grooming a dog with an enlarged heart

[4thedog]

I have groomed this dog since 2005, but she was just recently diagnosed with possibly having an enlarged heart. her owner would like me to groom her dog before she sees the cardiologist (?) on Feb 11 to confirm her heart condition. and her vet said if she trusted her groomer that was one thing, but she wouldnt groom her unless grooming doesnt stress her (the dog) out. i never noticed that she was stressed out really, but i never paid attention to her heartbeat before. I suppose the last few times i have groomed her (at least) her heart has been enlarged, but i didnt know it.

do you think i should ask to speak to her vet before grooming the dog? she made an appointment with me for this monday.

[Doubledogdare]

The vet doesn't own the dog and legally has no say on whether the dog gets groomed or not. It is the owner that makes that decision.

The owner knows the dog has a health problem and still made the appointment. I would NOT go around the authority of the owner and call her vet, you and the vet then calling the shots on her dog. You are a groomer and your only connection with the dog is to groom it. Period.

If the owner wants it groomed, groom the dog. Chances are the dog has had a cardiac problem for a long time now. If something happens to the dog just because it was being bathed and trimmed, the same could have happened while the dog was running around the yard or being taken for a walk.

I'd do as the owner wishes and groom the dog as usual.

[wet noze]

I used to groom a dog that had congestive heart failure. The owner would stay just in case. That made me feel more comfortable just in case something happened.

[Cat Crazy]

I think the dog will be fine. As you said, the dog has probably had an enlarged heart the last couple time it was groomed. Speak with the owner about signs the dog has shown - panting, tongue/gums not so pink, etc., so you know what to watch for. Keep an eye out for signs of distress and have the owner pick up as soon as done.

Good luck and stay calm.

[lefty]

i never noticed that she was stressed out really, but i never paid attention to her heartbeat before. I suppose the last few times i have groomed her (at least) her heart has been enlarged, but i didnt know it.

do you think i should ask to speak to her vet before grooming the dog? she made an appointment with me for this monday.

>>>

I'd have her sign a release form. I did a dog with a grade 6 heart murmer for a couple of years. She did fine, and died peacefully at the age of 11 at home.

[odette]

I di the last groom on a poo yesterday, end stage of congestive heart failure. It made him feel better,owner was close in case. Just don't expect to do a full groom as usual,pay attention to sani, face, all the dogs I've done have been fine ,some reason that is common here, book the dog when you can do it straight,allow time in case he needs a break.

[dogspaw]

If you are concerned, maybe you can talk to the client about calling the vet to see if there is anything you should keep your eye out for on this dog. It may help to gain confidence from the client and the Vet about your concern for the dogs you groom. If you have never worked with this vet before they do not know how you are with your client dogs, and may just have visions of chop shops and heated cage dryers in his head.

[4thedog]

"The owner knows the dog has a health problem and still made the appointment. I would NOT go around the authority of the owner and call her vet, you and the vet then calling the shots on her dog. You are a groomer and your only connection with the dog is to groom it. Period."

My primary connection with the dog is to do what is best based on the knowledge I have. Not to just groom the dog because the owner would like it. The owner is depending on my assessment of past grooms. Yes she did make the appointment, but after speaking with me and based on me saying that in the past that her dog didnt seem exceptionally stressed out during the grooming process.

It was after this part of the conversation that she then told me that the vet told her she would NOT have her dog groomed now, unless the groomer was sure it wouldnt stress out the dog. After hearing that and knowing then that the dog has a heart condition, I started to second guess myself.

This is not about going around the client and speaking to the vet. It is about me being unsure. Before speaking to any client's vet I would speak to owner to see that that was alright. In this case I believe the owner would be grateful for my concern.

Thanks for all responses I do appreciate it. Especially signs to look out for with regards to stress on heart.

[borzoimom]

I had an lady one time call me with a 12 yr. old peke with an enlarged heart and the dog was heartworm positive. She said the dog needed shaved down because she was too hot. I told her I wanted to talk to her vet first, vet said, in her opinion, the grooming or heat stroke, both would pose the same risk to the dog. I wrote up a release for the owner to sign that stated very "matter of fact" the risks to the dog. The groom went fine, I ended up grooming the dog three times before he passed away at home. If you have been grooming the dog all along, I would just have the owner sign a release stating the risks and go from there. The owner obviously trusts you.

[Jadenlea]

If, when you do the dog regularly she seems ok with you and not overly stressed, I would probably go ahead and do it with the vets permission. I personally would do her on a quiet day when I could get her done first and back home. If the owner just wants her clean for the cardiologist appt maybe you could compromise on the grooming and not do a full groom. Bath, brush, neaten up a little and avoid anything that might be more stressful for her (ex. nails if she hates that)

I think if you explain to the owner that you understand wanting the dog to be clean for the vet but that you also would have a hard time living with yourself later if anything were to happen they will totally understand and appreciate your caring.

[4thedog]

Sample of release

thanks so much for all responses. could somebody send me a sample of what a release would say in this case? also if i just type it up and have her sign it, does it really stand up if something should happen?