I am a dog groomer and apprehensive about returning to work.

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srosenbeck
srosenbeck Member Posts: 5
edited June 2017 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

This is my 2nd diagnosis in a year - April 2017 did bilateral w/ reconstruction (GAP Flap). I also had a take back on the right then about a month later a PAP flap reconstruction. Chemo while not scheduled yet is expected around end of June and lasting 3 months then targeted for 9 months. I am not sure if Grooming is something I really need to be going back too or perhaps how long should I anticipate being out. Perhaps there is another groomer or someone with a high intensity/ impact job that could shed some light on what they did. A little glimpse I have to groom 4-5 dogs a day ranging from Yorkie's to doodles, golden retriever's, Airedale's. Some fight most of a groom (the smaller guys) and yeah the big guys like to sit so constantly having to lift them/hold them up is a necessity. Any input would be wonderful. myself do not see a return for like a year or so. Thank you

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited June 2017

    I'm not a professional groomer but have done some in the past - MANY yrs ago. Mom was a Toy Poodle and Pekinese breeder (no - she never bred any Peke-a-poos) and I did a lot of her her grooming - especially her show dogs. I groomed the Irish and Gordon we benched amd obedienced.

    Do you work at your own grooming salon so you can pick the ones that know how to behave and give the no-manner ones to someone else?

    As you had nodes removed - have you seen a LymphEdema Therapist yet? (For a baseline evaluation and education.). Lifting small and large dogs onto the grooming table and keeping arms up while grooming might encourage/aggravate (not the right words but can't think of better ones right now) LE.

    I'd give it a try (part time) if you want to to see how it goes but it might be a bit to soon to do full time. Only you can know. If grooming is something you love doing - then do a few.

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  • srosenbeck
    srosenbeck Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2017

    hello Kicks, Thank you. I work for PetSmart and they are not fans of groomers being part time and they expect 4-6 dogs a day and whatever gets booked with you. you are expected to do. Yes I did get a baseline for Lymphdema especially since 2016 I had lumpectomy with lymphnode removal and this year bilateral w/ lymphnode dissection. Both on the left side. Of course I am lefty. They may be able to minimize the number of dogs daily for me. I am still waiting to finish healing, then start chemo. I do not think I am able to return for a while and do the job required. I do like grooming but I am not as fast as I should be and this causes me stress. :(. Hope you are doing ok.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited June 2017

    Startt your own grooming business! That way you set our own schedule and only accept well behaved patrons.

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