Updated 2025.
Key Points
- Groomer’s lung is a chronic condition that can negatively impact the function of your lungs.
- Dog groomers can develop groomer’s lung over time after prolonged exposure to dust, hair, dander, and other things floating around in the air during grooming sessions.
- Groomer’s lung is only fatal in the most extreme cases.
- That said, once you have it, you will likely suffer the effects of it for the rest of your life.
- Treatment for groomer’s lung will depend on the severity of it, but could include medications to ease pain/discomfort, as well as immunotherapy in more serious cases.
- Symptoms include chronic coughing, chest pain, airway inflammation, lung-related issues (like bronchitis or pneumonia), asthma flare-ups, allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, etc.
- 5 tips for preventing groomer’s lung are: (1) wearing a face mask during grooms, (2) keeping your work station sanitary, (3) always be aware of what’s happening around you, (4) educating clients on at-home care between grooms, and (5) getting professional dog groomer training.
- QC Pet Studies offers self-paced, online dog grooming certification training that can be completed in as little as 3 months.
Introduction
As a dog groomer, there’s a lot of valuable information you should acquire in order to do your job properly. One such thing you might have heard about (and want to better understand) is the dreaded “groomer’s lung”. Now, we won’t lie – this topic is a little dark…
But it doesn’t need to be nearly as scary as the name sounds! Yes, groomer’s lung is a serious issue. If you want to work in this industry, it IS something to be mindful of. However, so long as you know what it is and how to prevent it, you’re going to be fine!
Keep writing to learn all about groomer’s lung and how to prevent it in your dog grooming career!
What is Groomer’s Lung?
As a professional dog groomer, your job will often involve shaving, trimming, and cutting dogs’ hair. You’ll also be working with a lot of products, such as shampoos, conditioners, medicated treatments, etc. A lot of the time, debris winds up floating in the air around you.
If you’re not careful, you can inhale it directly into your lungs… which is not good, especially over time. In a nutshell, groomer’s lung (a.k.a. “hairy lung”) is a chronic condition that can negatively impact the function of your lungs. It goes without saying that having any foreign object inside of your lungs is not exactly a good thing.
Hair, dander, and chemical products are all things that definitely shouldn’t be ingested into our bodies. Not to mention that all of those sharp, tiny hairs can also cause inflammation and create scar tissue.
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Can You Die from Groomer’s Lung?
Of course, having harmful debris in your lungs for a prolonged period of time can eventually become detrimental to your health. That being said, while groomers lung can be fatal in the most extreme cases, the chances of this happening to you are slim.
Groomer’s Lung Symptoms
With that being said, symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- Chronic coughing;
- Chest pain;
- Airway inflammation;
- Lung-related issues (i.e. chronic pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, etc.);
- Allergic reactions to pet dander and other irritants;
- Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis;
- Increased asthma attacks/flare-ups;
- And difficulty breathing.
While none of these symptoms sound pleasant, most are manageable and non-fatal. Of course, some of the others (such as lung-related issues and severe difficulty breathing) can admittedly spiral into grievous situations if left unmanaged. Arguably the worst part of groomers lung is that once you get it, you’ll likely feel its affects for the rest of your life.
Furthermore, there’s no known “cure”. This is why it’s important that you take preventative measures throughout your dog grooming career, in order to ensure it never comes to this!
How to Prevent It
Tip #1: Wear a face mask!
No, you don’t need to wear it during the entire groom. But at the very least, make sure to wear one whenever you’re handling chemical products or tending to a dog’s hair. Having something to protect your mouth and nose will help reduce the amount of debris in the air from making its way into your lungs.
PRO TIP: Don’t use a face shield, as this will still leave enough space between your face and the shield for hair and debris to sneak its way in. Instead, wear a cloth mask that fits lightly and comfortably to the form of your face. Alternatively, This blog article by The New York Times discusses the best respirator mask when working with dust.
Tip #2: Keep your work station sanitary!
Being clean and sanitary is already a must as a professional dog groomer. Of course, one reason is that it will help make a good impression with your clients. Another is that a clean station will make your job easier, since you’ll never have to scramble to find the tool you need. The most important reason, however, is that a clean space helps ensure the safety of both you AND the dogs.
When it comes to preventing groomer’s lung, a tidy station will go a long way. After every groom, thoroughly and properly clean the area. This includes wiping down surfaces, as well as sweeping and vacuuming floors. Doing so will help reduce the amount of flyaway fur and dander lingering about. Oh, and don’t forget to wear that face mask we talked about while you do your cleaning!
Another smart idea is to invest in an air purifier for your grooming station. Last but not least, ensure that wherever you’re working is properly ventilated. The more you can get clean air circulating through the room, the better!
Tip #3: Be aware of what’s happening around you!
It can be all too easy to get lost in the grooming process and forget to pay attention to what’s happening all around you. But as you’re clipping little Fluffy’s coat, hair could be flying up around your face without you even noticing. This is why it’s important to properly see your surroundings while working on your client’s pooch.
Here are a few quick tips to help with this:
- Wear darker clothing so you can more easily see flyaway hairs. White and/or brighter colors can mask dog hair, making it harder for you to gauge just how much shedding is actually going on.
- Keep your work area bright. Never work in a dimly lit environment. Not only is this unsafe in general – you won’t be able to properly see all of the hair/dander/chemical debris in the air or on the surfaces around you.
- If you run your own business, invest in cool colors for your countertops, grooming tables, etc. Just like with your clothing, cooler and/or darker tones throughout your grooming station will help you spot hair and debris with greater ease.
Tip #4: Educate your clients about at-home care!
If your client never bothers to brush their dog at home in-between appointments, that dog is going to shed a LOT more fur whenever they’re in your care. As a result, there’ll be considerably more hair on your work surfaces, the floor, your clothes, and in the air.
As the subject-matter expert, you can help prevent this from happening! Take the time to chat with your client and learn more about the sort of at-home care they give their pup. If there’s room for improvement, gently and respectfully offer some suggestions to guide them in the right direction.
This will definitely help reduce the likelihood of groomers lung!
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Tip #5: Get professional dog grooming training!
“Umm… How is professional training supposed to help prevent groomers lung?”
Just stick with me on this for a moment!
When you get trained in a professional certification course, one of the many things you’ll be taught is proper sanitization and safety measures. As a result, you’ll better understand how to clean your products, tools, and work station. This, in turn, will help prevent groomer’s lung by reducing the amount of fur and dander polluting your work environment (see Tip #2).
Of course, this is just one of MANY reasons why getting professional training is a smart career move! And if you’d like to learn more about how proper training will make your career all the more successful, just check out this blog article.
Groomer’s Lung Treatment
By taking all of the preventative measures outlined in this article, your chances of getting groomers lung will be drastically reduced. However, in the event that you DO still contract it, take assurance in knowing that you have options at your disposal.
A doctor will be able to formally diagnose you and offer possible treatments. Depending on the severity, you may be prescribed medications in order to combat the inflammation and reduce pain/discomfort. In more serious cases, immunotherapy may be recommended as well.
Pro Tip: If you’re a groomer and have been experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this article, visit your doctor and have them take a look. It’s best to address this sort of issue sooner rather than later!
Groomer’s Lung FAQ
Can groomer's lung go away?
Once you develop groomer’s lung, you will likely deal with it – at least, to some degree – for the rest of your life. These lifelong symptoms may include:
- Chronic coughing;
- Shortness of breath;
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing;
- Fatigue during physical activities;
- Persistent chest discomfort;
- And increased sensitivity to airborne irritants.
How do you know if you have dog hair in your lungs?
If you have dog hair in your lungs, you may experience symptoms such as coughing, chest discomfort, or difficulty breathing. Over time, prolonged exposure to dog hair and dander can lead to more severe respiratory issues, such as groomer’s lung. If you suspect that dog hair or dander has affected your lungs, it’s important to consult a medical professional for proper evaluation and diagnosis. They may recommend imaging tests – such as a chest X-ray or CT scan – to assess your lungs and determine the extent of the issue.
How long does it take to develop groomer's lung?
The time it takes to develop groomer’s lung depends on the frequency and duration of exposure to dog hair, dander, and other airborne irritants. For some, symptoms may develop after repeated exposure over several months or years, while for others, it may take longer.
Factors such as individual sensitivity, the use of protective equipment, and the adequacy of ventilation in the workspace can all play a role in how quickly the condition arises. Early signs (like persistent coughing or chest discomfort) should not be ignored, as early intervention may help mitigate the progression of the condition.
Helpful Resources To Bookmark
- The Occupational Health Hazards of Being a Dog Groomer
- How To Prevent These 5 Dog Health Hazards at Your Grooming Business
- 15 Common Skin Problems in Dogs and How To Handle Them
- 4 Things Every Groomer Should Know About Dog Health
- How Grooming Classes Can Help Your Mental Health
- Everything You Need in Your Canine First Aid Kit
- The 20 WORST Dog Grooming Mistakes To Avoid Making
- 3 Dog Grooming Complaints and How To Handle Them
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