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Health & Wellness

29 articles from our groomers in East Northport and Ronkonkoma.

A dog's paw held palm-up, showing the pads and the hair growing between them
Health & Wellness

Dog Slipping on Hardwood? Check the Fur Between the Pads

Overgrown pad fur covers the traction surface of the foot, and long nails work against it. A cheap first thing to rule out before you assume it's age.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A groomer parting a dog's coat at the base of the tail to check the skin underneath before a bath.
Health & Wellness

Found a Flea Before the Appointment? What to Do First

A same-day decision, not a drop-off surprise. Three options in order, and why telling the salon beforehand is always the right move.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
The Lillian Ruff Pet Spa grooming salon storefront on Laurel Road in East Northport, New York.
Health & Wellness

Greasy, Waxy Dog Coat: Why It Feels Dirty Days After a Bath

The oily end of coat trouble, not the flaky end. Why over-bathing and under-bathing both end here, and the point where it stops being a grooming problem.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A groomer steadying a small dog with one hand while brushing, the dog standing on a non-slip grooming table
Health & Wellness

Grooming a Three-Legged or Mobility-Limited Dog

Balance changes everything about table time. How the work gets split into pieces, what needs extra attention when weight shifts, and what to ask your vet first.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
The Lillian Ruff Pet Spa building at 835 Portion Rd in Ronkonkoma, where boarding check-ins happen
Health & Wellness

Is Your Dog's Kennel Cough Shot Too Old to Board?

Suffolk County works to a shorter bordetella window than most owners assume. Check the date on the certificate before you book.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
Close-up of a dog's front paw resting on a hard floor, nails long enough to touch the boards before the pad does
Health & Wellness

Overgrown Dog Nails: Curled, Split, and How They Get Fixed

Long nails change how a dog stands. Why one big trim isn't possible, what a multi-visit plan looks like, and the point where it becomes a vet visit instead.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A small dog lying on its side after grooming, showing the short-coated belly and inner thigh area where post-groom irritation usually appears.
Health & Wellness

Red Bumps or Itching After a Groom: Clipper Irritation

What clipper irritation looks like, where it shows up, and how to tell it apart from an allergic reaction or an infection — both of which belong with your vet.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A groomer parting a dog's coat with both hands to check the skin underneath during a brush-out
Health & Wellness

Lumps, Scabs and Ticks: What Groomers Find Under the Coat

A full brush-out and bath is the most thorough head-to-tail check most dogs get. What turns up, why we describe rather than diagnose, and where every finding goes next.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
The Lillian Ruff Pet Spa storefront at 16 Laurel Rd in East Northport, New York
Health & Wellness

Post-Surgery or Crate Rest? When to Delay a Groom

The answer comes from your vet, not from us. What a groom actually asks of a healing dog, why water and drying matter, and how to rebook without losing your routine.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa

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