Can I sedate my anxious dog before a grooming appointment?

🐕 Grooming Nervous or Reactive Dogs: Understanding Calming Remedies & Groomer Safety

Some #dogowners with nervous or reactive pets often ask: “What do groomers think about calming herbal remedies or anti-anxiety medications before grooming?” It’s a thoughtful question—and the answer isn’t simple.

🧠 Every Dog Is Different

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Whether it’s herbal supplements, over-the-counter aids, or prescribed medications, these options should always be discussed with your #veterinarian or trusted pet health professional.

In some cases, medication can help reduce stress and make grooming safer for both the dog and the groomer. However, side effects like lethargy, irregular heart rate, vomiting, reduced muscle control, and low blood pressure can interfere with the grooming process and compromise your pet’s wellbeing.

Even herbal remedies can interact with medications or cause unexpected reactions. That’s why we often recommend an initial grooming session without any calming aids—so we can observe your dog’s behavior and build a tailored plan for future visits.

🛑 Safety First: What Owners Must Share

It’s essential that pet owners inform us at the time of booking if their dog:

• 🐾 Has bitten or shown aggression

• 🐾 Reacts to specific grooming procedures (e.g., velocity dryer)

• 🐾 Has a history of anxiety or reactivity

We follow a “humanity over vanity” approach—prioritizing your dog’s wellbeing over aesthetics. If necessary, we may use a cone or muzzle. These tools do not harm your dog; they help keep everyone safe and can even calm a reactive pet.

If your dog becomes overly stressed or aggressive, we may pause or stop the grooming session. At that point, we’ll discuss next steps, which may include calming remedies, rescheduling, or referring you elsewhere.

⚠️ Important Grooming Policies

• We may reschedule anxious pets for quieter times (e.g., first appointment of the day).

• We cannot accept dogs that are pregnant or in-heat/menstruating.

• We recommend all clients have pet insurance.

• All clients must read and agree to our policies and procedures before grooming.

Please understand: while we take every precaution, grooming live animals always carries some risk—especially if a dog is reactive, unsteady, or has hidden medical conditions. Grooming may also reveal or aggravate underlying health issues.

💬 Honest Communication Is Key

Our priority is always the welfare of your dog. We want to help your pet feel safe, and we want to continue doing what we love—grooming dogs and supporting our community. But not every dog is a good fit for every groomer, and that’s okay.

Honesty, transparency, and open communication help us all do what’s best for your pet. 🐩✂️💕✨🙏

anxious dogs medication for grooming