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Seasonal Care

23 articles from our groomers in East Northport and Ronkonkoma.

A wet-coated dog after a freshwater swim being towel-dried before grooming
Seasonal Care

After a Lake Swim: Rinse, Dry, and What to Watch For

Swimming loads silt and water deep into the coat. How to rinse and dry it properly, what to check before your dog goes in, and when to call a vet instead of us.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A wet dog standing on grass after swimming, coat soaked and dripping.
Seasonal Care

After a Swim: How to Rinse and Dry a Dog's Coat Properly

Swimming is usually fine — drying is where it goes wrong. What to check before your dog goes in the water, and how to get a soaked coat dry to the skin.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
The Lillian Ruff Pet Spa storefront at 835 Portion Rd in Ronkonkoma, where boarding and daycare dogs check in
Seasonal Care

Fireworks Week: Boarding and Daycare Around July 4th

Fireworks are rarely a one-night problem. Here is what has to be in place before a dog can board — vaccines, a meet and greet, and a phone number that works.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A relaxed dog lying in a quiet back room of a Long Island house, away from the front door, on Halloween night
Seasonal Care

Halloween Night: Doorbells, Costumes and a Calm Dog

Halloween 2026 lands on a Saturday. Here is how to get a door-reactive dog through trick-or-treat night, and when daycare or one night of boarding is simpler.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
The Lillian Ruff Pet Spa storefront at 835 Portion Rd in Ronkonkoma, where the retail shop, grooming, daycare and boarding all share one building.
Seasonal Care

Holiday Dog Gifts That Last Past December 26

Which dog gifts are still around in January, which chews are worth thinking twice about, and the one present that is honestly for the person holding the leash.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A dog's front paws being rinsed in a shallow bowl of water by a doorway after a winter walk
Seasonal Care

Road Salt and Cracked Paw Pads: A Suffolk Winter

Road salt and brine dry, abrade and irritate paw pads all winter. Here is what they actually do, and the thirty-second routine at the door that prevents most of it.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A packed dog go-bag with food container, medication and a folder of vet records, ready by the door
Seasonal Care

When the Power Goes Out: A Storm Plan for Your Dog

A multi-day outage is a real Long Island possibility. Decide now where your dog goes, and get the paperwork Suffolk County requires on file before you need it.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A dog resting quietly on a bed in a side room while a Thanksgiving gathering carries on elsewhere in the house
Seasonal Care

Thanksgiving Guests and a Dog Who Hates a Full House

Twenty people, a hot kitchen and a doorbell all afternoon — some dogs would rather be elsewhere. Daycare, boarding and the foods to keep away from him.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
A dog's paws being wiped with a damp towel by the front door after a snowy winter walk
Seasonal Care

Winter Paw Kit: Balm, Booties and a Towel by the Door

Three things by the front door and a thirty-second habit gets a dog through a Suffolk winter — plus the paw trim most owners have never heard of.

Lillian Ruff Pet Spa
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