What We Do
Your pet will be treated with the utmost care while they are at The Tidy Paw Spa. Appointments are one-on-one and your pet is our only focus while we are working with them. This page will give you an idea of our process and explains the different aspects of the services we provide.
Bath
All of our furry clients are bathed and massaged from nose to tail using a deep cleansing shampoo to remove any dirt, debris, excess dander & loose hair, followed by a moisturizing conditioner to replenish any essential oils and nutrients that have been removed by cleansing. Some pets require multilple shampoos to fully cleanse their coat. We will select specific products based on your pet’s skin and coat type to make sure they are clean, comfortable and looking their best. Every bath includes a gentle face massage using special tearless facial shampoo.
*please inform us if your pet requires a hypoallergenic shampoo
**if your pet requires medicated shampoo prescribed by your veterinarian, please let us know ahead of time and bring it to your pet’s appointment.
Dry
After the bath, your pet is given a quick cuddle and is towel dried with a super absorbent sham and plush microfibre towel. We have a range of dryers and products to ensure your pet is dried as comfortably and safely as possible.
After a thorough towel dry, we typically use a high velocity air dryer to get your pet dry as quickly as possible. This also helps release any loose hairs that did not come out during the bath. If your pet is not accustomed to the grooming process, they may find the noise and feeling of the fast moving air from the high velocity dryer to be frightening. For sensitive dogs (which may include toy/small breeds, puppies and fearful dogs) as well as for drying faces and ears, we use a quieter and more gentle finishing dryer that puts out air at mid to low speeds.
If your pet does not tolerate the high velocity or finishing dryers, we will use a regular handheld dryer.
In any case, for your pet’s comfort, we use cotton balls and/or “ear muffs” (a.k.a. the “happy hoodie”) to protect your pet’s ear drums when using any dryer.
See our FAQ page for additional information about the drying process.
Brush
We will brush your pet thoroughly during their groom, providing they are not heavily matted and any tangles and knots are easily removed. Removing mats is uncomfortable and in some areas, painful for your pet. Moderate to severe matting and matting in sensitive areas MUST be shaved and we will do so at our discretion for the comfort of your pet.
It is crucial for your pet to be brushed at home on a regular basis to prevent any uncomfortable matting, skin issues, and in severe cases, infections or other health problems. Regular brushing helps to remove dirt, debris, loose hair, and prevents tangles while distributing the natural oils produced by your pet’s skin promoting a healthier coat. It also makes the grooming process more enjoyable for your pet if brushing is already part of their regular routine and the brush is not constantly tugging at the skin while working through any tangles.
*please note that any mat removal that exceeds 10 minutes will result in additional charges.
See our FAQ page for more information on mats and de-matting.
Maintenance Trim (Sanitary)
We include a maintenance trim with our mini and full grooms. A maintenance trim (otherwise referred to as a ‘sanitary’ trim) includes shaving or trimming excess hair in the following areas: between/in front of the eyes, the groin, genital & rectal areas, and the paws/paw pads. Keeping these areas clean and tidy between grooming appointments will aid in your pet’s overall health and comfort as they are not only very sensitive, but are generally the first areas to become soiled due to your pet’s bodily functions and day-to-day activites. When these areas are not kept clean, your pet can be more susceptible to infections of the skin/eyes/urinary tract, etc.
Certain breeds and coat types do not require a maintenance trim, but it is of course still very important to monitor these areas and ensure they are kept clean and are free of any debris and/or irregularities.
Style
Styling is part of our mini and full grooms. Certain breeds have specific styling guidelines according to CKC, AKC, etc. standards, however these can be altered in many ways based on your pet’s comfort, unique coat type, ease of maintenance and of course to enhance your pet’s individual personality! Be sure to let us know your requested preferences and we will do our best to work with you and your pet. What we think will look cute for your pet might not always match what you may have in mind, so sending us reference photos by text or email ahead of time is a great way to ensure we are all on the same page.
*certain styles cannot be acheived on particular coat types. We will discuss that with you when you arrive with your pet and we are able to assess their coat condition.
All the small things
Ear Cleaning - Ear cleans are included in all of our grooming packages. If there is any sign of infection (redness, broken skin, excessive debris, pus) we will refer you to your veterinarian to have your pet’s ears addressed. If there are no signs of infection but there is fair amount of wax/debris, or if any water gets into the ear, we will do an ear flush. If there is no sign of infection, and wax/debris are minimal, we will do an external ear clean. If the ears look perfect, we will leave them be!
Ear Plucking - Not all dogs have excess hair in their ears. We will only pluck hair from the ears if required or requested. We will not pluck ears if there is any sign of infection. If there is minimal hair growth in the ear, trimming any hairs that protrude is sufficient.
Nail Trim - Nail Trims are included in all of our grooming packages.
Pet Cologne - Your pet will get a spritz of pet specific cologne at the end of their groom. Please let us know ahead of time if you prefer your pet not to receive this.
Accessory (Bandana or Bow) - A new ‘do is not complete without a fun and cute accessory! However, if you prefer your pet without one, let us know.
We DO NOT express anal glands. If your pet requires expression of their anal glands, this should be done properly by a veterinary professional. See our FAQ page for more information on anal gland expression.