complaining customer started off my day

[groomin'blonde]

I had a call this morning from a non regular customer. I shaved her severly matted Peke about a week ago. It was in awful thick coat shape, clearly had not been brushed or clipped in over a year. It was a wonderful easy to deal with dog (to be an intact male). I had to work a little to get through the hair but I managed to get it off with a #7 blade. The dog ended up looking great for the shape it was in. Anyways she called with a little bit snippy attitude this morning and said that Gizmo had "severe razor burn" on his butt and private area. She kind of caught me off gaurd, because I seen absolutly no signs of irritation when he left me. (most of the time I can tell when an area might get irritated.) I told her to keep a watch on it and try not to let him lick it. She said he wasn't. I apoligized if I had irritated him with the clippers and told her I did absolutly the best I could with the severe shape he was in. I'm worried I might end up getting slapped with a vet bill for something that might not be what I did. I don't like to see any of my customers unhappy with me. My feelings are hurt a little now. Any suggestions?

[mustluvdogs1]

I can't see a 7F doing harm

I can't imagine a 7f doing any kind ofn clipper burn. I think the dog felt weird and gave himselfa carpet burn...which is NOT your fault. If you used #10 in sensitive potty area, that is usually safe too. The licking is the problem, and still not your fault. I use Coat Handler skin works on questionable areas to help prevent that. (senproco is Co) ad is here on board somewhere. To me...it is neglect on her part. Lady, get your dog groomed more often.....I wish there was a tactful way to explain to clients 99% of problems are due to the dog not getting groomed regularly.I would try to avoid vet bill, you will loose her no matter what you do, won't you? Not your fault in this situation. I bet others agree with me.

[DAPER DAWG]

Whatever he had wrong was probably already there and just uncovered by shaving him. I imaging he was all dry under that matted fur especially on his rear end and privates.

I had a lady call six months after I groomed her american eskimo with a #4f blade and told my boss that the last time I groomed it it got severe clipper burn (little red bumps) everywhere and she was screaming and yelling on the phone. She said she had to bring it to the vet cause it was itchy all over.

I know there was no way this dog had clipper burn, I never-ever put even a warm blade near pets as I have several of the same number that I change out as I am grooming.

It happens and it is not your fault and sometimes when pets are in this neglected state they will get a rash in the private area from being sensitive and it sometimes doesn't show up right away.

I have a copy of a groomer's magazine article that explains that sensitivities to being clipped don't always show up right away.

If she tries to give you the bill call the vet and discuss the issue with them and if you don't already do it in the future have people with such pets sign a matted pet waiver form.

[diamienono]

He probably has rug burn. Sometimes they itch when they get rid of the mats and maybe he was scooting. Don't let your feelings get hurt. I don't let people push me around and I would have told her that if she got the dog groomed on a regular basis you would not have to shave the dog so short. It amazed me that people can let their dog get in horrible condition and then god forbid you nick the dog trying to get the mats out or they get clipper rash and it's oh my poor baby. I don't think I would have been tollerant of this lady and her ****.

[mustluvdogs1]

I don't get some people

The dog goes 6 mos with dirty matted fur. Then they complain because the beard on the wiggly,not used to being groomed lil things' beard is uneven. Why is it suddenly so important, when it was ok to be a matted mess over the holidays? I dunno.?????????????Huh???????????

[groomergrl]

I would agree that anything that happened to the dog in this case probably stemmed from, or was aggrevated by it being so matted. Maybe it had a ton of pee and poop stuck on it too (just a guess)? I believe that clipper burn usually shows up right away. The owner might not notice right away tho.

[ferret]

Take Pictures....

It doesn't hurt to use a digital camera to take before and after pictures of these matted dogs. If you can remember to take pictures...

[azoci]

skin irritation on shaved pets

You know, sometimes it's the fact that the pet feels different. As has already been said...rug bun. Well ya-sure.

Something that might help on some of these dogs is to keep [on hand] and apply Noxema to the skin. Or a clipper burn product with lidocain in it, just as a precaution. I've done this for years, espicially poodles that don't come in too often, but get shaved clean faces, tummies, feet...Noxema works well to cover the areas and nip it in the bud before it happens.

Also , something to think about, HV drying can cause irritation similar to wind burn on overly sensative skin [skin that had been covered with over grown coat] picture yourself taking off that winter overcoat and spending the day on a windy beach or a windy mountain trail...your skin will be irritated becuase it has no protection. Same thing for the pet. It's skin is very tender after you remove that coat, and you bath and force dry...what protection did you use for it? Just common sence things.

[Raggs]

Hmm calling a week later to tell you her dog has clipper burn.... Doubt it. Would have been gone by now...

Could just be irritation. My Eskie I had, I shaved his belly so he wouldn't pee on himself. About 4 days later he developed an irritation from the hair being shaved. Kinda like ingrown hairs. I bet her dog has the same thing.

[bitty]

Liklihood of your "razor burning" the dog is slim to none. But when you removed the hair you allowed for the dog to be able to scratch and irritate itself. Maybe rubbing or scooting on the carpet. Most cases that clients feel are the groomer fault are actually self inflicted by the pet. My vet would never claim razor burn a week later. If smart no vet would. Keep in mind (not is your case particularly because of the location of the irritation) that anytime you remove that amount of hair you expose the skin to feelings it hasn't had in a long time. Freshly trimmed toenails against that freshly shaved body do damage.

[baddog]

She kind of caught me off gaurd, because I seen absolutly no signs of irritation when he left me. Any suggestions?

Ok , "seen " is used in past tense as in "I've seen. or we've seen, or have seen" . ' I saw absolutely no signs...." is proper, just a pet peeve, sorry.

On to the issue at hand. Invest $10. in matted dog release forms and have every matted dog owner sign one and you'll never have this problem again. You did nothing to get the dog in that condition, why should you carry all the liability of trying to resolve a matting issue that the owner caused?? See where I'm going?? Protect yourself and your money~

[Helly]

If the dog had clipper irritation (it's not really a thermal burn) it would have shown up almost immediately, not a week later. Even if it were a thermal burn it would have been there when you released the dog, not a week later.

As so many people already stated, it's most likely the dog did it himself. He was probably ecstatic to be able to lick things he couldn't get at for months, and had himself a little party.

[stacie-gotg]

In the future when you have shaved the private area of any dog and it is questionable if the dog will have a problem, tell the client to use antibiotic ointment on any area that might be of need of it. Many times after i groom a dog it starts skooting. I tell my clients that Fido is itchy and if it is still vey bad use the ointment. Its just basic first aid. Get a scratch and fix it.

[groomin'blonde]

I havent heard anything else from the lady. She'll probably just bad mouth me and take him somewhere else this time next year.......oh well. Live n' learn.

[Dawn125]

I doubt there will ever be a vet bill anyway. Next time she takes the dog somewhere she will probably just make a comment to whoever she takes it to that it got "razor burned last time so don't shave it too short". Don't give it another thought.