Some pets freeze, growl, or struggle the moment nail clippers or grooming shears come out, and matting can build up fast on senior pets or pets with mobility limits who can no longer keep themselves clean. When basic grooming turns into a safety risk for your pet or our team, that is where medical grooming comes in.
Dr. Jessica Johnson and our team at Great Plains Veterinary Clinic provide medical grooming for pets across Vaughn and the greater Great Falls area who cannot safely be groomed while fully awake, as part of your pet’s broader wellness and preventive care. Every visit follows our low-stress, Fear-Free approach, and a veterinarian evaluates your pet before any sedation is used.
Medical grooming is a clinical service, not a spa treatment. We provide it for pets who need sedation or veterinary supervision to be groomed safely, whether that is due to anxiety, fear, aggression, severe matting, or a health condition that makes handling difficult. We do not offer breed cuts, cosmetic styling, or boarding. Every part of the visit stays focused on the medical reason behind it.
We may recommend this option when your pet fits one or more of these situations:
If you are not sure which category fits your pet, our team is happy to talk it through with you.
Every visit is built around your pet’s specific needs rather than a standard grooming package.
Because sedation carries real risk, a veterinarian examines your pet and reviews their health history before we move forward with anything. Our team monitors your pet closely throughout the visit and follows Fear-Free, low-stress handling techniques designed to ease fear and anxiety at every step. Veterinary oversight of procedures like this is part of what the Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine requires of every licensed practice in the state, and we take that responsibility seriously.
If your pet has become difficult or unsafe to groom at home, or a previous grooming visit turned stressful, do not wait for the problem to get worse. Reach out so we can evaluate your pet’s needs and recommend a plan that keeps them comfortable. You can contact our team or book an appointment to get started.
Medical grooming is a clinical service we provide at Great Plains Veterinary Clinic for pets who need veterinary supervision or sedation to be groomed safely. Unlike a traditional grooming salon, we do not offer breed cuts, cosmetic styling, or boarding. Our team focuses only on what your pet needs for their health and comfort in Vaughn, MT.
Pets who become anxious, fearful, or aggressive during routine handling are often good candidates, along with senior pets or pets with arthritis who cannot tolerate standard restraint. We also see pets with matting that is too painful to remove while awake. Dr. Jessica Johnson evaluates each pet individually before recommending this option.
Sedation carries some risk, which is why a veterinarian examines your pet and reviews their health history before any procedure begins. Our team monitors your pet closely throughout the visit and follows a low-stress, Fear-Free approach designed to keep them as calm and comfortable as possible. We will walk you through what to expect before you schedule.
Yes. When matting has become tight against the skin or painful to remove, sedation allows our team to safely take care of it without causing your pet additional stress or pain. We will let you know ahead of time if we recommend this approach for your pet in Vaughn or the greater Great Falls area.
We do. Many senior pets and pets with limited mobility need sanitary areas kept trimmed but cannot tolerate standard grooming positions or handling. Our team can perform a hygiene clip under veterinary supervision as part of their overall wellness care.
If a previous grooming visit turned stressful, unsafe, or had to be stopped, that is usually a sign your pet needs this level of support. The best next step is to reach out to our team at Great Plains Veterinary Clinic so we can evaluate your pet and recommend what fits their needs.
Dr. Jessica Johnson and our team care for pets across Vaughn, Sun River, Fort Shaw, and the greater Great Falls area who need extra support to be groomed safely. You can learn more about Dr. Johnson’s background and our clinic’s approach to low-stress care. We are locally owned and operated, and every visit is built around your pet’s comfort rather than a one-size-fits-all service.
Have questions about whether your pet is a candidate for medical grooming? Give us a call. We’re always here to talk things through.
Let’s work together to give your pet the happy, healthy life they deserve.
