We recently had someone job shadow for a day at our grooming studio. Her take as she beat a hasty retreat? “It’s loud and messy and hard work.” That about sums it up! But most of us wouldn’t want to trade our loud, challenging, messy jobs for anything. So to keep ourselves healthy and able to continue at our jobs, we should all take steps to stay safe as we work.
- Hearing protection. Barking dogs and high-velocity dryers produce high-decibel sounds, damaging our hearing over time. Wearing hearing protection is a must for groomers. Some people choose earmuff-style hearing protection; others use simple earplugs. Whichever works best for you, please get hearing protection and use it. https://www.petedge.com/happy-hoodie-ear-plugs-10-pack
- Hair and dander enter the air around us when we wash, dry, and brush dogs. Either or both of those things can end up in our eyes. This is especially true for groomers who wear eye makeup. Mascara is like a magnet to dog hair. Wear goggles to protect your sensitive eyes while working, especially while drying.
- The recent pandemic had most of us wearing facial masks, and doing so seems more normal and accepted because of it. Donning a mask to wear while you dry and brush dogs will help filter out dirt, dander, hair, and small particles that can irritate our respiratory tracks. There is an actual chronic condition called “groomers lung.” https://www.qcpetstudies.com/blog/2021/07/all-about-groomers-lung Protect your delicate respiratory system by masking up while you work, especially when the high-velocity dryer is stirring things up.
- Don hair-repellent clothing including smocks and pants. The tiny bits of hair that remain after clipping or scissoring a dog have a way of weaving into most fabrics and can become small, irritating splinters. Sometimes those splinters can cause skin infections. Grooming in hair-repellent clothing can make our work far more comfortable and safer for our skin. ,
- Appropriate footwear- While I know a bunch of groomers who go to work in flip-flops, wearing supportive, close-toed shoes is a far safer option. This shoe style helps keep hair splinters at bay and offers protection from heavy dogs with sharp claws stepping on your feet. Bonus points if you choose shoes with good arch support. Your feet and legs will feel better at the end of the day, and proper foot support can help prevent degenerative problems in your feet as you age.
Taking simple steps to protect our health while we work can help ensure we can enjoy grooming for years to come. So bring on the loud, the messy, and the puppies!
By Daryl Conner, MPS, MCG
Daryl Conner has been devoted to making dogs and cats more comfortable and beautiful for almost 40 years. You can find her happily working at FairWinds Grooming Studio with her daughter and infant granddaughter, or typing away at her latest grooming-related article. Daryl was awarded both a Cardinal Crystal Award and Barkleigh Honors Award for journalism. She shares her meadow-hugged antique Maine farmhouse with her practically perfect husband and too many animals.
