HYDERABAD: Our parents’ generation may have only taken their pet to the vet for the regular check up or a shot of vaccination, but pet pampering in this age has led to a quite a few pet salons opening up in the city. From manicure and pedicure (yes, pets also require the occasional clipper to their nails) to a scented bath, and even more upscale beauty treatments like hairdos and streaking, salons are beginning to see the vast opportunities in catering to the furry clientele as well.
At Petswill: Pet Spa and Parlour in Banjara Hills, one can have their poodles and kittens bathed and blow dried after a spa session followed by some basic grooming services.
Vaibhavi R, a groomer at the salon, says, “We offer hair colorings, streaking for the fur and hair cuts. We only get dogs, cats and rabbits. For dogs with long hair, a poodle cut or a shihtzu cut is preferred.”
While the adage ‘It’s a dogs life’ initially meant a hard life on the streets, the new generation dog’s life includes a bubble spa and ozone spa to relax.
“The groomers at the salon have been trained by a Chinese expert. The onset of summer brings along a number of skin infections for pets. The salon provides medicated bath and spas for dogs and cats,” explains Dr Tapashree Borua, the veterinary doctor at The Animal Care Clinic where Petswill is located. Although these services are priced between a whopping `1,500 and `3,000, Hyderbadis have been queuing up to give their pet friends the best of salon services the city has on offer, she adds.
Starting from as small an amount as `250 and going up to as high as `4,000, you can give your pet a complete makeover with the services being offered in the city. Though these services are restricted to just dogs, cats, horses and rabbits, for most people, the pet is a dog, and that’s where one can get quite creative.
In many cases, these salons double as pet clinics, as is the case with Petswill which is a part of The Animal Care Clinic. Apart from providing medical care, these clinics run pet stores-cum-grooming centres. Happy Pets at Madhapur, offers basic grooming services like hair trimming and nail clipping. Dr Ajay Kumar, the veterinary doctor at the clinic, says, “We offer medical facilities for pets like dogs, cats, horses and other domesticated animals. However, I also give basic grooming services to pets.” These clinics have been performing surgeries and grooming services at nominal prices.
Vet N Pet Hospital also began grooming services three years ago. Offering veterinary-cum-groomig services at more economic price, these are available between the range of `700 and `1,500. Dr Keshav Srinivas, the chief veterinary consultant , says, “Most pets come for medical treatment and a few come for grooming. Out of those, 90 per cent are dogs and four per cent are cats.” Some of their grooming packages also include a medical once-over
Nails N Tails in Banjara Hills is another popular choice among pet owners. A certified grooming parlour, it is run by Aditi Sharma, a professional groomer herself. “The salon offers services like wash, bath, blow dry, nail cutting as well as hair cuts. For every breed, there is a specific cut; for instance poodles are given the miniature poodle cut.”
The salon also keeps accessories like socks, shoes, bags and clothes for pets. Unlike most other clinics, they do not use anaesthesia while providing certain services like clipping. Getting you pet groomed here could set you back by anything between `300 and `4,000. The charges depend on the kind of service as well as the size of the pet. As of now, Nails N Tails caters to dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs.
With the salon market catching up, pet stores are beginning to offer domesticated pets more than just the basics. Comfy Pets, also located at Banjara Hills, has a variety of accessories and foods. Anil Kumar, store manager, says, “We have products like wet wipes and diapers besides pet shampoos, food, hair brushes and nail clippers. Toys and de-shedding tools are the most popular products asked for by customers.”
From just the old bedsheet or saree being fashioned into a kennel or pet clothes, today’s range of products include colourful bedding, cushions, food bowls and more.
Diversifying within the field and picking up the one-stop shop mantra, these stores are now turning into clinics-cum-salons as well.