Spa Vs. Grooming

Over time we have come to see more products for pets that may stop and make us think twice. Is calling it a "Spa" package just a fancy word for pampering your pet? Does taking your furry friend to the groomer or dipping them in the tub every couple of weeks classify as a proper "spa" experience?

These days we find ourselves seeking out pampering experiences for ourselves. The hussel and bussel of everyday life can wear us down and the thing we first think of to help "un-wind" might be a day at the spa. But what makes those experiences relax us in a way that we think our pets could need the same treatments? How much stress could fido or fluffy have?

Now a days, there are so many products that are more focused on more than just keeping our pets clean and the best thing we can do is understand the difference.

Grooming focuses on one aspect of your pets - a temporary external appearance. "Spa" (which means Sanitas Per Aquas - healing through water) recognizes that beauty is much more than skin deep and spa products create a lifestyle for your pets by:

• Focusing on the inside and outside health of your pet - Overall health can't be achieved by just keeping your furry ones clean (although it certainly helps), pets (and humans) must also pay attention to their internal well-being by eating a healthy all natural diet, taking vitamins, herbal elixirs and herbal supplements.


• Appealing to all of the senses - Spa products stimulate smell, sight, taste and even hearing. Aromatherapy is commonly associated with the spa experience, and while smell is just one of the applications of aromatherapy, it is a powerful one. Spa products generally contain essential oils, which are much more therapeutic (and expensive) than synthetic fragrances.


• Sound and music are also important and there are many CD's available specifically designed to help calm your pet.


• Taking care of the dogs mental well-being - Fido and Fluffy can get nervous too (have you seen a them during fireworks or a thunderstorm?) and there are products out there that can aid in relaxation and is also wonderful to use during travel, before trips to the vet & groomer, before obedience school (so the dog is more attentive) and during thunderstorms.


• Another important thing we forget about is exercise. Without lots of exercise or stimulation most pets become bored, lethargic and generally unhappy.


• Caring about the environment - Spa products are typically more natural, healing, and environmentally friendly. Products that contain botanical and herbal extracts are going to cost more than those that don't. Beware of shampoos that are pink, purple or other bright colors. These have coloring in them and are not natural. Harsh products will be irritating to the skin and will not take into consideration the PH balance of a your pet's gentle skin.


• Caring for Emotional Well Being - It's important that you can spend quality time with your pets. Light a candle, pour a glass of wine (for the human, not them) and give a soothing massage (be careful to make sure they are in the "mood"- otherwise you could stress them out more!). Moisturize those paw pads, condition that coat, and chill out while the smell of lavender and chamomile wafts through the room.

So we can say that "Spa" is much more then a bottle of shampoo. It's about creating a healthy lifestyle and spreads across many product types- grooming, food, vitamins/supplements, toys, training and even special bonding time with you and your pets.