Grooming Advice for Older Dogs

1. Introduction

Just like humans, dogs go through a range of changes as they age. You might find that your senior dog’s appearance changes a bit as they enter their golden years. Though some grooming habits should change as your dog grows older, they are no less important to maintaining good health. Good grooming can be very helpful to your senior dog. Keeping your dog’s haircoat clean can improve their comfort level and reduce the exposure to allergens. Haircuts get rid of the hair that’s ready to fall out and reduce matting. Despite your dog’s senior status, regular grooming should still be a major part of their care routine.

Grooming an older dog takes patience, but it is important towards maintaining their appearance and health. Every senior dog has a different need. Your dog’s age, mobility and any health issues will determine how frequently they should be groomed. Generally, a grooming session should only be done when your senior dog is relaxed. Typically, one of the best times to groom a dog is after a walk, because they are usually tired and more accepting of grooming. Beginning grooming at an early age will make life easier as your dog ages. The grooming regimen will have started to become second nature to them and they will remain comfortable with the process as they age. If you can maintain a routine of grooming, you are less likely to have any issues as they age.

2. Understanding the Needs of Senior Dogs

It is necessary to acknowledge that dogs are considered seniors much earlier than people are, so by the time your dog has reached seven years of age, he would be considered a 'senior'. Grooming the older dog needs a slightly different approach than when working with younger animals, and it demands understanding, patience, and love. Senior dogs can enjoy the grooming process, provided you take their special needs into account.

When grooming any senior dog, there are several main areas to concentrate on. These are:

A dog's coat generally undergoes changes as they get older, with hair growth either slowing down or stopping – for life – in the case of glandular-coated breeds such as the Basset Hound. With such dogs, the coat care is obviously minimal, but with other dogs, the hair in the region of the spine may become more sparse and also feel harsh, dry, and sometimes even bristle-like. On the other end of the scale, dogs with very wiry or woolly coats may develop a fluffiness there, seeking to keep the spine area cool. It goes without saying that the dog's coat should always be kept in the best possible condition, as a healthy coat is just as beneficial for a senior dog's skin as it is for that of any other age.

2.1. Changes in Coat and Skin

While grooming is a practice that can help dog owners bond with their furry friends, it serves another even more important purpose for senior dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals explains in a look at senior pet care that proper grooming for older pooches also gives pet parents a chance to monitor their pets' health. From changes in coat or skin to a lump or bump, grooming time is the ideal moment for pet parents to give even more care and attention to their furry friends.

Aging is a fact of life for everyone and every pet. When it comes to your older dog, making some changes in the way we care for them can greatly improve their quality of life. Due to many different factors, it is normal for your senior dog’s skin and coat to undergo some changes. Always have a standard grooming routine with your elderly dog and notice any changes about a new lump or bump, a bald spot, thickening or thinning of skin and/or hair, and any flakiness or scabbing, to ensure they are in the best health and with the greatest comfort. In this article, we are going to discuss aging changes in the skin and coat along with tips for your senior dog grooming routine.

2.2. Mobility and Comfort Considerations

Aging dogs often take longer to complete movements, have increased joint pain, and may develop temporary balance disturbances. Older dogs, like older people, may also become encumbered by stiff, painful backs, making them uncomfortable remaining in a "sit" position for a longer time, such as is frequently required during a grooming session.

To minimize the effect of these issues, grooming for an older dog should include adapting the environment so the dog can step onto an appropriate table surface and not have to negotiate a high jump to "get down." While some older, incapacitated dogs may not be able to get onto a table, many have no problems with this. Using the appropriate bathing bench that allows the dog to walk or be hoisted or carried on, and not too high, is important for an easy transition on and off. This may be a necessity for the dog that has a tub in the hospital requiring steep steps to get in and out, but this varies with each patient. This article will delve into grooming for the older dog and necessary modification from "routine" grooming methods. Keep the comfort of the older dog in mind throughout the entire grooming process. Facilitate the ability to do more standing grooming as long as possible. However, sitting on the table when necessary, or trimming the dog while your dog remains standing on the floor, deserves consideration.

3. Essential Grooming Tools

Essential tools you should have in your grooming kit for the senior grooming appointments you will be performing. The right tools are crucial in grooming—especially in grooming senior dogs. Below we will talk about these tools and their use a bit more in depth. You will need a good animal-grade hairdryer and brush (as well as a comb) for everyday routine grooming, deshedding, or maintenance grooming that all senior dogs need. But you will also need hand stripping tools (stone/knife, fetlock scissor) and the correct size for the dog, and ear and nail clippers too. Using the right tools not only for pet grooming but also when grooming any senior pet who may have more sensitive skin or different skin will help you to do a better job in grooming, will help you to provide a better grooming skin and coat treatment for your senior pets, and will help you to do your job a bit easier!

Grooming dogs with floppy skin and loose facial skin is a bit different than that of grooming dogs who have tight short hair and tight facial skin. Some of the tools are the same, like clean chubbs bars and a good slicker brush, but others are different that we will talk about today. Senior dog grooming also requires different tools, so let’s discuss those. Slicker brush: You will need a large slicker brush and a small slicker brush. The small one will be used for grooming the face of the dog and the large one for the rest of the dog. What the slicker brush does is help you to remove dead hair from the coat. If you have a dog with allergies and need to remove all that hair sitting on their skin, the slicker brush makes that easy.

4. Grooming Techniques for Senior Dogs

One of the most important things you can do for your senior dog is to keep them well-groomed. Proper grooming techniques can help keep their skin and coat moisturized, as well as ensure that their skin is pH balanced. Maintaining a proper grooming routine will also offer dog parents the oils needed to keep your dog's coat clean and free of allergens, bacteria, and parasites. Dog grooming can be a little more difficult for senior dogs, given that many older dogs move more slowly and may not tolerate the sensations of a full groom like they did when they were younger. Here's how to groom your older dog, based on the specifics of your dog's coat:

Brushing and detangling. Regular brushing should become an essential part of your senior dog's grooming routine. This will help prevent matting, as well as remove shed fur and dander from your dog's coat. It also makes it easier to spot any fleas, ticks, or other pests that you can remove before they start causing an issue or illness. For long-haired senior dogs, use a slicker brush and patience: even the calmest and best-mannered senior dogs can get a little grumpy as their coat becomes more tangled and matted. Go slowly and be gentle, starting with small mats and working your way up. Gentle detanglers and slicker brushes are needed to work out any serious matting, and your groomer should be involved if the mats become severe.

Bathing and drying. Your older dog might not need to be bathed as frequently as a younger pup, but don't skip the bath altogether. Older dogs can be more prone to skin conditions, including yeast and bacterial infections. It's a good idea to bathe them before they're excessively dirty, so regular, perhaps every four to six weeks. Look for a gentle dog shampoo that doesn't have any active ingredients intended to deal with fleas, flea eggs, or ticks — they are generally unnecessary for most dogs and can be drying. Just use a small amount of doggie shampoo to gently lather and work your way through their coat, and apply a bit of dog conditioner to their ends if they have a longer coat. Gently rinse and wring out the excess water before using some light, fluffy towels and terry-cloth cleansing gloves to help absorb as much water from their coat as you can. Gently towel-dry before proceeding to a light blow-drying technique, and use low heat so as not to burn their skin when close to their bodies.

4.1. Brushing and Detangling

As dogs grow older, there are certain things we need to pay attention to in order to ensure they lead a comfortable life. Grooming is an important aspect of pet care we cannot sideline. Older dogs generally have sensitive skin and coats that have started to turn grey. This needs a different approach when it comes to grooming them, vis-à-vis puppies and adult dogs.

Older dogs need regular brushing to stimulate their skin. When it comes to detangling and removing knots from the coat, one would need to be even more careful than while grooming a young pet. Special comb and slicker brushes are called for. The two types of dog hair coat are long and short. Hence, all dogs should be groomed once or twice a week, at the very least. For long-haired breeds, pet parents should look to brush them every day as these furry friends are more prone to mattness. A daily regime also ensures no ticks or fleas latch on to an unhealthy, dirty coat. For this purpose, a hard comb or metal-toothed comb can also work best. Comb from the base, but be careful not to touch the skin. To season it, groomers can also use a slicker brush which can help in removing dead hair. If a dog is brought to the groomers looking nicked and matted, they often need to opt for a shorter cut to help the tissue grow back healthfully. Skimping on regular brushing essentially is more harmful in the long run.

Detangling is crucial to a dog’s grooming routine. Dogs have to undergo detangling only with a wet coat. Given the kinds of routines older dogs maintain and how lazy they become, especially during winters, they are prone to skin irritations. Using a cream rinse in combination with conditioner on your older pet can go a long way. The cream rinse not only helps to refill all the skin oils, it softens the coat. It also helps in eliminating static if your pet’s coat gets dry quickly. Cream rinse weight is the ultimate skin lubrication available for dogs and lasts for about one to two days. For dogs who are usually dirty, we can use conditioner.

4.2. Bathing and Drying

Bathing and Drying. There are several things to consider before giving a bath to a senior citizen dog. First, consider the dog’s mental state. If he or she has canine cognitive dysfunction, there is no amount of grooming that is going to improve the thought. In these dogs, the simple act of standing can be one of balance and maintaining orientation. These dogs are generally relaxed when being wet, and the water can also act in a remedial sort of way. (Note: relevant knowledge of the senior citizen diagnosis and medications will help.) The ears of a very old or geriatric dog are not as resilient as those of a pup, so ears must be treated with care. Ear plugs, vet wrap, or cotton may be helpful to prevent water penetration. Depending on the dog and his or her grooming behavior, bathing can be done before or after the shave. A bath can be given before the clip/shave with an appropriate shampoo; just towel dry well, comb and brush. Applying heat to a wet animal may create hot spots. Mild temperatures are poorly tolerated by the older sick, or anesthetically regularized dog. When drying, try not to distress or scare the dog. Keep in mind that some grooming dryers produce a high frequency noise that can damage an older dog’s hearing or already damaged ears, such as noise from a forced air dryer. In general, it is best to disconnect the sound when grooming a senior dog. Some dogs simply need time to get used to the noise and the warm air. Stand steady for the old dog. It is best to use low heat with an old dog as well. Use the old-style cage villa or quiet pet dryer; low settings are fine. If drying the dog in a cage, the temperature should be set at a maximum of 25°C-35°C and moderate to low setting should be used. Optionally, try using a large, folded towel in the cage as a bank. In this case again, the temperature should be only warm. A low-impact, mat-blower can be used to dry the dog using a noiseless climate. When drying superfluous water from dogs with long coats, the use of one of those left-hand squeezes-air-out-of-the-hair and absorbs-a-boatload-of-water dogs are just as best as the super-absorbent, reverse-toweling rubber bank type foes.

5. Special Considerations and Health Issues

5. Address Special Considerations and Health Issues:

When senior dogs are being groomed, provide an appropriate level of care. "An aching, ailing, or old dog may have a sensitive body and a difficult temperament," writes NCMG/CMG Debi Hilley in her article "Grooming Seniors and Special Needs Dogs." For example, dogs with arthritis "are brave and want to stand, but can't. Lifting them off the table only adds to their discomfort." Understand that senior dogs are more sensitive in general and don't rush them, says Susan Sholar, NCMG, a dog handler for 25 years and a groomer for 29 on her website. They "need a calming, reassuring, professional groomer who works slowly, never punishes the dog for a slip or mishap."

While grooming, be gentle around cuts, scrapes, or hot spots because damaged skin may be sensitive. Also, keep in mind that some seniors may be incontinent or develop loose bowels or colitis. When you're grooming them, "be sure to check the tail area. If the dog is really soiled, it's really important to comb out any burs or dried feces. Believe me, it has happened to me," writes Hilley. Arsenault points out that older dogs may have slightly longer nails, overgrown coats, and stained areas that need to be identified and treated. Incontinent pets can have "terrible matting in the skin," she writes, so "never neglect to ensure the undercarriage is in good shape. That is part of what a pet owner expects when they check out their pet." While grooming senior dogs, it's important to be gentle and understanding because they may have health or temperament issues. Keep your eyes on the dog and address any potential problems that live beneath the hair. A good groomer will take a 4-D approach when grooming senior dogs and help pet owners work with the vet to ensure their dog lives comfortably. Keep strong communication with pet owners and provide them with extra value by helping them obtain specialized knowledge, quality tools, and products to make sure their senior dog lives a more comfortable life.

In conclusion, even if aesthetically it is important to have a neat, polished dog, a person should never put grooming, a beauty contest, vanity, or just hair before the well-being of the complete dog. In other words, a groomer can't do a quick look-see. The five extra minutes a groomer can put into identifying and correctly addressing an existing health issue can save a life now or down the road. Any professional groomer can say they have gone the extra mile, and the pet owner sometimes just takes it for granted. It comes naturally to a good groomer. A groomer who won't take that extra step under the veil of "oh, I am not a vet" or "I am not a doctor" is a groomer who just really doesn't care enough to become passionate in the field or someone who is just at work for that paycheck. Look at those dull eyes of a once puppy with a distinct brindle coat that never fades. Watch how the years take away that luster of youth. Look closely and you have that light of wisdom shining in the dog's eye because of you and the pampering given. Groomers, you can share in that satisfaction because you have that unique opportunity to see those dogs grow old along with you. You can own that light in their eyes even when a little bit gray. Fur is just the icing on the "treat." Go ahead, give dogs "that extra added shine" and a hug a dog today. You will never regret it, and that's a promise! (McDonald et al.2022)(Rowland, 2023)(Hawes et al., 2020)(Chmiel et al.2022)(Nieforth et al.2023)

References:

McDonald, S.E., Doherty, C., Sweeney, J., Kisiel, L., Matijczak, A., Niestat, L. and Gupta, M., 2022. Barriers to and facilitators of pet grooming among clients served by a subsidized grooming service program. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, p.1021707. frontiersin.org

Rowland, M., 2023. Employee Turnover in the Pet Grooming Industry: A Qualitative Grounded Theory Approach. [HTML]

Hawes, S. M., Straus, A., Winczewski, J., & Morris, K. N., 2020. The Grooming Project: Identifying the Common Experience for Students. wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org

Chmiel, J., Pumphrey, S. and Rozanski, E., 2022. Ocular Injuries Related to Grooming Visits in Dogs: 161 Cases (2004–2020). Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 58(6), pp.277-282. [HTML]

Nieforth, L.O., Rodriguez, K.E. and O'Haire, M.E., 2023. Benefits and challenges of mobility and medical alert service dogs for caregivers of service dog recipients. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 18(6), pp.743-751. [HTML]