one-to-one Dog Grooming
dogs with specific needs
At K9 Glow Up, the health, safety, welfare, and comfort of every dog is our highest
priority. We recognise that some dogs require additional care, support, or modifications during grooming due to medical, behavioural, age-related, or physical needs.
This policy outlines how K9 Glow Up manages grooming appointments for dogs with specific needs while ensuring their welfare remains at the centre of all grooming decisions.
Definition of “Specific Needs”
Dogs with specific needs may include, but are not limited to:
• Elderly or geriatric dogs
• Pregnant or in-season dogs
• Dogs with disabilities, including blindness, deafness, or limb loss
• Dogs with chronic medical conditions or physical limitations
• Dogs recovering from illness, injury, or surgery
• Dogs with behavioural challenges, anxiety, nervousness, or fear associated with
grooming
• Dogs with allergies, skin sensitivities, or dermatological conditions
Grooming Approach
To support dogs with specific needs, K9 Glow Up will:
• Carry out a consultation prior to grooming to assess the dog’s individual requirements
• Adapt grooming procedures to minimise stress, discomfort, and fatigue
• Allow rest breaks and work in stages where necessary
• Use handling and restraint equipment safely, appropriately, and only when required
• Avoid equipment or procedures likely to cause unnecessary stress wherever reasonably
possible
• Shorten or split appointments into multiple sessions where appropriate
• Recommend veterinary guidance or clearance where medically necessary
K9 Glow Up will stop, refuse, or modify a groom at any stage where continuing would compromise the welfare or safety of the dog, staff, or others.
Responsibilities
Owners must be asked, in advance of the appointment, to provide accurate and complete information regarding any medical conditions, behavioural concerns, physical limitations, sensitivities, medications, recent surgeries, or other factors that may affect the grooming process.
Failure to disclose relevant information may:
• Compromise the safety or welfare of the dog;
• Result in additional handling or grooming charges;
• Require the appointment to be modified or stopped;
• Result in veterinary treatment being sought at the owner’s expense.
Owners must be made aware, prior to the groom commencing, that grooming dogs with specific needs may result in:
• Extended appointment times;
• Additional handling requirements;
• Increased grooming costs;
• The groom being modified or only partially completed in order to prevent unnecessary pain, distress, injury, or suffering.
Document Review
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner where necessary, to ensure that its content remains accurate, appropriate, and aligned with current animal welfare standards and grooming practices.
Document Version: 1.0
Effective Date: 28 May 2026
Review Date: 28 May 2027