Groomer Health is Gaining Attention: The GGHI in the International Pet Press

For years, the health challenges faced by professional groomers have largely remained within the profession itself.

Back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, bites and injuries, respiratory exposure, skin problems, noise, fatigue and emotional strain have often been discussed between groomers — but rarely recognised as an industry-wide occupational health issue.

That conversation is beginning to change.

Following the publication of the IGS Global Groomer Health Study 2025–2026, several professional pet industry and pet business media outlets have begun reporting on groomer health and the work of the International Grooming Society (IGS) Global Groomer Health Initiative (GGHI).

For the IGS, this growing media attention represents something much more important than visibility.

It means groomer health is beginning to enter the wider pet industry conversation.

Nearly 4,000 groomers helped make the invisible visible

The IGS Global Groomer Health Study was built on an international panel of approximately 4,000 grooming professionals.

The findings documented occupational realities that many groomers already knew from personal experience.

Among them:

- approximately 79% report back pain;

- approximately 84% report joint or muscle pain;

- around 39% of groomers experiencing back pain say it could eventually force them to leave the profession;

- approximately 78% report work-related mental or emotional difficulties.

The study also explored occupational injuries, bites, respiratory exposure, hearing protection, skin problems, ergonomics, working conditions, pregnancy and other areas that have historically received limited attention within professional grooming.

But collecting data was never intended to be the final objective.

The study became the foundation of the IGS Global Groomer Health Initiative, a long-term international programme designed to transform evidence into education, practical prevention resources, professional support and greater industry awareness.

And the wider pet industry is beginning to take notice.

All Paws Industry: bringing groomer health into the UK pet industry conversation

In July 2026, UK pet industry publication All Paws Industry published:

“New global study reveals major health risks facing professional groomers”

The article presented the findings of the IGS Global Groomer Health Study and highlighted the scale of occupational health challenges affecting professional groomers.

This coverage was particularly significant because it brought the conversation beyond grooming-specific communities and into a broader professional pet industry audience.

👉 Read the article:

"New global study reveals major health risks facing professional groomers – All Paws Industry" (https://www.allpawsindustry.com/all-paws-industry/new-global-study-reveals-major-health-risks-facing-professional-groomers/)

All Paws Industry had also previously reported on another major IGS initiative: the launch of the IGS Animal Welfare Guidelines for Grooming Events.

👉 Read that article:

"International Grooming Society launches Animal Welfare Guidelines – All Paws Industry" (https://www.allpawsindustry.com/all-paws-industry/international-grooming-society-launches-animal-welfare-guidelines-to-support-responsible-growth-in-the-global-grooming-industry/)

The repeated coverage is encouraging: it suggests that subjects affecting both groomers and animal welfare are increasingly being recognised as relevant to the wider pet sector.

PET worldwide: groomer health reaches the international pet trade press

On 28 July 2026, PET worldwide, an international specialist publication for the pet industry, published:

“Pet groomers work under considerable health pressures”

The article reported on the public findings of the IGS Global Groomer Health Study 2025–2026 and highlighted the scale of the international research, involving approximately 4,000 grooming professionals.

👉 Read the article:

"Pet groomers work under considerable health pressures – PET worldwide" (https://www.petworldwide.net/content-1/news/2026/07/28/plus/pet-groomers-work-under-considerable-health-pressures.html)

This represents an important development for the GGHI.

Groomer health is not solely a matter for individual salons or grooming organisations. Equipment manufacturers, cosmetic companies, distributors, educators, event organisers, insurers and other stakeholders all form part of the professional environment in which groomers work.

Reaching the international pet trade press therefore helps move the conversation towards a broader question:

How can the pet industry collectively contribute to healthier and more sustainable grooming careers?

PET / pet-online: the study reaches the German professional market

The findings were also reported in Germany through pet-online, part of the professional pet trade media landscape.

The article, published on 27 July 2026, was titled:

“Hundefriseure arbeiten unter erheblichen gesundheitlichen Belastungen”

(Pet groomers work under considerable health pressures)

It reported on the international IGS study and the occupational health burden identified among grooming professionals.

👉 Read the German article:

"Hundefriseure arbeiten unter erheblichen gesundheitlichen Belastungen – pet-online" (https://www.petonline.de/daten/news/2026/07/27/plus/hundefriseure-arbeiten-unter-erheblichen-gesundheitlichen-belastungen.html)

Together with the PET worldwide publication, this has helped introduce the subject to both German-speaking and international pet industry audiences.

PETBIZS: looking beyond the study to the wider IGS mission

International pet business platform PETBIZS has also recently featured the International Grooming Society and its work.

Its presentation of the organisation introduces the IGS international network, professional education activities and the Global Groomer Health Initiative.

👉 Discover the IGS feature:

"Professional Grooming Education | IGS Global Network – PETBIZS" (https://petbizs.com/business-intros/professional-grooming-education-igs-global-network/)

PETBIZS also published an in-depth interview with IGS founder Nathalie Doaré-Ariey-Jouglard:

“Ethical and Holistic Dog Grooming: A Conversation with IGS Founder Nathalie Doaré”

The interview explores the broader evolution of professional grooming, education, animal welfare and groomer health, including the development of the GGHI and the international health study.

👉 Read the full interview:

"Ethical and Holistic Dog Grooming: A Conversation with IGS Founder Nathalie Doaré – PETBIZS" (https://petbizs.com/interview/ethical-and-holistic-dog-grooming-a-conversation-with-igs-founder-nathalie-doare/)

The Business of Pet Care: taking the conversation to the United States

The discussion has also reached the United States.

In February 2026, The Business of Pet Care dedicated an episode to the subject:

“Beyond the Grooming Table: The Global Movement for Groomer Health”

Host Dara Forleo spoke with IGS founder Nathalie Doaré-Ariey-Jouglard about the physical and mental pressures experienced by groomers, the origins of the Global Groomer Health Initiative, professional education and the need for the pet industry to take groomer health seriously.

👉 Listen to the episode:

"Beyond the Grooming Table: The Global Movement for Groomer Health – The Business of Pet Care" (https://the-business-of-pet-care-audio.castos.com/episodes/the-business-of-pet-care-aired-02-21-26-beyond-the-grooming-table-the-global-movement-for-groomer)

The discussion makes an essential connection: a sustainable pet care industry also requires sustainable careers for the professionals delivering that care.

From a grooming issue to an industry issue

These publications come from different parts of the professional pet sector and different countries.

That matters.

For too long, many occupational health problems in grooming have been treated as inevitable consequences of the profession:

Your back hurts because you are a groomer.

Getting bitten is part of the job.

You are exhausted because grooming is demanding.

You breathe hair and particles because that is simply what happens in a grooming salon.

The IGS believes we can move beyond this way of thinking.

Recognising occupational risks does not mean portraying grooming as an unsafe profession.

It means giving professionals the knowledge, tools, education and industry support needed to reduce preventable risks and build longer, healthier careers.

And that cannot be achieved by groomers alone.

The conversation is only beginning

The growing interest from professional media including All Paws Industry, PET worldwide, pet-online, PETBIZS and The Business of Pet Care is an encouraging sign.

But media coverage is not the destination.

It is a way of opening the conversation.

The next stage is turning awareness into action.

Through the Global Groomer Health Initiative, the IGS is developing resources around six interconnected areas of professional health, while working to encourage collaboration between groomers, educators, manufacturers, brands, event organisers, professional organisations and health specialists.

The findings of the study will also form the foundation of the Global Groomer Health Online Conference, taking place on 25–26 October 2026, bringing together professionals and specialists to discuss practical approaches to occupational health in grooming.

Discover the Global Groomer Health Initiative

Explore the study findings, the six pillars of the initiative and the resources being developed by the International Grooming Society:

"Visit the IGS Global Groomer Health Initiative" (https://www.internationalgroomingsociety.org/igs-global-groomer-health-initiative)

Because protecting animal welfare and protecting the people who care for animals should never be separate conversations.

Healthy groomers are part of a healthy pet care industry.