Protect Your Pooch From Scalding
We all love to pamper our pooch but, have you ever considered the risk that comes with this? According to animal PETA.org incidents in which animals are seriously injured or even killed at grooming salons are alarmingly common.
Grooming is big business with the PDSA reporting in 2021 that there are now over 10 million dogs in the UK resulting in an estimated *£10 billion annual spend by owners on dogs alone. Despite this, there are no specific licences that apply to dog grooming salons in the UK, meaning that many elements of the business go unregulated.
The welfare of your pooch is protected by ‘The Animal Welfare Act’, giving the groomer requirements to upkeep the safety of them. However, there are some elements of the grooming process that can be made much safer to ensure the protection of your pooch from common issues or injury, such as scalding.
Why does scalding occur?
Preventable scalding injuries can occur in many settings, from the domestic setting to a dog grooming salon, resulting in painful injury for the animal and costly vets bills for the owner. This is most likely if hot water systems are not designed or maintained appropriately for use with hot water.
Within the water system, scalds can occur due to various factors, such as faulty water heater thermostats, and faulty or missing temperature regulating valves at the hot water source. Dog groomers may not always consider the importance of ensuring the quality and maintenance of their hot water system thus, opening the risk to scalding.
Water systems store water at high temperatures, above 55oC, to prevent the growth of harmful pathogens in the water supply. Unfortunately, this poses a risk for the end-user as exposure to water at a temperature above 43oC can cause serious pain and scalding. Temperatures above 55oC can cause even greater pain, and more serious scalding resulting in an expensive trip to the vets.
What provisions can be made to limit the risk?
When water is distributed at higher temperatures, specific safety devices should be installed at the outlet (tap or shower) to safeguard against the various risks of a component within the system breaking down thus, causing a scalding risk to the end-user.
For example, the fitting of a Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV) is a key anti-scald safety device. Thermostatic mixing valves should be fitted as close to the outlet as possible and work by blending the hot and cold water supplies to the user at a constant and safe temperature. Even when variations in the hot and cold-water supply conditions and draw off flow rates occur the mixing valve regulates the temperature of the water at the outlet to safe levels. By doing this, the TMV discharges water at a safe temperature of 41oC, keeping your pooch comfortable and protected against the risk of scalding.
A higher level of protection
The fitting of a TMV on any water system does help to ensure the protection of the end-user however, there are certain TMVs that provide a wider level of safety. For example, the Altecnic Merchant Mixing Valve - Art 5213 completes the standard roles of a TMV however, it also comes equipped with a failsafe function.
The failsafe function shuts off the water flow automatically in the event of disruption to the hot or cold-water supply. By doing this an extra layer of protection, and subsequent anti-scald technology, is used to keep your pooch safe.
Next time you take your pet to your local or mobile grooming salon you may wish to ask them if their plumber has fitted anti-scald safety devices such as TMVs to their hot water supply to protect both your pet and their grooming staff from harmful injury. As even with just basic knowledge of plumbing systems, if a dog groomer fits and maintains TMVs with a failsafe function, they are able to prevent harm and ensure the best experience for their furry customers.