- Dental CareMy dog’s teeth (Trout) look fabulous after his recent dental cleaning at Polo Springs...and his bad breath problem is gone, too.
- VaccinationVaccination against the rabies virus is required by law for dogs, cats and ferrets in the state of Colorado. The rabies virus can affect any warm blooded animal and is nearly 100% fatal once clinical signs have developed. This means that people are at risk, as well as pets. The virus is most commonly transmitted by a bite wound where it then attacks the central nervous system of the victim. Wildlife such as bats, skunks, coyotes and raccoons commonly transmit rabies, but it can by spread by infected domestic animals. Clinical signs present as aggression, restlessness, fear, difficulty swallowing or an irrational fear of water. The rabies vaccine is a core vaccine that is typically started on puppies, kittens and ferret kits at 16 weeks. Adults will then receive boosters every 1-3 years.
- Veterinary OphthalmologyOphthalmology is the study of diseases affecting the eyes. Eye problems are a common reason why pet owners bring their companion to Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital for an evaluation. A pet with an eye problem may have a red eye(s), abnormal or an excessive amount of eye discharge, squinting, pawing at the eye(s), rubbing of the face along the carpet or furniture, limited or complete loss of vision, holding the eye(s) closed, unequal pupil size and/or cloudiness inside the eye. If you notice any of these signs at home, it is best to have one of our veterinarians examine your pet, as some eye problems can be serious, painful and sometimes even contagious to both you and other pets.
- Behavioral CounselingOne of the most beneficial services offered at our veterinary hospital in Colorado Springs is a thorough and comprehensive annual wellness exam. This examination is always performed by one of our highly skilled veterinarians. These examinations are essential for your companion, and will enable us to diagnose health problems early, making treatment more effective, less involved and ultimately, less costly for you. During these comprehensive examinations, in addition to evaluating your pet’s overall health by performing a complete whole body physical exam, we also assess their nutritional needs, lifestyle, environment, internal and external parasite control and weight. We encourage your participation, and believe it is our duty as veterinarians to use this appointment to discuss our findings with you and answer all of your questions. This appointment is also a perfect time to discuss any concerns you may have with your pet, such as issues related to aging, behavioral problems, travel outside of the Colorado Springs area, bad breath, adding a new pet to the household, changes in mobility, litter box problems, newly found lumps, etc. Additionally, if your pet is determined to be healthy, this appointment is a great opportunity to discuss any vaccinations they may require.
- Nutritional CounselingWhile vomiting and diarrhea are one of the most common reasons that a pet is presented to a veterinary hospital, gastroenterology involves any problem of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) from the esophagus to the stomach, small intestine or large intestine (colon). A patient experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) disease will commonly exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, a decreased appetite, or even regurgitation. Most pet owners are able to recognize that their pet is ill and in need of veterinary attention when they have vomiting and/or diarrhea multiple times within a 24-48 hour period (acute illness). It is critical that your pet be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible as some causes of acute vomiting and/or diarrhea can quickly become life threatening. The sooner we are able to examine, diagnose and treat your sick companion, the less likely your pet will experience secondary complications resulting in a more prolonged and typically more serious illness.
- Comprehensive ExaminationIn veterinary medicine, as new diseases emerge, and current diseases change (whether by prevalence or mutation) the veterinarians at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital are committed to staying on top of the most recent advances in vaccine design and technology. We do not believe in a “one size fits all†approach when it comes to protecting the life of your companion. That is why our veterinarians take the time to perform a complete and thorough physical exam on your pet and assess their immune and health status, lifestyle, likelihood of travel, and exposure risk before recommending a personalized immunization program for them. It’s what you want for your pet, and what they deserve.
- Parasites Treatment and ControlOne of the most common reasons we see a dog or cat at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital is for coughing or sneezing. These symptoms are especially common in newly adopted pets. Frequently, these patients have an upper respiratory infection, however, we can and do see pets that have a more severe infection involving the lungs (ie pneumonia). Thankfully, vaccines such as Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine influenza are available to try to prevent common causes of this serious condition. While respiratory infections are a frequent cause of coughing in our pets, there are many other disease processes that may result in a cough. Sometimes a cough in a small breed dog is related to a malformed trachea and not an infection at all. In cats, we see wheezing that can be mistaken for coughing, but is actually related to an asthmatic condition. Patients with a cough could also be suffering from heartworm disease, cardiac (heart) disease, allergies, cancer, lungworms etc. Reverse sneezing is another common condition we see. The manifestation of this condition can be so alarming to owners that they may rush their pet in to see us for fear that they are unable to breathe. Reverse sneezing dogs will typically make a series of strange snorting sounds that seem like a sneeze being sucked inwards instead of blown out. Reverse sneezing has a variety of causes including (but not limited to) an irritation to the back of the throat (water up the nose), nasal mites, allergies, nasal foreign object, and respiratory infections. Regardless of the type of respiratory symptoms your pet is experiencing (coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, wheezing, increased breathing rate or effort etc.) any pet displaying respiratory signs should be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian. This is important not only to diagnose your pet’s problem, but also to ensure that your pet is not suffering from a condition that could progress to life threatening respiratory distress.
- Behavioral Disorder TreatmentThis is a combination vaccine that protects cats against feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), calicivirus and feline panleukopenia (feline distemper). The feline herpes virus and calicivirus are both major causes of upper respiratory infections in cats with potentially long term, and even life long consequences. The panleukopenia virus is very contagious and can be fatal. Similar to the parvo virus in dogs, it manifests primarily as a gastrointestinal disease with suppression of the immune system. Infected cats typically display lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and a high fever.
- Pain ManagementFortunately, Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital has numerous treatment options available to help your companion. Depending on the cause of your pet’s orthopedic problem, they may require surgery, rehabilitation, medication and/or dietary therapy. Frequently, with orthopedic problems, medication is necessary to relieve the inflammation and discomfort that our patients are experiencing. In order to provide your pet with safe and immediate pain control, we stock our pharmacy with the newest and most advanced veterinary approved medical therapy. Additionally, we also stock pure and patented veterinary nutritional supplements that have been scientifically proven to relieve chronic pain and inflammation, as well as slow the progression of further arthritic changes in our patients’ joints. We also frequently utilize a variety of injectable medical options to help manage our patients’ acute and chronic pain, as well as carry a variety of prescription/therapeutic diets designed to support healthy joints in our pets. Unfortunately, many dogs and cats with arthritis are also overweight, and the extra weight they are carrying will cause the arthritic changes in their joints to progress at a faster weight. Weight loss is especially critical in these pets. The veterinarians at Polo Springs are committed to helping these patients successfully get their weight under control through the use of an individually tailored program, along with a special prescription diet. Our board certified veterinary nutritionist is also available for pets that may need additional help.
- Vomiting Treatment
- Diarrhea TreatmentThe DHPP vaccination is commonly referred to as a distemper or a distemper-parvo vaccine. It does protect against those two potentially fatal viral infections, but it covers much more. Canine distemper is a contagious viral infection that attacks a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. The parvo virus mainly targets the gastrointestinal tract resulting in vomiting and bloody diarrhea. It also suppresses the patient’s immune system and unfortunately, can even affect the heart. The hepatitis virus most commonly damages the liver, but it can also affect the kidneys, spleen and/or lungs. The last component of this combination vaccine is the parainfluenza virus. This is a respiratory infection that is spread rapidly between dogs.
- Skin Condition and Allergy TreatmentDermatology is the study of the integumentary system or more simply, skin disease. While some skin problems that affect your pet may be mild and easily resolved by a single visit to a veterinarian, some chronic skin conditions may become very overwhelming for pet owners. Because many problems cause the skin to become red, the hair to fall out and the patient to itch, it is often challenging for a veterinarian to definitively determine what is wrong with your pet simply by looking at the skin. More worrisome is the fact that some forms of cancer, in addition to a number of serious internal medical conditions can result in skin problems. Thankfully though, the veterinarians at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital have an arsenal of preliminary and advanced diagnostic tests at our disposal to accurately diagnose your pet’s disease.
- Upper Respiratory Illness TreatmentPulmonology involves diseases of the respiratory tract. The respiratory tract starts with the air passages in the nose and extends down through the pharynx, larynx (voice box), trachea (wind pipe) and to the lungs. Respiratory disease can range from something as mild as an upper respiratory infection to life threatening fluid accumulation in the lungs of a dog or cat. If certain respiratory conditions worsen, your pet may even experience respiratory distress (trouble breathing). This will be very scary for both you and your companion and of course requires immediate veterinary attention. As with any disease process, the sooner we are able to assess and diagnose your pet’s illness and subsequently begin treatment, the better your companion’s prognosis will be. On occasion we will see patients that are experiencing some subtle signs of breathing difficulty which their owners have not noticed. These subtle signs may include an increase in a pet’s respiratory (breathing) rate while the pet is at rest, or a mild increase in the depth of a pet’s breath. If you are ever unsure if your pet needs an examination by a veterinarian, please give us a call. We are always here to help you.
- Injury TreatmentOther common musculoskeletal conditions involve soft tissue injuries. These can include muscle strains, torn ligaments (especially in the knee) and tendon problems. Of course bones can be broken (fractures) or develop tumors. Less common musculoskeletal conditions can be autoimmune in nature (the body attacking its own muscles or joints), infection related, or the result of an endocrine (hormonal) problem. Because orthopedic problems may have a multitude of causes, a thorough and detailed physical examination is critical to correct diagnosis and disease management.
- Intestinal Foreign Object Removal
- Leptospirosis TreatmentThankfully, there are measures you can take to protect your pet (and yourself). First and foremost, your dog should be vaccinated against this disease. Keep in mind that there are a variety of vaccine products on the market, some with better protection than others. In addition, avoid stagnant water and practice good sanitation habits. Keep your dog clean and always wash your hands if you come into contact with dog urine.  It is best to keep your dog away from areas where wildlife frequent, which is hard to do considering all of the fun outdoor activities we have in our beautiful state. More worrisome is the fact that the veterinarians at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital are diagnosing and treating Leptospirosis in many dogs that have not visited these types of areas. Please make a point to discuss this disease with your veterinarian if your dog has not been vaccinated for Leptospirosis.
- Bacterial and Viral Infection TreatmentThis is a core vaccination that is needed by all dogs. Without protection, dogs will die from these viral infections. Puppies can be started on this vaccine by 6 weeks of age. They should then receive a high titer low passage booster every 3-4 weeks until they are approximately 16 weeks old. The use of a high titer low passage DHPP vaccine will assist a puppy’s immune system in developing protection at a younger age then DHPP vaccines which are not high titer low passage. It is critical to vaccinate puppies on the appropriate time table. Once a properly vaccinated puppy reaches adulthood, they should receive boosters every 1-3 years as determined by a veterinarian. Adult dogs whose vaccine status is unknown (stray, shelter obtained, etc) should receive a series of 2 vaccines, 2-4 weeks apart, to ensure that they are adequately immunized.
- Ear Infection TreatmentEar infections are one of the most common infections we see in our small animal patients. Classic symptoms of an ear infection include redness of the ear, discharge or debris in the ear, scratching at the ear, odor from the ear, head shaking, and pain when touching the affected ear. Because these infections are so prevalent, veterinarians at Polo Springs spend a considerable amount of time counseling pet owners on how to prevent ear infections in their pets. To prevent ear infections from occurring, it is critical to keep the canals clean and dry. Because we see so many problems resulting from an owner’s well intentioned attempt at cleaning and/or treating their pet’s ears, we highly recommend first consulting with one of our veterinarians for instruction on proper ear cleaning technique, as well as regarding which ear cleansers are both safe and affective for your pet. We frequently see pets for a second opinion related to chronic recurrent ear infections. It is important to know that sometimes the recurrence is because the owner has never been counseled on proper ear cleaning products and technique, while other times it is because the pet is suffering from an underlying medical problem that has not been diagnosed and therefore addressed, so the ear infections keep coming back. Another very serious problem we witness is misuse or overuse of previously prescribed ear medications. Problems will also develop if an ear infection is not fully resolved once treatment is stopped. These are just some of the reasons why we always recommend that before you treat your pet’s ears with any medication, they first be evaluated by one of our veterinarians. Every ear infection should be diagnosed and treated based on a cytological examination of the ear debris/discharge. This allows us to examine the ear specimen under the microscope to determine if there is an infection and what type of organism is causing the infection. Once we obtain this information, we will be able to prescribe the correct medication to safely and affectively treat your pet. If the infection is severe, we will also submit a sample to a laboratory for a culture.
- Anal Gland Infection TreatmentAt Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital, grooming can mean more than just having your pet look great and smell good. It can relieve stress, improve coat and skin conditions and help discover potential problems between veterinary examinations. When your pet visits our veterinary hospital, they will benefit from a number of procedures included with their professional grooming service. All patients groomed at our hospital will receive a toenail trim, internal anal gland expression, thorough ear cleaning utilizing a specially formulated ear cleansing solution, double shampoo and crème rinse application with products that promote superior cleansing and hydration, blow dry and complete coat brush out. For your convenience, during your pet’s stay with us, we are also happy to provide them with any veterinary services that you request. Professional grooming services are available by appointment, with flexible hours to accommodate your schedule. Learn More »
- Hip Dysplasia TreatmentThe musculoskeletal system is comprised of all of the muscles, bones and joints in the body, including the tendons and ligaments that connect them. Disorders involving this body system are a common reason why a pet is presented to Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital for an evaluation. We see pets for limping, weakness, difficulty or slowness in walking and/or rising, generalized joint pain and/or swelling, traumatic injuries such as sprains, tears and fractures, and muscle and bone cancers. The first step we take in helping your pet is to ask you a series of detailed questions related to their mobility problem, while subsequently performing a thorough and complete physical examination of them. The information gathered during our assessment of your pet will help us decide whether diagnostic testing is necessary. While radiographs (x-rays) are a common test utilized for many orthopedic (musculoskeletal) problems, you might be surprised to learn that parasites, bacteria, viruses and even organ malfunction, immune system attack or hormone imbalance may be to blame for your pet’s problem. Since our animal companions are unable to verbally communicate with us, the detailed questions and thorough physical examination are critical to our assessment of your pet. Once the history is obtained and an examination is performed, we will take whatever time is necessary to educate you on your pet’s condition and formulate a diagnostic and/or treatment plan in order to best help them recover. In the event that radiographs are taken of your pet, our board certified veterinary radiologist will promptly evaluate your pet’s images when necessary.
- Obesity TreatmentSelecting the proper diet for your pet can be overwhelming. Just go to any pet supply store in Colorado Springs, CO and you will have seemingly unlimited choices of pet food. Without fail, there will be a sales representative trying to convince you of the need to feed organic, holistic, grain free or even a raw diet to your pet. It can be a daunting experience, especially considering that so many pet food companies are competing for your dollar, in an industry that is not as regulated as we would like to think it should be. Many people remember the pet food scare in 2007 when melamine was sickening and even killing cats and dogs, but did you know that there are almost weekly pet food recalls even today. At Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital, we offer nutritional counseling as one of our services. Many factors are considered when tailoring a nutritional plan for your pet. Age, weight, physical activity, medical history and genetic predisposition play a role in determining your pet’s nutritional needs. We carry a wide variety of high quality pet foods, nutritional supplements and health-conscious treats. We also prescribe special diets to target potential or current health problems. Please consult us to help your sort through all of the available diet options and select a nutritional plan that is right for your pet. Polo Springs is also able to provide intensive nutritional counseling for our patients that require it. We consult directly with our board certified veterinary nutritionist to help with more advanced problems related to obesity, organ malfunction, nutritional deficiencies, dietary hypersensitivity/allergies, disease prevention, chronic gastrointestinal problems etc. With any nutritional consultation, we always start by assessing your pet’s health, age, genetic predisposition, lifestyle and current body condition score (this is a measure somewhat similar to the BMI index used in humans that helps us determine if they are at a healthy weight) in order to create a plan to meet your goals. Whether your companion is in perfect health, or suffering from a chronic debilitating disease, the importance of proper nutrition should not be overlooked. Recently there has been a push by the pet food industry to feed grain free diets. It is no doubt trendy, but is it really better for your pet? For example, only 1% of dogs are actually allergic to grains. Corn is an excellent source of protein, energy and fatty acids. It even contains twice the antioxidants as an apple on an ounce by ounce basis. In addition, domestication of dogs has actually led to their enhanced ability to digest grains. Domestic dogs show genetic mutations on 10 genes that enhance their ability to digest starches compared with wild wolves. As a side note, most of the therapeutic/prescription diets that are recommended for dogs and cats with heart, kidney, liver, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, joint, and skin disease contain grains, including corn. Another dietary fad is
- Diabetes TreatmentEndocrinology involves disease processes of the glandular (or endocrine) system or of their secretions (hormones). You many already know of several of these diseases. Illnesses such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) and diabetes mellitus (uncontrolled high blood sugar) frequently affect humans and animals. There are other endocrine diseases that are not as common, and therefore not familiar to pet owners. Because endocrine problems can affect numerous organs in the body, these diseases can often cause a variety of symptoms and problems in our pets. Fortunately, our team of veterinarians at Polo Springs has extensive experience managing the full spectrum of endocrine diseases.
- Thyroid Disease TreatmentIn most cases, the history, physical and neurologic exam findings, and the diagnostic test results will aid us in determining a definitive diagnosis of your pet’s problem. It’s important to know that some pet neurologic problems can rapidly worsen, resulting in paralysis or brain damage. For example, intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) is one of the most common neurologic conditions we see typically affecting small breed dogs such as Daschunds. This can be a debilitating problem compressing the disks located between each vertebra in the spine, thereby putting pressure on a pet’s spinal nerves and spinal cord. Without prompt treatment, this disease can leave a pet permanently paralyzed. Seizures are another common disorder we routinely encounter. They can be congenital in nature, due to head trauma or low blood sugar, idiopathic (meaning no cause is determined), the result of an infection or toxin ingestion, or because of organ malfunction, a glandular disorder or brain tumor. Unfortunately, if a pet experiences a lengthy seizure or multiple seizures in a short period of time, they may suffer permanent brain injury. Some pets presenting to our veterinarians with signs of a neurologic condition are found to have some other underlying disease and not a primary neurologic disorder at all. Disorders of the thyroid gland, for example, can adversely affect a pet’s neurologic system. With proper treatment of the thyroid disease, the pet’s neurologic signs should resolve. Interestingly enough, pets do not experience strokes as much as their owners seem to believe. While a common condition in humans, strokes are actually quite rare in veterinary patients. Thankfully, some neurologic diseases are actually preventable. The rabies virus (which primarily affects a pet’s nervous system) is nearly 100% fatal once a pet is afflicted. However, vaccination is highly effective and required by law since this virus can be transmitted to humans.
- Heart Disease TreatmentIn order to provide your pet with an even more advanced level of veterinary care, Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital has a board certified veterinary radiologist and a board certified veterinary cardiologist. These specialists at Polo Springs are here to help diagnose and manage our patients with complex or severe heart disease. These pets usually require an extensive and detailed echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) that should only be performed by a veterinary specialist that has several years of additional training in cardiac (heart) imaging and disease management.
- Periodontal Disease TreatmentPeriodontal disease is the most common disease in pets in Colorado Springs. If your pet has bad breath, it is likely they are suffering from this serious ailment. Periodontal disease is a chronic and painful infection of the mouth, and if left untreated, it is progressive. More then 85% of dogs and cats older then four years of age have periodontal disease. This disease represents a major threat to our companions, as it not only serves as a source of pain to our pets, but also as a pathway to life-threatening disorders that affect their liver, kidneys, brain and heart. Because of this, veterinary dental experts believe that keeping your pet’s mouth healthy over their lifespan may add, on average, three to five years to their life.
- Cancer TreatmentUnfortunately, some masses grow too large for complete surgical excision or are located in inoperable areas. Additionally, some cancers are not solitary tumors but are diffusely present in an organ or throughout the pet’s body. In these cases, we will be required to explore other types of cancer treatment besides surgery. If your pet’s cancer is one that responds to chemotherapy, you can be assured that the veterinarians at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital are ready to help you and your pet through the entire treatment process. The most surprising thing pet owners learn is that chemotherapy rarely causes dogs and cats to lose their hair the way human cancer patients do. They also tend to experience less severe vomiting (if any at all) compared with human patients. If your pet is receiving chemotherapy at Polo Springs, they will visit the hospital to have certain chemotherapeutic drugs administered and blood samples monitored. Fortunately, newer medications are also available that can increase your pet’s chances of survival and actually be administered by you at home. This makes the whole process easier on the family. In rare instances, some patients may require radiation therapy to treat their cancer, and we are here to help your companion receive this care as well.
- Seizure TreatmentOnce your pet has been diagnosed with a disease of the nervous system, we will explain their condition and available treatment options. Some patients will receive conservative care such as a medication regime combined with strict rest for a number of days. Other patients will be started on anticonvulsants to help control a seizure disorder. In some cases, especially if your pet’s condition is very severe or rapidly deteriorating, we may recommend more advanced diagnostics (CT scan or MRI) or even spinal surgery.
- Wound and Fracture CareFeline leukemia is the most common fatal viral infection in cats. The virus is able to cause cancer in cats, as well as suppress a cat’s immune system thereby leaving it at risk for other infections. The virus is spread by bite wounds or by contact with an infected cat. The virus may also be passed from a cat to her kittens. Outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats will be at highest risk for acquiring this infection. Kittens are also particularly susceptible to this virus.
- Veterinary SurgeryAt Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital, we take all pet surgery very seriously. There is no such thing as routine when it is your beloved companion undergoing anesthesia to have a surgical procedure performed. Our entire staff respects and understands this feeling. To reassure you of the attention and quality of care your pet will receive during their stay with us, we have specifically designed our hospital so you are able to view all medical, anesthetic, surgical and recovery care of your companion from the comfort of our front lobby.
- Spaying and NeuteringUrinary disorders are not always a result of a medical problem, as sometimes pets have behavioral issues. For example, cats can be known to mark or spray urine (urinating on vertical surfaces), or have what is known as inappropriate urinations (going outside of the litter box, more commonly on horizontal surfaces such as flooring, bedding or even on owner’s clothing). Intact male tom cats are most likely to spray urine as a means of marking their territory. While urine marking is an unacceptable behavior to most cat owners, it is important to remember that it is normal cat behavior and one that has been shown to dramatically increase with the number of cats in the home. Neutering cats greatly reduces the chance of them demonstrating this behavior. Inappropriate urination related to a behavioral issue can have a variety of causes, and fortunately there are also many things we can do to try to prevent this problem from occurring in the future. Sometimes all that is required is some counseling by one of our veterinarians to suggest strategies to eliminate this behavior at home, while other pets may benefit from medications or the use of pheromones (hormones).
- Laboratory ServicesSimply put, hematology is the study of the blood. The blood contains three main cell lines: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a diagnostic test that gives us a detailed report of each category of cells. The most common hematologic (blood) disorder that we see is anemia, which is a decrease in red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body, so a decrease in their supply is very detrimental to a pet. Many times the decrease in red blood cells occurs suddenly, leaving the pet lethargic, weak or even collapsed. This can happen due to the red blood cells being lost (ie. your pet is bleeding externally or internally from somewhere) or from internal red blood cell destruction. Destruction of red blood cells frequently results from an attack on the cells by your pet’s immune system, which may be initially triggered by a variety of causes. Red blood cell destruction can also be caused by a number of blood parasites. Furthermore, anemia may develop as a result of organ problems, cancer or bone marrow disease. Because anemia can rapidly develop into a life threatening condition, successful diagnosis and management of an anemic pet is critical.
- X-Ray
- Microchipping
- BoardingIn order to better serve the Colorado Springs community, Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital offers unique pet boarding and daycare programs that are designed to fit any schedule. Over the years we have found that clients appreciate our hospital’s expanded hours and direct veterinary boarding supervision, as well as the personalized attention their pet receives during their stay with us.
- GroomingAt Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital, professional grooming means more than just having your pet look great and smell good. Grooming can relieve stress, improve coat and skin conditions and help discover potential problems between veterinary examinations.