Where to draw the line

[Poochie1]

I have done a lot of rescue dogs and I was wondering where I should draw the line. The dogs that come in sometimes are stray dogs mostly cockers and they are so matted. Some however have mats as thick as softball. I kicked an ear on one trying to get all the mats off- I tried to clip them but could not get into an air space big enough to get the blade to go through so I tried to cut some of it off with shears and got that little piece of skin flap under the ear. I got the bleeding under control with pressure and then I packed it septic powder. I felt so bad for this dog and told the lady from the rescue to take the dog to the vet to get the ear looked at. Should there be a point that you say NO a Vet should sedate the dog to get the mats off? It is so difficult to work on the mats with a dog that probably has not had a human touch in long time much less groomed.
Under other circumstances I love giving the dogs a good bath and making them look and feel pretty. They take more time and understanding and I have no problem with that, I do what I can to help them find a home. I am just so afraid of hurting another dog when they are so matted.

[Helly]

First of all, I hope you didn't pack the ear with septic powder. I don't know if there even is such a thing as septic powder, or why one would want to use it. It would cause a horrid infection. And I really don't like the idea of packing a wound with STYPTIC powder, either.

For a nick on an ear, I'd just apply direct pressure until the bleeding stops. If it's reluctant to stop, I'd probably use a tea bag and pressure. But not styptic powder.

But where to draw the line? That's difficult. I always wet shave shelter dogs that are matted to the bone. But even then, nicks happen. And that's what they are; nicks. Not cuts. Not lacerations. Just shaving nicks. No need to see the vet over them. They're no worse than a paper cut, and if we did the same thing to ourselves we'd put a bandaid on 'em and keep on working.

I think where you draw the line on shelter dogs differs for all of us. Personally, I forge on until the job is done, unless the dog is too dangerous to work on. I know most shelters do not have the money to pay for a sedation groom. If I don't do the groom, the dog doesn't get groomed, which probably means he won't get adopted. So I get it done.

I know not everyone has the same comfort level as I do. And I wouldn't fault anyone for not doing something I might. If you aren't comfortable doing the work, and want to refuse it, that's fine. No one should force themselves to do something they don't feel comfortable about doing. This is rescue grooming, not character building 101. There are times to push yourself past the limit, and times to recognize your limit and don't go past it. You are the one who has to decide what time it is.

Regarding the above comments about "septic" powder... I'm not picking on you or being a smart azz. We are professionals, and if we use the wrong terminology, there are people who will know, and judge us as being less knowlegable than we are. It's a common mistake. But septic refers to containing or resulting from disease causing organisms. Something one wouldn't want to pack into an open wound. And God forbid you say something like that to a client who happens to be a nurse or MD.

[RudyRoo]

Poochie, I have had dogs so matted I coudn't get under the mat with my clippers, I use my tiny foot blade to split the mat, always keeping my hand between the dog and the blade. Once it's split, then I have an area where I can use my clippers.

Helly, I ask a question about quick stop a couple weeks ago. I was told never to put it on a cut. I nicked a Yorkies ear, her mom and I took her to the vet, the vet cut off the skin tag and covered it with quick stop????? I left kinda confuse cause I just paid a vet bill & I have a whole jar of quick stop in my tool box,,, I was kinda like WTH???

[SiberianLover]

I groom for the local animal control, the local humane society, and one of the other rescue agencies.

I had one little dog that was SO skinny and SO matted, I just KNEW it was going to happen. The little dog was so sweet, but I managed to knick his leg. It was a very small cut, and the humane society lady said they would have the vet there look at it. I felt terrible.

Yes, the dog was in MUCH better shape after his groom. I don't feel it needed to be sedated, only because to me, that is an absolute last resort. He wasn't biting, he wasn't even wiggly. He had just never been groomed, and was so darn skinny.

I didn't want to say no to helping a dog. I think if I thought I would slice him everywhere, it might have been a different story. It's a tough call to make, and sedation is not something to take lightly.

[Poochie1]

First of all, I hope you didn't pack the ear with septic powder.... And God forbid you say something like that to a client who happens to be a nurse or MD.

Got ya!! STYPTIC powder is what I used and I will take note not to use it anymore if this should happen. As for the spelling mistake spell check didn’t catch that one for me. Sorry.
I was hoping that I would hear something from you about this because I know you work at a vet office and I was more interested in a medical point of view.
I know you can be a smart azz but you have the best advice.Thanks

[gr8danlvr1]

Poochie, I have had dogs so matted I coudn't get under the mat with my clippers,... I was kinda like WTH???

Our vet techs suggest using quick stop all the time. In fact when I had pinched a nipple w/ my shears and took the dog over there, that is what they did, cleaned it and put quick stop on it, saying it was to minor to need anything else. Course, this is one of those corporate vets too, yikes.

[Arrooh]

Oh

Helly, you know it was just mispelled. I love your posts and advice but a smart A you are sometimes.

It's what you think you can do. If you start out and have lots of problems you can have them send it to a Vet.

For the solid pelts I find squeezing a mat type scissor (not so sharp and not so expensive) point into the pelt and getting a good slice through the pelt, oh so carefully, can give me a place to get the blade in and get started. Same with an ear. It's very hard but rewarding.

[brownlikewoah]

well, as long as the dog is okay with the grooming, I would say to go as short as you need to go and don't sedate the dog. I agree that most rescue groups probably don't have the money to sedate dogs like that. I am kind of confused though, when I think of sedating dogs for grooming I think of dogs who are difficult and wild, not just matted. I don't understand the benefit of sedation just to remove mats, I understand you might feel bad if you cut them, but when they wake up they'll still feel the pain anyway.
Also, I don't suggest using scissors on ears like that, it is just way too easy to cut them. If you can't get it with a blade, then go shorter, and shorter until you can. You can also look into wetshaving, that is a great method for removing mats.

[Jadenlea]

YOU KICKED AN EAR??? Shame on you!

haha couldnt resist

[nancyk1029]

Before I'll cut a mat with scissors (or thinning shears) I work a greyhound comb in between the skin and mat, then the comb acts as a shield against cutting the skin. Might not work if the dog is pelted from head to toe. . .

[Helly]

Helly, I ask a question about quick stop a couple weeks ago. I was told never to put it on a cut. I nicked a Yorkies ear, her mom and I took her to the vet, the vet cut off the skin tag and covered it with quick stop????? I left kinda confuse cause I just paid a vet bill & I have a whole jar of quick stop in my tool box,,, I was kinda like WTH???

Kwik Stop, or any other type of styptic product, isn't going to do any real damage. It's just messy and stings like the dickens. When it dries it leaves a nasty looking crusty thing, too. I'd probably opt to use a styptic pencil rather than a styptic powder or gel. After all, that's what they're made for.

[lyttleravyn]

I agree the styptic pencils are preferred for the external wounds since it is less messy, however styptic powder is similar and does the same thing. These products (in granular form) are used by the military as a quick fix for bleeding wounds so the injured don't die of blood loss, and they are also used by men when the nick their faces shaving.

[Poochie1]

I got lots of great tips and info from you guys as always.
The comb and the foot blade are both I plan to try in the future.
As for the STYPTIC powder I used it on a very dirty cocker that was bleeding very badly I really wasn’t worried about the mess at the time. This cocker had to be transported to the vet and I didn’t want the dog leaving without stopping the bleeding. The dog had many other issues that needed to be looked at anyway so why not have the cut looked at as well. I could not see how bad it was because of the mats-it looked like it may have been about half inch long and right along the edge of the ear leather.
I have only been grooming for about 10 months and this was the first time I NICKED one that bad.
Ok you guys I am very bad at spelling so be nice. I am sure I am not alone- I know another groomer on this sight that spells as bad as I do but I will not mention his or her name.