A Pet Owner's Introduction to Mobile Grooming Services

Everyone loves a clean-looking, fresh-smelling, stylishly-coiffured dog or cat. Of course, the benefits of pet grooming extend beyond cosmetic considerations! Keeping your pet well-groomed can also contribute to pet health and wellness. But for many pet owners, grooming their dog or cat can prove challenging, especially if they can't easily bring the animal to a vet groomer or brick-and-mortar grooming salon. That's when you should think about asking a mobile grooming service to come to your rescue. 

In the first part of our two-part series on mobile pet grooming, we’ll take an introductory look at everything you need to know before hiring a mobile dog or cat groomer. 

The Vital Importance of Pet Grooming

Grooming counts among the most important preventative wellness measures you can implement for your furry friend. In addition to making your pet smell and look nice, periodic grooming offers the following health benefits:

• Pest removal - Fleas, ticks, and mites can cause serious health problems for both dogs and cats. A thorough bath can remove these unwanted intruders before they can irritate your pet’s skin, infect their ears, or transmit diseases.
• Skin care - The bathing and brushing process can reveal skin rashes, ulcerations, or even cancers in time for successful veterinary treatment.
• Matted fur - Dirty fur can get tangled up into stubborn mats that tug on the skin and cause discomfort. Regular grooming can reduce the development of mats for both dogs and cats.
• Nail health - Toenails that grow too long and sharp will catch on carpets and floors, possibly ripping away from the cuticle and leaving open wounds. Regular nail trimming for cats and dogs can help this painful problem.

Benefits of Using a Mobile Groomer for Your Dog or Cat

Many owners give their pet baths, haircuts, and nail trims at home. However, this option doesn't always make good sense. For instance, a small person with mobility problems might not even want to try bathing a massive Saint Bernard, while a busy working mom or dad may simply have no available time to make the trek to and from a grooming facility. A mobile groomer comes right to your door, freeing you from the challenges of grooming your own animal or making an extra commute.

Your pet may benefit from mobile dog or cat grooming services as well. Many pets experience fear or anxiety when being placed in a pet carrier or traveling in a car. A grooming salon can also be very busy, with a lot of other clients and unfamiliar people, making it difficult for your pet to remain calm.  Using a mobile dog or cat groomer may alleviate some of these anxieties. 

How Mobile Pet Grooming Services Work

Mobile grooming services typically travel to pet owners' residences in a van equipped with a complete, self-contained grooming facility on wheels, including its own hot water and internal electricity for powering grooming tools. All you need to do is contact the pet grooming service, request an available day and time, and then make sure you're there when the grooming van arrives.

What to Expect from Your Mobile Groomer

If you're accustomed to watching over your pet during vet visits or grooming salon appointments, you may feel a twinge of concern when the mobile groomer asks you not to enter the van during the grooming session. However, this temporary separation is for the best. Mobile groomers have liability and safety issues to consider, while your presence might distract your pet to the point that it can't sit still for the grooming procedures. A fidgety dog or cat may not receive thorough grooming, and can even suffer injury from scissors, combs, or nail clippers.

Don't expect to get an exact quote on the price of your mobile pet grooming session over the phone. Different sizes, breeds, and types of pets present different challenges for dog and cat groomers. These variations can affect the difficulty of the session, the amount of products or water used, and the amount of time required to finish grooming your animal. Even so, the groomer should be able to quote you an approximate price range in advance.

No matter how much time your mobile pet grooming session might take, you can rest assured that it will eat up less time than a salon-based session. In addition to your commute time, a typical salon grooming appointment can last up to four to five hours, especially if a previous appointment runs long, forcing you and your pet to wait for service. By contrast, a mobile wash and blow-dry from a mobile grooming service usually takes an hour or two at most.

Let the Experts Handle Your Pet Grooming Needs

If you're not sure about where to start, ask your veterinarian for recommendations on the best mobile groomers in your area, or get recommendations from friends and neighbors. When you reach out to mobile groomers, be sure to ask for details about their services and any package deals that might be available.

In the next part of this series, we'll explore some frequently asked questions about different pet grooming options, so you can choose the best mobile pet grooming service for your needs. Watch for it!