Pet Grooming in St. Louis

St. Louis's groomers range from neighborhood salons and pet-store grooming counters to mobile vans that work from your driveway. A full groom usually covers a bath, haircut, nail trim and ear cleaning; most groomers also offer bath-only visits, de-shedding and quick tidy-ups between full grooms.

Ask about experience and licensing

Missouri's Animal Care Facilities Act requires a state license from the Department of Agriculture for a "commercial kennel", which the law defines as a kennel that performs grooming or training services, and licensed facilities are inspected at least once a year. Whether a given salon falls under that license is worth asking about, so ask your groomer whether they hold one and when it was last inspected. Then ask how long the groomer has worked, where they trained and whether they groom your breed often.

Before the first visit:

• Tell the groomer about your dog's health, age and temperament.
• Ask how dogs are dried; if a cage dryer is used, someone should check the dog often.
• Ask which vaccines they require, and reschedule if your dog is coughing.
• If the coat is badly matted, ask about a short clip rather than hours of brushing out.

Your dog's registration

In the City of St. Louis, dogs are registered rather than licensed. Every dog must be vaccinated against rabies and registered with the City; puppies get their first rabies shot and are registered between 3 and 4 months old, and vaccinations and registrations are renewed every 1 or 3 years depending on the vaccine. Your vet issues the registration certificate and tag when your dog is vaccinated, and skipping it can bring a ticket and a fine, according to the City of St. Louis. Groomers will also ask for proof of rabies vaccination.

Winter salt and summer heat

St. Louis winters bring snow, ice and salted sidewalks. The city's health department advises wiping your pet's paws, legs and stomach after time in snow or ice, because swallowed salt or de-icing chemicals can make a pet sick, and not leaving pets outdoors unattended below freezing (City of St. Louis). Ask your groomer to keep the fur between the pads trimmed so ice and salt do not build up. In summer, book early-morning appointments, never leave your dog in a parked car, and for double-coated breeds such as huskies and shepherds, ask for a de-shed rather than a shave: the undercoat protects them from heat and sunburn.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed by the business yet. Check hours, prices and services with the groomer directly. If you run one of these businesses, you can claim or correct your listing from its page.