Resource and Education Center

If your pet ever scoots on the rug or excessively licks his/her hind end, they may not be expressing their anal glands naturally on their own. You would probably know if this is the case as it emits a strong, usually fishy odor. Some pets never need assistance expressing their anal glands, while some need assistance expressing them regularly with the help of either a groomer or a veterinarian. As groomers, we only express these glands externally, and only upon request, applying a gentle pressure in a pinching-type motion to the rectal area. If you do not request this service before the groom, we will not perform it.

Oral health gets overlooked often when we care for our pets, but it can have a big impact on their overall health. Beyond being stinky, an unhealthy mouth can cause pain, tooth loss, and other peripheral diseases. The best way to maintain a healthy mouth is to brush the teeth. Second best would be an enzymatic water additive. Third best would be a dental health chew. Optimal oral care would be to provide all three of those options to your pet regularly.

It’s not always easy to trim our pets’ nails. Did you know that nails that are too long can actually be painful for your pet?

Bathing Beauties definitely takes matting very seriously, especially in felines, as it is known to cause discomfort and skin issues. It is important that you know that we may have to shave your pet’s hair if the matting is severe enough. De-matting services on severe cases can cause more skin trauma. We prefer to groom to what is in the pet’s best interest, even if that means sometimes getting a haircut that is a little shorter than we might usually like.

Bathing Beauties has groomers that have had additional training from Doctor Lisa Aumiller in how to best handle elderly pets and pets with medical concerns. For these pets, we groom primarily for their comfort and well-being, so if your pet “tells” our groomers that he/she can’t stand any longer, or can’t make it through the standard grooming process, the groomer will wrap up and bring your pet in to you.

Our groomers are well-versed in grooming pets with behavioral issues. Aggressive pets aren’t automatically turned away. Sometimes just being one-on-one without other pets barking and meowing is enough to remedy some behavioral issues. And when it isn’t, our groomers try to work with their furry clients to get through the grooming process in a way that causes your pet as little additional stress as possible. When scheduling an appointment, please be sure to disclose any behavioral concerns your pet may have, as well as what situations tend to be most triggering for him or her. Do not, under any circumstances, leave out anything that would be important for our groomer to know.

There are many types of preventatives that are safe for a variety of pet and family life styles, and it is best to keep your pets on these products year round. Contrary to popular belief, fleas do not stop being a risk to your pets in the fall and winter. They actually become more motivated to get into your home and onto your pet when the temperature drops. They can be tracked in on your shoes and pant legs in addition to coming in right on your pet. Their eggs and larva can lay dormant for 90 days in your upholstery until reactivated by carbon monoxide, vibration, or heat. You can’t always see them before their infestation becomes substantial; they’re exceptionally good at hiding.

Unfortunately, Bathing Beauties does not offer flea baths. We will happily groom your pet after you have taken it to your vet to have it treated for fleas, and started on preventatives. Most topical preventatives require at least 48 hours after application before a bath can be given. We recommend a soak at home in Dawn Dish Soap, allowing the lather to set for at least 10 minutes. This helps remove the flea dirt (or flea poop). But only a treatment plan discussed with your vet will treat and effectively remove fleas.

We Recommend the American Humane Society De-skunk Treatment

Mixture Ratio

• 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap
  • (Dawn or Palmolive are best)

DO NOT WET OR WASH YOUR PET FIRST. Apply this mixture directly to your pet’s coat and let sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Repeat.

Then get Nature’s Miracle Skunk Out treatment, available at most pet stores and supermarkets, and follow packaging instructions.

Skunk spray is oil-based, so your objective is to remove the oil. Both of these treatments will work to remove oils from your pet’s coat and skin. Your pet may be dry after treatments, so you should contact your vet about fish oil supplements to help restore natural moisture to coat and skin. Be sure NOT to use human fish oil supplements, as they tend to contain levels of other vitamins that are toxic to cats and dogs. If your pet has eye irritation or trouble breathing, contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.