Graphic with text reading, "DOGS (AND CATS) want to be Ergonomic, too!" featuring illustrations of a pug and a striped cat sitting cross-legged in a meditation pose with paws pressed together.
by Chris Anthony
Most of us are familiar with ergonomics—the science of work—but how does that apply to the actual pets getting groomed? After all, the pets aren’t the ones doing the work.

Grooming is, or should be, a part of daily life for our pets, both at home and in the grooming salon. And just as proper ergonomics should be a part of our daily lives, grooming should be as ergonomic for the pets in our care as we can humanly make it. How we move and handle the pets play a huge part in the health and comfort of both them and of us as the groomer.

Our industry has come a long way in the past 20 years, and we’re constantly learning new handling techniques. A pet that is in discomfort isn’t going to cooperate with the groom, so understanding how a pet’s joints move—or don’t move—can make everything easier, from a nail trim to a dog that doesn’t want to stand.

We know seniors need special handling, but are we giving puppies and younger dogs the same consideration?

A good habit to get into is always running your hands lightly down each leg of a dog. This does a few different things. First, it tells us if their legs are straight or if they seem to have any issues with handling. From there, we know whether we need a corrective haircut, if their joints are moving in the correct direction, if they seem to be in any discomfort and if we need to readjust our handling techniques.
I used to groom in an area that saw quite a lot of “east-west” feet (carpal valgus) and bow-legged front legs (carpal varus). These can have a number of causes, but without veterinary intervention, the end result is that the dog will be in pain. Even if the dog does not show immediate signs of discomfort, over time, chronic issues like joint pain and arthritis will occur. It makes me rethink all those “mean” Lhasas I groomed in my early years.

We know seniors need special handling, but are we giving puppies and younger dogs the same consideration? The world is still a new place for puppies, and while they may seem more resilient than seniors, they are still growing, developing and learning about the world around them. It can be during a puppy’s first grooms that congenital issues may be found (like those east-west feet) that the new pet parents didn’t know were an issue. Comfort can be just as important for puppies as it is for seniors, so using soft mats for the table and gentle restraint methods can set the pet up for success in a lifetime of grooming.

When it comes to cat and kittens and ergonomic handling, it’s well-known that less is more when restraining this species. Recent veterinary studies have shown that while scruffing is a method that mother cats use on their young, its efficacy actually decreases with age.1 There is a huge difference in cats receiving medical treatment that may be lifesaving and having to be forcibly restrained for the duration of a grooming session. Further studies have shown that scruffing can actually cause more stress and anxiety for the cats, in addition to damaging their trust in you.2

There is one great handling program being developed for dogs that is more respect centered. Part of that respect-centered handling is not grabbing dogs by their chin hair. Senior pets have a greater chance of arthritis, including in their neck, and have an increased chance of dental issues which could cause them to become more bothered by having their face handled.

Even something as simple as a nail trim can have a massive impact on a pet’s overall health. We’ve all seen nails curled into paw pads as an extreme example, but regular trimming can help improve their posture and gait. A once-monthly nail trim done using improper ergonomics isn’t likely to cause a musculoskeletal disorder, but it is going to be uncomfortable for the pet.

While they can’t tell us themselves, it goes without saying that the pets in our care want to be ergonomic too. It’s up to us to provide comfort throughout the groom, moving with their anatomy, physiology, and temperament to provide the most positive and stress-free grooming experience.

References:

  1. Andrews, C., Cosner, Z., Thomas, D. The efficacy of pinch-induced behavioral inhibition (clip restraint) in domestic cats (Felis catus) declines with age. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 49, 2022.
  2. Moody C., Mason G., Dewey C., Niel L. Getting a grip: Cats respond negatively to scruffing and clips. Vet Rec. 2020 Mar 28;186(12):385. doi: 10.1136/vr.105261. Epub 2019 Oct 5. PMID: 31586939.
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