Grooming-Related Concerns Among Companion Animals: Preliminary Data on an Overlooked Topic and Considerations for Animals' Access to Health-Related Services

Abstract

Grooming is an essential health maintenance activity that is fundamental to the welfare of many companion animals. Despite the potentially serious consequences of inadequate grooming for pets and their caregivers, few studies have examined the role of access to pet grooming services and supplies in promoting and maintaining companion animal health and welfare. The goal of this paper was 2-fold: (1) To provide preliminary findings demonstrating the scope of grooming and matting concerns among animals served by a large, non-profit animal welfare organization and (2) to provide a call for research to guide effective prevention of and responses to grooming-related omissions of care. We retrospectively extracted data from five American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) programs serving the New York City area: ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH), Community Medicine (CM), One ASPCA Fund, ASPCA-NYPD (New York City Police Department) Partnership, and the Community Engagement (CE) Program. The prevalence of grooming–related concerns was relatively consistent across all three veterinary service programs (AAH: 6%; CM: 4%; One ASPCA Fund: 6%). Thirteen percent of the ASPCA-NYPD Partnership's cruelty cases involved general hair matting concerns and/or strangulating hair mat wounds (93% were long-haired dog breed types). Five percent of CE cases received grooming-related supplies to support pet caregivers' in-home grooming capabilities. Our findings underscore the need to understand the scope of grooming-related concerns among animals served by veterinarians and other community programs to improve animals' access to health-related services.

Barriers to and facilitators of pet grooming among clients served by a subsidized grooming service program

“…These resources may be particularly beneficial for individuals adopting medium and long-haired breeds. Although owners of those breeds did not report more concerns or barriers in the current study, prior research shows that these dogs and cats may be particularly vulnerable to grooming-related omissions of care (1,4). Other potential models of providing resources include the development of web and mobile applications, such as DogMate, which was recently developed to serve current and prospective dog owners in the Philippines.…”

“…In severe cases, nails may grow in a circular pattern and cause painful wounds as they penetrate the paw pads (1)(2)(3). Thus, the consequences of grooming-related omissions of care have serious implications for animal health and welfare (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

“…The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recently reported on the scope of groomingrelated concerns among animals served by ASPCA programs in New York City. Specifically, McDonald et al (4) retrospectively extracted program data (e.g., appointment notes, appointments with medically necessary grooming or nail trim) from five ASPCA programs and found that the prevalence of groomingrelated concerns among animals served was relatively consistent Mobile grooming is a service that typically involves a pet groomer who travels to pet owners' homes and/or a specific community location and performs grooming services from specially outfitted vehicles.…”

“…To develop and implement effective programs, it is important that animal welfare and veterinary professionals understand what factors are related to pet owners' access to grooming services and supplies, awareness of their pet's grooming needs, and their ability to groom their pet(s) (4). Several potential barriers to maintaining grooming have been hypothesized, including lack of available veterinary, grooming, and pet supply resources within a reasonable distance of one's home, lack of pet-friendly or reliable transportation, low financial resources, owners' beliefs about health-promoting behaviors, and animal stress and behavioral problems (4,(7)(8)(9).…”

“…Studies examining pet caregivers' grooming practices are limited. An important step in preventing grooming-related omissions of care is to understand the reasons that caregivers may not provide adequate grooming ( 4 ). A 2020 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association found that most canine caregivers groom their dogs at home (41%) or take their pets to a full-service salon (30%), with a smaller number of people indicating the use of mobile grooming services 1 (9%), retailers (8%), or a self-service center (6%) ( 5 ).…”