New Delhi, April 29 -- The pet grooming industry has grown rapidly, and in many ways, that is a good thing. Cleaner coats, better parasite control, and easier maintenance for pets in busy households. But grooming has quietly shifted from being a basic aspect of care to something more aesthetic, more frequent and at times more aggressive than necessary. The problem is not grooming itself. It is how we are beginning to think about it.

Most pet parents view grooming as a routine service. You book an appointment, drop your pet off, and expect them to come back looking neater, more "put together." What often gets missed is that grooming is not separate from health. The skin is an active organ. The coat has a function. Every decision made duri...