“do you take senior dogs?”
As pets age, many owners unexpectedly find themselves without a groomer due to policies that limit grooming for senior dogs in some corporate and franchise settings. While it’s true that grooming older pets comes with additional considerations and risk, we believe senior dogs deserve thoughtful grooming throughout their lives. At artepupp, our approach simply changes to meet their needs.
Grooming plays an important role in a senior dog’s comfort, health, and quality of life. Regular grooming supports the integumentary system (skin and coat), helps monitor changes like lumps, bumps, or skin irritation, and keeps paw pads clean and nails maintained for better mobility and traction. A proper bath can hydrate fragile skin, improve circulation, support elasticity, and remove excess oil, debris, and discharge that often accumulate as hormones, coat texture, activity levels, and grooming tolerance change with age.
For dogs with continuously growing coats, maintaining a manageable length is especially important — short enough to prevent matting and make home care realistic, while still long enough to provide insulation and protect delicate skin from the elements and sun.
teaching an old dog new tricks
Many dogs who have been groomed since puppyhood are conditioned to stand throughout the grooming process. As they age, we often gently retrain them to rest comfortably on their side instead, reducing the strain of balancing on three legs and minimizing fatigue. Senior grooming is about working with the dog’s body, not against it. (And yes — sometimes that means appreciating those sweet senior toe beans.)
work at their pace
Patience is everything when grooming senior pets. Sometimes the most important part of the appointment is simply pausing — putting the tools down to offer reassurance, reposition for comfort, or add supportive towels and bolsters. Small check-ins throughout the groom help us ensure a dog feels safe, supported, and physically comfortable every step of the way.
what challenges and risks come with grooming senior dogs?
Senior pets often require additional accommodations, which is why some salons hesitate to accept geriatric clients. Aging can bring arthritis, reduced stamina, hearing or vision loss, cardiovascular disease, dental pain, seizures, dementia, and increasingly sensitive skin — all of which can affect how a dog safely tolerates grooming.
At artepupp, we believe the answer is not to stop grooming, but to adapt the grooming process to the dog.
aches, pains + mobility changes
Arthritis, weakness, and reduced mobility can make standing for long periods uncomfortable or painful. We encourage senior dogs to sit, rest, or lie down whenever needed and use non-slip mats, towels, bolsters, and supportive positioning during bathing and grooming to improve comfort and stability.
For tasks that require standing, a supportive belly band or sling may be used briefly to help distribute weight and reduce the risk of slipping or falling. These supports are used thoughtfully and in short increments — never as a substitute for comfort breaks. Our groomers work with the dog’s body, moving and positioning pets only in ways that are anatomically supportive and comfortable.
dental + oral pain
Periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral masses, and jaw discomfort can make routine handling surprisingly painful. Even gentle restraint around the face may feel uncomfortable to a senior dog experiencing dental pain, which can increase stress, sensitivity, or sudden movement around sharp grooming tools. Understanding these limitations helps us slow down, modify handling, and prioritize safety.
skin, lumps + coat changes
Senior skin is often thinner, drier, and more fragile. Gentle products, appropriate coat lengths, and mindful handling matter. During bathing and drying, experienced groomers carefully note lumps, bumps, skin tags, and cysts so they can work thoughtfully around them and avoid snagging delicate areas with tools. Keeping enough coat length to cushion and protect sensitive skin can often improve comfort.
vision, hearing + sensory changes
Many senior dogs experience hearing or vision loss. We work in a calm, predictable routine rather than jumping abruptly between tasks. Dogs who have been groomed regularly often find comfort in familiar sequencing — nails, paw pads, feet, bathing, drying, haircut — because the rhythm feels recognizable.
We also reduce sensory strain wherever possible. Dryers, for example, are effective but loud. Hearing protection, lower-stimulation techniques, slower pacing, and minimizing unnecessary noise can make grooming significantly more comfortable for senior pets.
internal health conditions
Some of the most important senior health concerns are not immediately visible. Heart disease, epilepsy, reflex or barking-triggered seizures, respiratory compromise, and dementia may all influence how grooming is approached.
When owners share medical history, triggers, medications, or behavioral changes in advance, we can adjust pacing, priorities, positioning, appointment timing, and expectations. In some cases, we may recommend an abbreviated groom, request that an owner remain nearby, or prioritize comfort and hygiene over cosmetic perfection.
consider mobile grooming!
A high volume salon may not be the best place to have your pet groomed. Many of the stressors felt by geriatric pets can be worked around or completely negated by a mobile salon.
🚐No car ride required! There’s also comfort in familiarity- your yard and house are in view!
🚐Mobile groomers experience less stressors than salon groomers, so they can purely focus on your pet’s comfort and body language throughout the groom.
🚐Sensory triggers are better managed in a mobile salon. Imagine, Balto, the Siberian Husky/Opera Singer in being bathed in the tub next to you.
🚐Smaller space to work ensures the groomer is always within arms reach
🚐Your pet doesn’t have to be kenneled or held somewhere at any point.
pro-tip
Always consult with your veterinarian to ensure your senior pet can tolerate the grooming process. If your pet is prescribed anti-inflammatories, nerve blockers or anxiety medications do not skip doses before a grooming appointment. Do not over exercise your senior pet the day before, on or the day after a grooming appointment. Ensure they have a comfortable place to rest after their appointment (remember grooming can be both physically and mentally tiring).
Keep in mind that grooming senior dogs is a specialized skill for groomers. Those that have the patience and empathy for this work will expect higher compensation. Geriatric pet groomers will always place a higher value on tasks that promote hygiene over perfectionism.
Visit www.artepupp.com or call 608.400.2053 for grooming inquiries
