Hygiene Help for the Ungroomed

As communicated by Beth Simon, NCMG 

While dog grooming salons in some states were allowed to remain open for the past few months, many states required groomers to shut down along with other services deemed non-essential. Even as more groomers are able to open up recently, getting in may be competitive. Now, any Kerry owner knows that after a couple months, a bath and a haircut start smelling and looking pretty essential.

And indeed, they are essential, according to Beth Simons, National Certified Master Groomer and owner of "The Pet Salon" in Margate, New Jersey. "You can tell by the demeanor of the pets that they're uncomfortable if they're not getting appropriate grooming. With a Kerry, it's kind of like they lose their swagger." Simons reports that while she has been allowed to remain open, many pet owners haven't been comfortable breaking self-quarantine to have their pets groomed on the usual schedule, such that when dogs do come in, they may be more matted, with some with sores underneath the mats, and overgrown nails that make it uncomfortable to walk, creating problems with the dog's gait and creating leg and back soreness.

Beth's top tip for maintaining some sense of hygiene while you wait to get to the groomer? Pay attention to the problem areas of eyes, ears, and anus. With more hair in their eyes, Kerries can be at risk for more eye infections or, since their vision may be impaired by too full a fall, can be at risk of injuries from running into things, including sharp corners of coffee tables inside, and thorny branches outside. Ears can become more irritated and collect more wax or hide more ticks. Anal areas can collect feces, creating an uncomfortable as well as highly unsanitary situation.

"Baby wipes!" affirms Simon. "Keep the area clean using baby wipes until you can get to the groomer and have the area shaved down again." If the situation merits it, Simons notes that very gently using a fork to disentangle dried matter from the hair can be helpful -- as can a complete and thorough bath.

And bear in mind that sometimes, after a long period without grooming, it's best to just clip the dog short and start over. "A nice thing about hair is that it grows back," acknowledges Simon.