This broad level of service not only relies on your dog to stay still, but it relies on you as a pet parent to provide preventative care that will make their visit worry free. When a trip to the salon involves repetitive brushing in the same area, whether there are tangles or matting, it can burn sensitive skin.
Similar to brush burn, razor burn happens when an area is shaved very close to sensitive skin. It can also be caused from a dull or hot razor after shaving through thick matted, or pelted, hair. Keeping your dog brushed between visits, and using the right kind of brush, can help reduce the need for excessive brushing, or shaving close to the skin.
When a dog has tight matted hair, the blood flow is restricted to that area. When that matted hair is removed, blood rushes back to the area quickly, which can cause a large blood blister called a hematoma. Brushing your dog properly in between visits will help reduce the risk of matting, and can save your pup from this painful experience. Irritation and discomfort can come from this process when attempting to pluck hair that may not be ready to come out yet.
Nail trimming can be tricky! It is generally a good idea to let your dog take care of this on their own, but occasionally you may notice your pup scooting, straining, smelling fishy, or licking the area, and will want to call in some help! When visiting the groomer, they will simply express them externally by squeezing from the outside. This does not fully empty the glands, but can help get your pup started! If your dog is having more serious issues and you see leaking, bleeding, or swelling, you may need to contact your vet to have them expressed internally.
Discharge can usually be soaked off in the tub by lathering up the area with warm water and massaging out, or combing out, the discharge with a small flea comb. If the discharge is too tight to the skin, or too mass spread around the eye area, it can cause discomfort, and even house infections due to moisture getting locked in at the root. This can cause even more irritation, and requires a trip to the vet office. Fecal matting, penile matting, and vaginal matting are discomforting things that we see in our salon, and can occur when hair is not brushed thoroughly in these areas.
