Grooming for Dogs, Cats & Rabbits
Keeping your pet well-groomed is important for their comfort, hygiene, and overall health. At Pittwater Animal Hospital, we can help you find the right grooming solution—whether that’s at a professional groomer, here at the hospital, or at home.
Grooming Your Dog – At the Groomer
For general dog grooming, we’re lucky to have Hot Dog Grooming conveniently located at the southern end of our car park. Kyoko runs her salon independently from Pittwater Animal Hospital and has an excellent reputation on the Northern Beaches.
There are also many other excellent local groomers.
When to start: Puppies that will need regular grooming should start going to the groomer soon after their 16-week vaccination. Early exposure to brushing, clipping around the eyes and bottom, and even the sound of a hairdryer will make future grooms much easier.
Frequency:
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Long-haired dogs (e.g. Cavoodles, Poodles) often need grooming every 6–8 weeks.
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Some dogs with easier coats may manage every 3 months.
Why it matters: Once hair mats, it can pull on the skin and cause discomfort. Severely matted dogs often require a short 1 mm clip all over.
Grooming Your Dog – At the Vet
Some dogs find grooming far too stressful to be done safely while awake. At Pittwater Animal Hospital, we perform these clips under a discounted general anaesthetic, which is a safer and more comfortable option than sedation. This allows us to remove painful matting thoroughly, check the skin for any issues, and ensure your dog has a positive experience.
When we clip your dog under anaesthetic, we will also trim their nails at no extra charge.
Questions? Please message us via the website or email reception@pittvets.au.
Grooming Your Dog – At Home
Many owners do a great job maintaining their dog’s coat themselves. The body is usually the easiest area to clip, but faces, legs, and bottoms can be tricky with wriggly pets. Remember—grooming isn’t just for looks, it’s for your pet’s comfort and hygiene.
Grooming Your Cat
Cats are clipped under sedation for safety and comfort. We can do a full short clip or just targeted areas to remove matting. While sedated, it’s a good time to run a blood test to check for any underlying health concerns.
Questions? Please message us via the website or email reception@pittvets.au.
Grooming Your Rabbit
Rabbits have very fragile skin, so clipping is only done when necessary—usually just around the belly or bottom. Extra care is needed to avoid injury.
Maintaining a healthy coat keeps your pet comfortable, prevents skin issues, and makes them a joy to cuddle.
