can be properly targeted.

In more refractory cases, or when autoimmune disease or cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be performed. This involves removing a full-thickness sample of skin so it can be fixed, sectioned and examined under a microscope. Biopsies are essential for diagnosing autoimmune diseases, sebaceous adenitis and many cancers.

It’s also important to note that a pet can test positive for an allergen without that allergen being the cause of their itching. Many of these reactions are subclinical, which likely contributes to the low success rate.

So, what about a definitive test for allergies? Unfortunately, there isn’t one. Allergies are a diagnosis of elimination—or, put another way, an educated guess—especially when dry skin isn’t even part of the conversation.

Treatment for these “allergies” commonly involves anti-itch medications such as steroids, Apoquel, Cyclosporine, Zenrelia or Cytopoint. Several dermatologists emphasized that Cytopoint, while effective for itch, does not function as an anti-inflammatory like the other drugs.

Most treatment protocols also include medication to address secondary infections. Food changes/trials may be recommended if food involvement is suspected, but this was not emphasized as strongly as other approaches.

Topical therapies are becoming increasingly popular in treating skin conditions. For resistant infections such as MRSA or MRSP, dermatologists recognize that topicals may provide benefit without the risks associated with strong systemic antibiotics. This is where many groomers were surprised.

Chlorhexidine was repeatedly recommended because, at a 3–4% concentration, it kills bacteria and fungi and has residual activity. That sounds great—until you consider what it does to the skin. You’re taking an itchy dog and applying a product known to dry and irritate healthy human skin. What outcome would you expect?

Anyone experienced with skin issues knows repairing the skin barrier is paramount for long-term success. And replacing the skin’s oils is achieved through conditioners. Yet in the last three years (and roughly 70 hours of continuing education), I have not heard a single dermatologist mention conditioners.

It’s also important to understand that dermatologists consider a 3/10 on the itch scale a successful outcome. But if you continue to be a good student of the science of hair and skin, and products and techniques, you can achieve results that go beyond what many dermatologists consider a good outcome. Groomers, you’ve got this—we aim for 0/10! &

Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.

The Supreme Court further emphasized that, “In no circumstances, should these stray dogs after their relocation be once again released back onto the streets.” And that, “If any individual or organization comes in the way of forceful picking up of the stray dogs and rounding them up . . . we shall proceed to take the strictest of actions against any such resistance which may be offered.”⁶ This order had followed the death of a six-year old girl from rabies.

The more traditional approach that uses a trap-neuter-release method has only been done sporadically and would have to be done more consistently to be effective. Both WOAH (World Organization for Animal Health) and the WHO (World Health Organization) prefer CSVR instead—“catch, sterilize, vaccinate, return.”⁷ These programs help introduce herd immunity, especially against Rabies. This would be a massive and expensive effort but the best for the dogs as well as the people of India.

With the tireless efforts of dog advocates, organizations and groomers like Niti, the future is looking bright for the dogs of India.

1. Professional Pet Grooming Association of India. https://www.ppgai.com/
2. India International Pet Trade Fair. https://iiptf.in/
3. The Effects of Seasonal Monsoon Humidity on Pet Skin and Fur Care. https://www.rpets.in/articles/2899/the-effects-of-seasonal-monsoon-humidity-on-pet-skin-and-fur-care
4. India’s Street Dogs: Population, Public Health, and Policy. https://biologyinsights.com/indias-street-dogs-population-public-health-and-policy/
5. In The Supreme Court Of India Extraordinary Original Jurisdiction Suo Moto Writ Petition (C) No. 5 Of 2025. https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2025/41706/41706_2025_8_31_63158_Judgement_11-Aug-2025.pdf?
6. India’s Supreme Court Tackles Issue of Stray Dogs. https://animal.law.harvard.edu/news-article/indias-supreme-court-tackles-issue-of-stray-dogs/
7. Dog Population Management. https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahc/current/chapitre_aw_stray_dog.pdf

The problem is that avoidance doesn’t make issues disappear, it only allows them to grow. Difficult conversations are about leadership, clarity and protecting the health of your business—not about confrontation.

When expectations aren’t clearly communicated, staff become confused, policies are applied inconsistently and clients begin to push boundaries. Over time, this creates resentment, burnout and a feeling that you’re constantly putting out fires.

Just as uncomfortable can be difficult employee-facing conversations, which can include topics such as attendance and punctuality issues, performance concerns, attitude or professionalism, policy violations, and clarifying roles, responsibilities or boundaries.

These situations don’t mean you’re failing as a business owner or leader—they simply mean you’re running a business that involves people, and people require communication.

Before the conversation, ask yourself: What specifically needs to change? What does success look like after this conversation? And what boundary or expectation needs to be reinforced?

This isn’t the time to unload every frustration you’ve been holding onto. Focus on one issue and one outcome. For staff issues, having frequent one-on-one meetings allows you to discuss concerns and bring up issues before the need to have a more challenging conversation.

Documented examples, dates, and policies keep conversations grounded and professional. It is important that you have clear examples of any issue that is being brought up. If not, employees could feel that you are picking on them or that personal feelings are what is behind the difficult conversation.

If your salon does not have an office or private room for employee conversations, consider going to a coffee shop, asking them to come in a few minutes early or stay a few minutes after their shift, or taking a walk outside if the weather is pleasant enough. If speaking with a client, avoid doing it in front of other clients or staff members.

Over-apologizing can unintentionally suggest wrongdoing where there isn’t any. Stick to calm, neutral language and let the facts speak for themselves. When leaders are not sure of the situation, it can be tempting to fill all the empty space by talking. Thinking about the conversation and planning ahead for it can help alleviate this.

If emotions escalate, pause and slow the conversation, repeat key points calmly, avoid matching their emotional intensity and, if necessary, suggest taking a break and revisiting the conversation later.

Avoiding hard conversations creates mental clutter. You replay situations in your head, question your decisions and carry unresolved tension into every workday, and that stress adds up. By addressing issues quickly and having consistent communication, you can reduce resentment, prevent misunderstandings and protect the energy in your salon.

Leadership isn’t about being harsh, it’s about being clear, fair and consistent. When expectations are known, everyone can do their job with confidence. Every tough conversation you have builds confidence and strengthens your leadership skills. And over time, these conversations become less intimidating.

The art of the difficult conversation isn’t about saying the perfect thing, it’s about showing up with clarity, professionalism and respect. And that is what builds a strong, sustainable grooming business.

For many years, this reality was simply accepted as part of the profession. Even in Europe, grooming success was often measured by volume. How many dogs could you groom in a day? How full was your calendar? How busy did your salon appear from the outside? Speed became a badge of honor and exhaustion was frequently mistaken for professionalism. Equipment choices were often secondary, products were used out of habit and long-term physical impact was rarely discussed. But over the last decade, something has begun to change.

Across Europe, however, the grooming profession gradually but decisively has begun to move away from the “assembly line” mentality. More groomers are questioning whether working harder and faster is truly the only path forward. And many are recognizing that the old model comes with a cost—physical breakdown, emotional burnout and careers that end far earlier than they should. This realization has led to deeper questions: Why do we accept chronic pain as normal? Why do we tolerate tools or products that make our work harder rather than easier?

What is emerging is a more holistic, wellness-oriented approach to grooming; one that recognizes grooming is not just about removing hair but about understanding skin, coat, behavior, chemistry and long-term maintenance. This evolution is not simply making dogs look better—it is helping groomers remain in the profession longer, healthier and more fulfilled, both physically and mentally.

For a long time, the traditional grooming career followed a predictable path: You learned the basics, found a busy salon, worked relentlessly and, eventually (if you were fortunate), opened your own business. The unspoken assumption was that physical strain and constant pressure were unavoidable. Your body would simply “last as long as it lasted.” Little attention was paid to ergonomics, tool balance or what it truly means to stand eight to 10 hours a day holding vibrating clippers.

Today, that narrative is beginning to break. In many parts of Eastern and Central Europe, grooming is increasingly viewed as both an art form and a technical discipline. This does not mean working slower or having less ambition. It means having a deeper understanding and recognizing that a groomer’s value is not defined by how many dogs pass across the table but by how effectively problems are solved. It also means acknowledging that precision is directly influenced by the tools we use. Well-balanced shears, reliable clippers, quiet dryers and properly adjusted tables are no longer considered luxuries—they are fundamental to professional work.

The modern groomer’s goal is no longer to complete eight dogs a day at the lowest possible price. More professionals are choosing to groom four or five dogs at a higher level of care using advanced techniques and skin-focused protocols that genuinely justify a premium price. This practical approach allows groomers to work with intention rather than urgency, and to protect their bodies from the constant strain demanded by high-volume grooming.

When groomers position themselves as experts in skin health and coat restoration rather than just stylists, something important happens. Clients stop asking only about price and begin asking about outcomes. Conversations shift from “How short?” to “What does my dog actually need?” It also opens the door to meaningful discussions about maintenance schedules, home care and the quality of products used between appointments.

One of the most difficult lessons groomers often learn too late is that volume does not automatically equal profit. A salon can be fully booked and still struggle financially. A groomer can work nonstop and still feel undervalued. High-volume models hide many costs: rushed work leads to mistakes, mistakes lead to injuries, and constant fatigue leads to poor decisions and eventual burnout. Low-quality tools and aggressive products frequently amplify these problems rather than solve them.

In contrast, value-based grooming models tend to be quieter, calmer and far more stable. Dogs are groomed on consistent schedules rather than in crisis. Coats are maintained instead of rescued. Behavior improves because routines become predictable. And the groomer gains something priceless: control—control over time, control over quality and control over career direction. This control creates space for better preparation, more refined finishes and more thoughtful decision-making at every stage of the groom.

Education plays a central role in this transformation. Across Europe, groomers actively invest in learning—not simply to collect certificates but to understand causes: why some coats never dry correctly, why others mat despite regular brushing, why aggressive degreasing worsens skin conditions and why some dogs tolerate grooming calmly while others escalate rapidly. These questions are explored in advanced seminars, hands-on workshops and specialized grooming exhibitions where professionals openly share real-world experience.

Professional grooming is not about making cats look fancy or saving grooming for special occasions. It is about comfort, hygiene, health awareness and preventing small issues from turning into big ones. Helping cat owners understand this difference is one of the most important roles a professional groomer plays.

Many cats also struggle to groom certain parts of their body effectively. Armpits, bellies, ruffs, backs of the legs and the rear are common problem areas. As cats get older, gain weight or develop arthritis, their ability to groom themselves decreases even further.

Professional grooming fills in the gaps. It addresses the areas cats cannot manage on their own and does so in a controlled, safe and efficient way.

Nails that grow too long can curl and grow into the paw pad, causing pain, infection and open wounds that often go unnoticed at home. Senior cats often develop thicker nails that require more frequent trimming to keep from becoming ingrown. Kittens and young cats grow nails quickly and are still learning appropriate play behavior.

Overgrown nails can snag on carpets, blankets and furniture. When cats panic and pull away, they can tear or completely rip out a nail. Scratching posts are excellent for enrichment and nail health, but they are designed to remove the outer nail sheath, not shorten or file the nail itself.

Some cats are prone to eye discharge or tear staining, particularly flat-faced breeds like Persians, Himalayans and Exotics, and light- and white-colored cats. Gentle cleaning keeps the area comfortable and allows groomers to notice changes in discharge or growths over time.

Ears can quietly develop excessive wax buildup, redness, odor or discharge. Catching these changes early and alerting the owner allows for quicker veterinary care if needed. Groomers are not diagnosing medical issues, but we are often the first to notice when something does not look normal. That early awareness matters.

When cats ingest large amounts of loose hair during self-grooming, hairballs become more frequent and more severe. These hairballs can even lead to blockages inside the cat’s stomach or intestines, often requiring emergency surgery. Reducing loose coat before the cat can ingest it directly reduces hairballs and noticeable shedding around the house, improving quality of life for both the cat and their family.

Preventive grooming is far easier and far kinder than corrective grooming. Regular appointments allow groomers to remove loose coat before it clumps and tangles, keeping problem areas under control.

It is also important for owners to understand that improper brushing at home can make things worse. Using the wrong tools, brushing too aggressively or over-brushing dry coat can damage hair, irritate skin and quickly turn grooming into a negative experience for the cat.

Routine bathing and appropriate sanitary trims keep these areas clean and comfortable. Many owners are relieved to learn that this is preventive care; not something that only needs attention when there is already a problem.

Routine appointments help cats become familiar with handling, sounds and procedures. This foundation becomes even more important as cats age and may develop arthritis, medical conditions or increased sensitivity to stress.

Professional grooming should be framed as part of a cat’s overall wellness routine. Groomers often notice subtle changes that owners may miss, including changes in coat texture, skin condition, weight or sensitivity. These observations allow groomers to communicate concerns early and encourage veterinary follow-up when needed, reinforcing the groomer’s role as part of the cat’s care team.

When cat owners understand that grooming supports comfort, hygiene, health monitoring and quality of life, they are far more likely to commit to regular schedules. Education builds trust and shifts grooming from something that feels optional to something that feels necessary.

A well-groomed cat is not just clean—they are more comfortable, easier to handle, less stressed and better equipped to age well. Professional groomers play a key role in making that happen, and not just through the services we provide, but through the education we share.