Beyond the haircut

Can a groomer help with fleas, ticks, skunk smell, teeth, or shedding?

Owners often ask a groomer to fix more than the coat. Here is what a groomer can do, and when you need a vet instead.

Short answer: A groomer can cut down shedding, wash fleas off on the day, and brush teeth. A groomer can’t stop a flea problem, clean teeth below the gums, or treat skin disease. 301 of the 455 groomers we list offer deshedding, and 204 offer teeth brushing.

Shedding.

A deshedding bath and a long brush-out pull out loose undercoat. It helps most with double-coated dogs, like huskies, shepherds, and golden retrievers. The shedding comes back, so many owners book it each season.

Fleas.

A flea bath kills the fleas on your pet that day. It does not stop new fleas, or the ones in your home and yard. Vets advise a flea preventive all year. Tell the groomer before the visit if your pet has fleas, so they can plan.

Ticks.

Groomers often find ticks while they work, and many will point them out. Ask your vet how to remove one safely and which tick preventive to use.

Skunk smell.

Some groomers offer a deodorizing or skunk bath. Not every van does, so call and ask before you book.

Teeth.

Many groomers brush teeth with pet toothpaste. That freshens breath, but it is not a dental cleaning. The American Veterinary Dental College does not recommend cleanings without anesthesia, because they can’t reach below the gumline, where most dental disease happens. For tartar or bad breath, see your vet.

Questions people ask.

Can a dog groomer clean teeth?

A groomer can brush teeth. A real cleaning, below the gums, is done by a vet with the pet under anesthesia.

Can a dog groomer remove fleas?

A flea bath washes off the fleas on your pet that day. To stop fleas from coming back, use a flea preventive from your vet.

Can a dog groomer help with shedding?

Yes. A deshedding bath and brush-out removes a lot of loose undercoat. Many groomers list it as its own service.

Can a groomer get rid of skunk smell?

Some groomers offer a skunk bath. Ask before you book, since not every groomer does.

Where these facts come from.

Service counts come from the groomers’ own websites. The health advice comes from these vet pages.