40 Blade Shave Down

[sparknik]

Hello everyone,
I am a manager of a grooming salon for about 5 years now. I apprenticed under an AKC judge. So I believe my skills are pretty good, but there is ALWAYS room to learn more. I had 2 maltese that came in matted beyond your imagination. I could not get through the matting with a 10, 15, or 30. I had to take a surgical 40 blade and do the legs, and chest with it. I was very uncomfortable doing that, as I know how thin their skin is. I was afraid that their skin would literally peel off with their fur. Has anyone else had to use a 40 to do a shave down, as this was the 1st time in 5 years I had to do that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

[groomntime]

Between wet shaving, and the bravura trimmer, I haven't had to go that short. My poodle rescue was pretty pink when he was done, but didn't need to resort to a 40. So sad when owners' let their dogs get that bad.

[Bearmtn]

Maybe should have done a wet shave. I have never used a 30 or 40 on any shave down, even before I started wet shaving, and that is over 30 years.

[sshukuiye]

I had a seelyham (sp?) terrier come in that was matted head to toe. I could do his face and body with a 10, but his legs and feet had to be done with a 40 blade IN REVERSE, in order to get through the matting. It was horrible. Here is the dog: http://sshukuiye.tumblr.com/post/217...ve-demats-like

[neanea]

As the others have said, a wet shave with my Laube Speed Feeds or a 10 blade on a regular clipper usually works.

[itsgot2bme]

I agree with the others here, check out all the great info we have on wet shaving. I have never had to go shorter than a 10 blade, and now with wet shaving I rarely go shorter than a 7.

[OntheBRINKofDisaster]

I have gotten all manners of horrendous matted messes. I've worked with rescues, shelters, abuse cases, body parts being melded to others (ears and tail once), you name it!

I have sometimes needed a #10 to break up the matting in certain parts, (armpits, groin, face) but I have NEVER needed to go shorter than a #7 as an all over blade. Invest in quality equipment and wet shave. It is sooo much safer. If that was me I would have given up and recommended a vet groomer. I won't go shorter than a #10.

[prettymiss112000]

I've had to use larger than a 10 blade, in some rare cases a 15 on certain mats. Typically I take the big pelts off with 10 then finish grooming with 7F. I've had dogs come in that were so bad you couldn't make out where the head was, where body parts were, etc etc...BUT I highly recommend that if you didn't feel comfortable, especially using a 40 blade, I would have refused the dogs and referred them to a vet groomer.

[Doubledogdare]

I did a once-a-year Maltese just before Christmas and did exactly what neanea did - peeled it off wet with a Speed Feed, set on 10.

[dobesngsd]

I've had to do 40's on legs but never on a whole dog. I have tried wet shaving several times including on a Shih Tzu last week but I sure must be doing something wrong because I can never get it to work for me. Usually if I can get a hole started in the coat I can get a 7 or a 9 thu to strip them with

Lsa

[puppy love]

A 40 all over? YIKES! You are braver than I am....Maltese skin is like tissue paper! I have had some matted, pelted messes, but have always gotten them with a 10 or less. Call me chicken, but if I got a dog that I couldnt do with a 7 or a 10 A/O, I would have to send them for a vet grooming. Scared I'd slice them or cause severe irritation. At least at the vets they could stitch them up on the spot if they had to...

[Boxerfan]

We've actually refused a couple of dogs in the past that I'm sure needed done with a surgical blade. Which is why we sent them to the vet to have it done. They were new clients and we just didn't feel comfortable with it, I felt better about it and if any nicks happened they would be in the care of a vet. The couple times this has happened it's been cocker spaniels.

[sparknik]

Thank you all for your responses. Can you please give me some insight on doing a wet shave.. I was very uncomfortable using the 40 blade on these 2 babies. Thank God everything went well, but I was so stressed the whole time.

[doggroomer812]

I had the same situation... maltese matted to hell... body was a #10... 15 in spots... and legs were a 40... even using the 40, I ripped off a scab near the hock and it looked dreadful... it was awful... looking back I should have refused the dog and had them go to a vet. you live and learn

[Debbiedogs]

I'm a bit weird, I guess. It sounds like you used the 40 on legs and chest, which is often where the matting seems more "glued" to the skin.

I love a 40 for this when needed. It is slim and fine, you can actually go THROUGH a mat and still be a fraction of an inch away from the skin, and you can use just a bit of the blade. You did exactly what I would do when the matting is bad; I feel that a 40 is safer than pulling with other blades, actually. I think you made a smart choice.

I do not do wet shaves. I hate handling wet hair...