Pet groomers work under considerable health pressures

The International Grooming Society (IGS) has published the public summary of its ‚Global Groomer Health Study 2025–2026‘. It is the first large-scale international survey of the health situation among professional dog and cat groomers. Just under 4,000 professionals from Europe, North and South America, Australia, Asia and Africa were surveyed. The participant profile is typical of the industry: around 96 per cent of respondents are women, more than 60 per cent have over eight years’ professional experience, and almost half run their own salon – thus combining working with animals with entrepreneurial responsibility.

84 per cent of respondents report joint or muscle pain, particularly in the shoulders, wrists, hands, knees and neck. 79 per cent mention back pain. One figure stands out in particular: just under 40 per cent believe it is possible that the pain could one day force them to…