Just a couple of questions for any groomers out there. Do you include ear cleaning as part of a general groom or charge extra if they are dirty and need doing?
Also wondering if anyone out there enters grooming competitions? I would love to go along and watch (even compete one day...who knows!!) I know Dezynadog hold them and groomer of the year but any ideas how to find out about any more?

To me, ear cleaning is part of grooming, as is descaling/cleaning teeth, cutting nails etc.

>as is descaling/cleaning teeth,

I agree that ear cleaning should be part of the service,but i have never heard of a groomer who cleans or descales teeth,especially not as part of a regular service.

My freinds when they did pet grooming always did teeth ears nails ans anal glands.

I would think thats something you could encourage the owners to do regulary. :)

Believe me I try!! Getting some owners to give their pets a  quick monthly brush through is far too much for them to cope with sadly, as for "messing" about with ears, as one lady calls it!!!:rolleyes:

How about youself maybe selling something like thornit.  I have used it for ages now and today I looked in one of my dogs ears which was disgustingly dirty.  For the first time in using the stuff I looked at her ear a couple of house later and it was compleatly clear!  I never relised how well it works.  Could you possibly try and sell something like that to those customers who's dogs need it, it only takes 2 seconds to apply rather then fiddling about with wipes etc. :)

I suppose because I've never experianced it I can't believe people wouldn't bother grooming and cleaning their own dogs, however if everyone was like myself I suppose groomers would be out a job so it's a good thing in a way! :)

Ask them if they would send their children to school without brushing their hair or cleaning their teeth? 
I would only work with owners who looked after their dogs, wanted them to look like the breed they had bought and cared enough to bring them in regularly to keep them in good condition.  Part of the info sheet that I gave to new clients said "Dogs who continually arrive knotty will be asked to attend more regularly or to find another groomer".  The few owners who wouldn't work with me would be passed on to the 'sheep shearer' down the road! :)

at what stage of "ear cleaning" do you risk breaching the veterinary act and doing something you shouldnt?

I have not used Thornit for ages but is great stuff. I could always reccommed it to people whose dogs I think could benefit from it. If I think the dogs ears look inflammed or sore then I would reccommend that they make an appointment to see a vet. I would always check anyway with the owner first if I can give the ears a clean with Leo ear cleaner.

Cleaning with an ear cleaner, tissue and a finger is deemed OK.  Using 'drug' type ear drops for otitis for example and equipment, (as in clamps or even cotton buds) is not. :)

A full veterinary history would be taken on the first appointment to assertain any long term veterinary problems.

If the ear looks dirty I'll give it a wipe, often though they seem fine with the dogs I get in. One of my customers has particular trouble looking after her dogs, so I actually put ear drops in as well with her, not veterinary ones, just the standard ones from pet shops. I do nails of course, and anal glands if requested, and I suppose if someone asked I would see if the dog would let me brush teeth, but no-one's asked yet!

I was taught to descale teeth when I was trained.  Vets are amazed that you can descale without putting them out, but I think that they don't even try. 
I clean all dogs teeth with a brush.  New dogs sometimes get only a little descaling done each time they come in until they are happy for me to do it and their teeth are sparkling.  Then only a brush is necessary.  It's one of the reasons that their owners are happy to bring them in every 8 weeks - so that they don't need a GA and a big bill from the Vet! ;)

we include it in! mum has scared a few people into doing it with a few home truths!
Eurogroom is first bank holiday monday in May held at Bracknell sports and lesure centre every year, and Groomer Of The Year is coming up soon, which reminds me i need to sort dogs out for that!!!! i will let you no when it is think it is still at my pet stop in leeds. There is one in scotland cant remember when and where of the top of my head and one 13 and 14th of october in Ireland which i am a wee bit anoyed at as i would have liked to have gone this year for a few reasons!
Hope this helps
Fiona