Dog Grooming Add-Ons Explained: Nails, Ears, Teeth, Dematting and Deshedding
A groom can cover more than a bath and haircut. The right dog grooming add-ons can help keep nails short, ears tidy, teeth brushed and coats easier to manage between visits.
For owners in Manly and across the Northern Beaches, the key question is simple: which extras fit your dog’s coat, routine and comfort? Some signs point to a problem that belongs with your vet.
At The Dog Social, nail clipping and ear cleaning are included with every groom at no extra cost. Nail trims can be booked as a drop-in service, and de-shedding has separate service options.
Key Takeaways
- Choose by coat and routine. A Husky may benefit from a deshed. A Cavoodle with tight knots may require dematting or a shorter clip.
- Nails and ears are regular grooming jobs. Long nails, light wax and surface debris can often be handled during a groom.
- Pain, swelling, discharge, bleeding or sudden changes call for a vet. Grooming supports hygiene. It does not diagnose or treat disease.
- Teeth brushing is maintenance. It can help remove soft plaque from visible tooth surfaces. Dental disease belongs with a vet.
- Ask at check-in. Mention swimming, shedding, matting, home brushing and recent changes so the team can suggest the right service.
What Counts as a Grooming Add-On?
A grooming add-on is an extra service added to a wash, tidy or full groom. It may target nails, loose coat, tangles or basic hygiene.
The right extra depends on your dog’s coat, lifestyle and regular care routine. If you are already booking dog grooming in Manly, your groomer can check the coat, nails and ears at check-in and explain what may be useful that day.
At The Dog Social, some services owners may think of as add-ons are already part of a groom. Nail clipping and ear cleaning are included with every groom.
Service | Often useful for | Grooming support | Vet check if you notice |
Nail trim | Long, clicking or sharp nails | Careful shortening | Broken nail, bleeding, swelling, paw pain |
Ear cleaning | Light wax or debris | Gentle outer-ear cleaning | Redness, odour, discharge, pain, head shaking |
Teeth brushing | Regular oral-care routine | Visible surface brushing | Loose teeth, bleeding gums, pain, eating changes |
Dematting | Long, curly or dense coats | Brush-out or clipping where required | Skin wounds, marked inflammation, severe pain |
Deshedding | Double coats, seasonal shedding | Loose undercoat removal | Bald patches, sudden coat loss, sore skin |
The best check-in is not about adding every service. It is about picking what fits your dog that day.
Nail Trim: When It May Be Useful
Nail length varies between dogs. Walking surfaces, exercise and nail shape can all affect how quickly nails wear down.
A dog nail trim grooming service may help when nails click on hard floors, look long when your dog stands, or dewclaws are becoming sharp or curved.
Regular nail trimming can form part of a dog’s grooming routine. Some dogs naturally wear their nails down through walks on harder surfaces. Others require more frequent trims.
Purdue University’s Canine Welfare Science program states that most dogs benefit from a nail trim about once a month, with some dogs requiring trims more or less often. It recommends calm handling, small trims and stopping if a dog becomes very stressed.
Signs It May Be Time for a Nail Trim
Check your dog’s nails if you notice:
- clicking on tiles or floorboards;
- nails extending well past the paw;
- sharp or long dewclaws;
- nails beginning to curve;
- difficulty getting enough natural wear from regular walks.
Long nails can change how a dog places its paws and may be more likely to split or catch.
Torn, bleeding, swollen or painful nails require a veterinary check rather than a standard grooming appointment.
Ear Cleaning: Routine Care Versus Vet Concerns
Ear cleaning is routine hygiene. It is not treatment for an ear problem.
A dog ear cleaning groomer service can remove light wax, dirt and debris from an ear that appears comfortable and healthy.
Professional dog ear cleaning can be particularly useful for dogs that collect dirt around the outer ear or have a routine that includes frequent swimming.
Cornell University advises cleaning healthy ears when dirt or debris is present, since over-cleaning can irritate them.
A Routine Clean May Fit When the Ear
- looks calm and pale pink;
- has a small amount of visible wax or dirt;
- has no strong smell;
- is comfortable when touched; and
- has no active discharge.
When the Vet Is the Better Call
Groomers can support routine cleanliness, but they do not diagnose ear conditions.
Arrange a veterinary check if you notice:
- redness or swelling;
- a strong or unusual smell;
- heavy or coloured discharge;
- repeated head shaking;
- frequent ear scratching;
- obvious tenderness or pain.
A 2026 multicentre study looked at 1,060 dogs with acute otitis externa. Ear cleaner was used in 89% of cases, often alongside prescription treatment selected by a veterinarian. This highlights the difference between routine cleaning and veterinary treatment.
For Manly beach dogs, mention regular swimming at check-in. It gives the groomer useful context before checking the ears.
Teeth Care: What a Groomer Can and Cannot Do
A familiar scent may help some dogs settle. Yet a provider may limit personal items for hygiene, storage or safety.
Ask before packing:
- A small washable blanket
- A clean bed
- A worn T-shirt carrying your scent
- A familiar crate, when your dog uses one
- One safe chew or toy
- A lightweight coat for cool weather
The Dog Social describes its boarding as home-style care with calm spaces, supervised routines and day activities. It asks owners to bring food, walking gear and any confirmed required items.
Choose items that can be washed and replaced. Leave a treasured or hard-to-find toy at home. One useful comfort item is often enough.
What to Leave at Home
A useful dog boarding checklist covers items that should stay behind.
Leave these at home unless requested:
- Expensive beds or accessories
- Irreplaceable toys
- Glass or breakable bowls
- Large bags of unmeasured food
- Loose medication
- Rawhide or high-risk chews
- Retractable leads
- Several bulky blankets
- Strongly scented sprays
- New supplements or food products
Do not pack a favourite toy without asking. Some dogs may guard toys, and group settings may use controlled enrichment.
Keep written notes short. One page of clear instructions is more useful than several pages of background.
Dematting vs Clipping
Matting forms when loose hair and coat fibres become tangled into tight knots. It often develops faster in long, curly or dense coats.
Small, loose mats may be brushed out. Tight mats sitting close to the skin can be uncomfortable to pull apart.
A professional dog dematting appointment gives the groomer a chance to assess how tight the coat has become and whether brushing or clipping is the more comfortable option.
A dog dematting service may use brushing, combing or careful trimming based on coat condition.
Dematting May Suit
- a few loose knots;
- tangles that are not tight to the skin;
- a dog that remains comfortable through gentle brushing;
- areas where a comb can still move through much of the coat.
Clipping May Be Kinder When
- mats sit tight against the skin;
- a large section of coat has become packed together;
- brushing causes clear discomfort;
- the skin cannot be checked safely beneath the mat.
RSPCA Australia advises stopping if grooming causes discomfort or stress. It notes that a difficult mat close to the skin may be safer for a professional groomer or veterinary team to handle.
A 2022 ASPCA study found grooming-related concerns in 4% to 6% of cases across three veterinary programs. In a separate case group, 13% involved matting or hair-related wounds, and 93% of the dog cases within that group involved long-haired dogs.
Regular brushing and scheduled grooms can help catch tangles before they become tight mats.
Deshedding for Double Coats
A dog deshedding treatment removes loose undercoat that is ready to come away. It does not stop natural shedding.
Double-coated breeds such as Huskies, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds carry a softer undercoat beneath longer guard hairs.
During periods of heavier shedding, a bath, blow-dry and brush-out can remove a significant amount of loose coat in one appointment.
A Deshed May Be Useful When
- loose fluff comes away in clumps;
- the undercoat feels dense;
- home brushing is removing large amounts of fur;
- seasonal shedding has increased;
- loose hair is collecting around the home.
RSPCA Australia states that double-coated dogs require regular, thorough grooming to remove dead undercoat and reduce mat formation. Gentle tools such as undercoat rakes, slicker brushes, wide-tooth combs and de-shedding tools can help when used without hard pulling or scraping.
Some shedding is normal. Sudden coat changes require a different response.
Speak with your vet if you notice bald patches, irritated skin, sores, unusually heavy scratching or sudden hair loss.
How to Choose Add-Ons at Check-In
You do not have to work out every service before arriving.
Give the grooming team a short update on what has changed since your dog’s last visit.
1. Check the Coat
Think about:
- increased shedding;
- new knots;
- areas that are becoming harder to brush;
- changes in coat texture;
- how often you have been brushing at home.
2. Talk About Your Dog’s Routine
Mention whether your dog:
- swims regularly;
- spends plenty of time outdoors;
- walks mostly on grass or soft ground;
- has been shedding more than usual;
- has recently changed its grooming routine.
3. Mention Comfort
Tell the groomer if your dog dislikes having particular areas handled.
This can include paws, ears, legs, tail or face.
4. Flag Any Changes
Tell the team about any recent redness, bleeding, discharge, unusual smells, bald spots or discomfort.
Some of these signs may mean veterinary care is more appropriate than a grooming service.
5. Ask at Pick-Up
Ask what the groomer found during the appointment.
This can give you a clearer plan for:
- brushing between visits;
- the timing of the next groom;
- nail checks;
- shedding management;
- areas that may require closer attention.
A short conversation at check-in and pick-up can make future grooming appointments easier for both you and your dog.
Contact The Dog Social for Dog Grooming in Manly
The right dog grooming packages and add-ons should make routine care simpler: shorter nails, a cleaner coat, less loose fur and a grooming plan that fits your dog.
The Dog Social in Manly offers full grooming packages, including full grooms, wash and blow-dry services, de-shedding, dematting, nail care, ear cleaning and teeth care. Nail clipping and ear cleaning are included with every groom.
Book your dog’s grooming service, then ask our team at check-in which extras suit the coat and routine in front of them. You will get practical grooming support and a clear point where veterinary care is the better choice.
FAQs
Are Nail Trims Included in a Groom at The Dog Social?
Yes. Nail clipping and ear cleaning are included with every groom at no extra cost. A stand-alone nail trim can be booked separately when your dog does not require a full grooming appointment.
How Often Should My Dog’s Nails Be Trimmed?
Many dogs benefit from a trim around once a month, according to Purdue University’s Canine Welfare Science program.
Your dog may require a different schedule depending on nail growth, activity and the surfaces they regularly walk on.
Should My Dog’s Ears Be Cleaned at Every Groom?
Healthy ears do not always require frequent cleaning. Cornell University advises cleaning when dirt or debris is present and avoiding excessive cleaning.
Redness, pain, unusual odour or discharge should be checked by a vet.
Can Teeth Brushing at the Groomer Replace a Veterinary Dental Clean?
No. Groomer-based brushing supports visible surface hygiene. It does not replace a veterinary dental examination or treatment.
Problems below the gumline, loose teeth, broken teeth, swelling or signs of dental disease require veterinary care.
Is Dematting Better Than Clipping?
It depends on how tight and extensive the matting is.
Loose tangles may be brushed out. Tight mats close to the skin may be more comfortable to clip rather than repeatedly brush.
Your groomer can assess the coat at check-in and explain which approach is suitable for your dog.
Does Deshedding Stop My Dog From Shedding?
No. Deshedding removes loose undercoat that is already ready to come away.
Dogs with double coats will continue to shed naturally. Regular brushing and scheduled deshedding appointments can help manage the amount of loose coat.