When to Refer a Dog to the Vet: A Groomer's Guide

Here is a truth about our job that does not get said often enough: we see more of a dog's body, more regularly, than almost anyone except its owner. Vets see a dog when it is unwell. We see the same dogs every few weeks, hands right down to the skin, checking every inch of them as we work. That puts us in a genuinely useful position to catch things early. It also puts a responsibility on us to know where our lane ends.

The golden rule of this whole subject is simple. We recognise, we do not diagnose. We are not vets, and it is not our place to tell an owner what a lump is or what a rash means. What we can do, and should do, is notice when something is not right and point the owner firmly towards their vet. That single habit has almost certainly saved lives on my table over the years.

Recognise, do not diagnose

I want to hammer this home because it protects the dog, the owner and you. When you find something concerning, you describe what you have found, factually and calmly, and you recommend a vet check. What you never do is guess at a cause, reassure an owner that it is probably nothing, or dismiss a worry. You are not qualified to rule things out, and a confident wrong guess in either direction can do real harm.

Keep your language neutral and useful. Something like, "I noticed a small lump on his side while I was clipping, I would get your vet to take a look, it is always best checked," gives the owner everything they need without you stepping into the vet's role.

Lumps and bumps

As you clip and scissor, your hands pass over the whole dog, which is exactly how lumps get found. Most lumps turn out to be harmless, but neither you nor the owner can tell that by feel, and the ones that matter are far easier to treat caught early.

Flag any lump you find, and it helps the vet if you can note where it is, roughly how big, whether it seems attached or moves freely, and whether it looks new since the last groom. A lump that has appeared quickly, changed, is ulcerated or bleeding, or seems to bother the dog is worth mentioning with a bit more urgency. Then hand it over. Do not try to name it.

Ears

Ears are a classic groomer find, because we are in there cleaning and tidying anyway. Signs worth referring include:

• A strong, yeasty or foul smell
• Redness, heat or swelling inside the ear
• Dark, waxy or pus-like discharge
• The dog flinching, shaking its head or scratching at the ear
• Obvious pain when the ear is touched

Any of these point to an ear infection or irritation, which needs a vet's diagnosis and treatment, not a groomer's cleaning solution. Clean gently around what you can safely reach, do not go poking down a sore ear canal, and tell the owner to get it seen.

Skin

We see skin more directly than anyone, coat parted, right down to the surface. Refer for:

• Red, inflamed, weeping or crusty patches
• Bald spots or thinning fur that is not a normal shed
• Persistent scratching, licking or biting at one area
• Scabs, spots, or a rash
• Anything that looks like it could be contagious, which also means protecting your other clients

A word on parasites, because we find them: fleas, flea dirt and signs of mites are all things to flag to the owner so the dog can be treated properly. And if you ever suspect ringworm, treat it seriously for the sake of the dog, your other clients and yourself.

> Welfare note: If a dog is in obvious pain, distress or an emergency while on your table, the dog's welfare comes before finishing the groom. Stop, keep the dog calm and safe, and get the owner to a vet. No trim is worth pushing a suffering dog through.

Injuries, wounds and nails

Sometimes we are the ones who find an injury, and occasionally we cause a minor one, a nicked quick or a small clipper graze, which happens to every honest groomer eventually. Be straight with owners about anything you have caused. For injuries you find, refer cuts that are deep, bleeding heavily or looking infected, any wound with heat and swelling, and a nail torn at the base, which is genuinely painful and prone to infection. Keep a stocked pet first aid kit for the minor grazes, and know your limits for everything beyond that.

Anal glands: know the boundary

Full glands are something owners ask us about constantly, usually because the dog is scooting or licking. Here is where I draw a firm line. Expressing anal glands is not a routine grooming task, and it is not something we do at Fluffs. Done wrong or unnecessarily, it can hurt the dog and cause damage, and repeated expressing when it is not needed can make things worse rather than better.

What we do is recognise the signs, scooting, excessive licking under the tail, a bad smell, obvious discomfort or swelling near the anus, and refer the owner to their vet or a veterinary nurse. Impacted or infected glands are a medical issue, and the vet is the right place for it. Recognise, refer, done.

Eyes, mouth and the rest

While you work, a quick eye and mouth check costs nothing. Refer red, weepy, cloudy or clearly sore eyes, and any sudden change. In the mouth, badly tartared teeth, red or bleeding gums, broken teeth or a foul smell are all worth mentioning so the owner can raise it with their vet. You are not doing a dental exam, just noticing the obvious and passing it on.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tell the owner what I think a lump is? No. Describe what you found, where it is and whether it seems new, and recommend a vet check. Naming or dismissing a lump is diagnosing, which is the vet's job. A confident wrong guess either way can genuinely harm the dog.

A dog on my table clearly has an ear infection. Can I just clean it? Clean gently around what you can safely reach, but do not treat it. A smelly, red, discharging or painful ear needs a vet's diagnosis and medication. Flag it to the owner and advise them to book in.

Do groomers express anal glands? Not at Fluffs, and it is not a routine grooming task. Done wrong or when unnecessary it can harm the dog. We recognise the signs, scooting, licking, a bad smell or discomfort, and refer the owner to their vet or veterinary nurse.

What if I nick the skin or quick during a groom? It happens to everyone eventually. Stay calm, manage the minor bleed, and be honest with the owner about what happened. For anything more than a small graze, or if it will not settle, advise a vet check.

Written from the salon floor by Lucy, City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 qualified groomer and owner of Fluffs, a one-to-one dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York. For more professional grooming guides, explore the Fluffs grooming blog.

Further reading: the RSPCA guide to dog health and the PDSA Pet Health Hub both cover the conditions above in owner-friendly terms.