Gum disease affects over 80% of dogs over three. The Round Rock mobile groomer offers free teeth brushing and paw balm with first-time grooms through December 31, 2026.
Round Rock, TX (PRUnderground) October 21st, 2026
New Image Pet Grooming, a mobile dog grooming service based in Round Rock, is adding teeth brushing and paw pad balm at no charge to every first-time customer's grooming package through December 31, 2026. The decision comes down to two things the team sees on nearly every visit: dogs whose teeth have never been brushed, and paw pads that are dry, rough, or cracked from Central Texas pavement. Veterinarians estimate that more than 80 percent of dogs over the age of three already have periodontal disease, and most of it is preventable.
"By August the pads on most dogs here are rough as sandpaper from the pavement," said Vu Nguyen, owner of New Image Pet Grooming. "A little balm after the nails are done, and they walk off the table softer on their feet--same idea with teeth. The first brush is always the hardest one, so we do it while the dog is already calm on the table. The owner gets a dog that's had it done once and didn't mind, and that makes the second time at home a lot easier."
Why teeth brushing matters more than most owners realize
Gum disease is the most common health problem in dogs, and it is almost entirely preventable. More than 80 percent of dogs over age three already have periodontal disease. The process is simple and fast: bacteria form plaque on the teeth, and within about a day that plaque combines with minerals in saliva and hardens into tartar. Tartar irritates the gums, the gums become inflamed, and the infection works its way down into the bone around the tooth. Left alone, it can lead to painful tooth loss.
The damage does not stay in the mouth. Inflamed gums leak bacteria into the bloodstream, and chronic dental infection in dogs is linked to heart, liver, and kidney disease. Dogs hide it. A dog can have several abscessed teeth and still eat and act normally, so bad breath is often the only sign, and it is easy to write off as normal when it is actually the earliest warning.
Brushing is what works. Daily is best, every other day still helps, and anything less will not stop plaque from hardening. Use only toothpaste made for dogs; human toothpaste is meant to be spit out, and some contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. A brushing during a groom cleans the outer tooth surfaces, where most of the damage starts, but it does not replace brushing at home or a professional cleaning under anesthesia when a veterinarian recommends one.
Why paw care matters, especially in Central Texas
Paw pads look tough, but they are one of the most sensitive parts of a dog's body: thick skin over a cushion of fat that absorbs shock and gives the dog traction. When that skin dries out, it cracks, and deep cracks bleed. Around Round Rock, the main culprits are heat and hard ground. Summer asphalt pulls moisture out of the pads and can burn them outright; sidewalks and rough terrain wear them down, lawn chemicals irritate them; and allergies make dogs lick their feet, which dries the pads further.
The routine that prevents most of it is short. Wipe or rinse the paws when the dog comes inside, check between the toes for burrs, dry the feet, and keep the hair between the pads trimmed. Then work a balm or wax made for dogs into clean, dry pads so it forms a barrier against grit and irritants. Balm is not protection against dangerously hot pavement. If the surface is too hot to hold a hand on for a few seconds, the dog should not be walking on it. Skip Vaseline and coconut oil; dogs lick both off, and either can cause serious stomach upset.
At New Image, pad trimming is already part of nail grinding on every full groom, and the balm goes on at the end of the visit once the pads are clean and dry.
How New Image Pet Grooming builds it into the groom
Every dog at New Image Pet Grooming is handled alone, start to finish, by one groomer inside a van parked at the owner's door. No kennel, no car ride, no waiting next to other dogs. That is what makes teeth brushing and paw care practical: a dog that is already calm on the table will take a toothbrush far better than one that has been stressed all morning. The groomer works slowly and stops if the dog is not having it.
"We're groomers, not vets," Nguyen said. "If something in the mouth or on the feet doesn't look right, we tell the owner to get it checked. Our part is sending the dog home clean and comfortable, and making sure the owner knows what to keep doing."
Through December 31, 2026, teeth brushing and paw balm are included at no charge in the grooming package for every first-time customer. Mention it when booking. Teeth brushing is otherwise a $15 add-on to any bath or full groom. New Image Pet Grooming serves Round Rock, Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander with no travel charge, and every dog is quoted before anything is booked. Text or call (512) 770-3971.
About New Image Pet Grooming
New Image Pet Grooming is a mobile dog grooming service based at 2805 Clinton Ct, Round Rock, TX 78665, serving Round Rock, Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander. Services include full grooms, bath and brush, de-shedding, nail grinding, puppy first grooms, and grooming for senior and anxious dogs. Open seven days a week, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with a 4.8-star rating across more than 295 Google reviews. Learn more about mobile pet grooming in Round Rock.
