Pamper your pets

“Like humans,animals too feel physical fatigue and need regular rejuvenation. Wellness for pets is not a luxury but a requirement. However in India,this concept has just taken wings,” says Jhanavi Atre-Kothari,animal physiotherapist,as she shampoos up the young dog in a specially-built bathtub.

Kothari has launched Mumbai’s first wellness centre for pets,Pawsitive,in Shivaji Park along with veterinary doctor Sangeeta Vengserkar Shah. The centre promises specialised health and fitness packages for pets — for grooming,puppy training and socialising — and Swedish,Chinese and acupressure massage therapies,at reasonable rates.

According to Shah,an animal cardiologist by profession,the centre is an effort to offer wellness as an option to pet owners who want to do something special for their pets. “We are serious about wellness and don’t offer fluff. When a client brings a pet for a spa package,we try to understand the needs of the dog,” Kothari says.

She explains that there are different therapies for problems like tick,flee and dandruff infection and different aroma oils for temperamental dogs. Old dogs with arthritis or just painful bones have got relief with special massage treatment. “For example,we suggest aromatic lavender oil massage for hyperactive dogs and tea tree oil massage for pets prone to infection.”

An average package for a dog or cat will cost anywhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. While the pets are being treated,the owners are allowed to relax in a separate lounge,sipping coffee and reading a doggie book.

The centre also holds seminars for the new pet owners. “Today,people are so busy that people don’t spend time with their pets,feed them,take them for walks,groom them on a day-to-day basis. Often,all these are done by helpers,walkers and trainers. Here we train the owners to interact with their pets,” says one of the employees.

Among the other hygiene treatments are brushing of teeth,trimming of nails,cleaning of ears and tick therapy. Special “pawdicure” are offered for dogs,complete with pressure point massage,underpad scrubbing and nail filing. “Mid-last year,we began the centre,and already our clientele is growing,especially of dogs and cats,” Kothari says,“Now we plan to introduce more grooming packages and improvise on services.”