There will be some great opportunities but also some dangerous areas that you need to protect yourself from. First, when your clients can’t get into the veterinarian for care, they are going to try to rely more on their groomer to give them advice or recommendations. While flattering, it is also very dangerous. Remember, society has become more litigious and quicker to complain on social media, so don’t fall into a trap.

It is important that you research what is acceptable and what is not for a groomer to do in your state. You are likely asked to express anal glands, treat ears and even scale teeth on a routine basis. Do you know what the laws are in your state for all these procedures? Groomers say all the time that the veterinarian expects them to do those procedures—and they may—but would they defend you if there was a problem and it is illegal in your state? Just be careful here because it breaks my heart when I hear groomers getting in trouble because they didn’t know any better.

The biggest opportunity I see is that veterinarians are slowly being pulled away from the basic care of hair and skin. This is often an area that ends up low on a veterinarian’s priority list when dealing with more complex or life-threatening diseases. However, it is an area that, with the correct education and products, groomers can easily morph into. With this in mind, we need to start communicating and working with the veterinarians so we can find the best way to move forward to both our advantages.

Like all opportunities though, they must be seized; rarely do they just happen. So how do we get there? First is education. Just throwing products on a dog to prevent skin problems or deal with an issue is not the answer. Would you trust the nurse that just claims to be a nurse practitioner with no extra schooling? Probably not. You want them to be the best they can be because their level of knowledge is going to affect your long-term health. They are no longer setting IVs, changing bedpans and taking records; they are now making decisions about your health, interpreting lab results and deciding which medications you should be on. No, we are not to the level of making groomers nurse practitioners, but there are moves in that direction, starting with allowing technicians to be able to do more in the veterinary field.

There is a lot to learn, and it is not something that you are going to take a four-hour lecture on and instantly become an authority. It is a journey to become good/great. And, as they say, if it is easy everyone would do it. If you are not familiar with coat types and the appropriate products to use, the difference between emollients and humectants, the contact time necessary for products, the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, or the difference between SA and Pemphigus, it is time to get some continuing education. This is a great opportunity for those that love this side of grooming. And, those who pursue it will potentially find it to be a life-changing event.

Education is the start, but it also requires good marketing and business skills to reach the next level—especially since this is not the main function of a grooming salon. I know many veterinarians that were brilliant at the veterinary side but went out of business because they couldn’t run their practices or market their services. But what if that is not your expertise? Hire it out! We can’t be great at everything, so you must determine where your time is best spent and where you are the weakest so you can fill in the gaps. Tons of people are looking for help because the veterinary field has not been able to meet their needs, but they don’t know where to turn. The market is there, it is just a matter of tapping into it.

I caution you again that this is an area you must be very careful not to overstate what you do or make promises you can’t keep (and this goes back to education). The area I see groomers get into trouble the quickest is when they start advertising credentials or services they are not qualified to back up.

The best time to seize an opportunity like I am talking about is long before the need becomes obvious. The definition of innovation involves conceiving, developing, and delivering new ideas or products. If you wait until everyone is doing it, you will always be behind the power curve, so the time is now! Get your education and start developing a plan to take the next step. I don’t see relief for the lack of veterinary availability any time soon, so the opportunity is only going to just get bigger. You can do this!