Should I wet clip this dog?

[Alice]

***Updated with "after" pictures on page 2***

I have this poodle scheduled to groom on Monday. She is in probably the worst shape I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty sad looking dogs during my two years at this clinic. She is not only terribly matted and filthy, but when I felt her the mats were damp and heavy, and she smells so bad I may seriously need to wear a mask. She smells like a dead animal.

She came in on Friday to be boarded at the clinic until Monday and I had her scheduled to groom Monday. If I had had time I would have done it on Friday, she was in such awful, sad shape. I feel bad that she has to stay like that one more day!

Anyway, the owner had told me on the phone that she grooms her at home, but she had gotten "a little matted" and needed some help, so I scheduled her, figuring she'd be a mess, but not expecting anything like this! The grooming at home consisted of her running clippers (I assume) down her back at some point, then apparently able to go no further.

Being as she is so filthy and greasy and stinky and extremely matted, should I try wet clipping her? Or do you think it would be more frustrating trying to get through this wet? I've wet clipped matted dogs before, but not ones that had such thick pelts as this one. I'm not crazy about wet clipping, but I don't know about getting clippers through this filth either. I don't know if I can even get it wet all the way to the skin though. Does anyone have any advice for me? I'm attaching pictures.

I feel so bad for this poor dog. I can't wait to make her more comfortable.

[pooh13]

I def would not get this dog wet before roughing her in..if by chance you use skip toothed blades this would be a prime candidate for them. most likely a #7. if you fear whats in her coat ,wear gloves and a mask if she stinks that bad. but get that nasty hair off before the bath.

[Cat Crazy]

Poor thing. She looks very uncomfortable. I would wet shave. When they are really bad, I will shampoo, rinse, condition, try the HV to move mats away from the skin(sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't) shave and then shampoo again with something oatmeal to soothe the skin as much as possible and get her really clean. Good thing you're at a clinic. If she smells that bad she may have some serious skin issues going on under that matting.

[Grinch]

If you are trying to save some coat then wet clip but it looks really really bad. I'm sure you'd be able to get a longer blade through if you suds her up and then H/V but I don't even know if I'd mess with it at that point. I'd probably try to get down in there with a 10 before you bathe her, just because it looks like she is going to have to go through a lot and you don't want to make it any harder on her. Just get her comfortable and worry about beauty when she comes back for a regular scheduled "real" groom. Poor girl

[Alice]

Thanks for the responses. She was damp when I took the photos, maybe because it was raining. I was worried about clipping her hair if it was damp. I don't care about saving hair. I may use a 10 anyway because the owner said on the phone that she has little warts all over her, and I could see one big one on her head, where they had chopped the hair on top of her head. There was crusted blood or something all over it, and I picked it off and saw a wart thingy under it. I don't want to cut into any of them, so a 10 might be safer, if I can even get that through! I guess I won't really know until I get started. My hands reaked after just touching her for the pictures. I'll make sure one of our vets look at her before and after I groom her.

[Whipple]

Wow, Where do you even start clipping? Do you think anything longer than a 10 would even get through that, wet or dry?

[Cat Crazy]

I sure wasn't thinking about trying to save coat with the wetshave. I was thinking more about reducing/preventing further irritation to the skin. I would expect to only be able to get a #10 or #8.5 blade under that pelt. If you were planning on attending Canada Grooms in June, you could use the pelt to make an entry into the "Mat Contest"

[SiberianLover]

Poor thing. She looks very uncomfortable. I would wet shave. When they are really bad, I will shampoo, rinse, condition, try the HV to move mats away from the skin(sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't) shave and then shampoo again with something oatmeal to soothe the skin as much as possible and get her really clean. Good thing you're at a clinic. If she smells that bad she may have some serious skin issues going on under that matting.

Yep, same here.

I never EVER touch dirty hair with my blades, even if it means a bath before the shave, wet shave, and then back to the tub. I do charge dearly for this though.

[k9cosmetologist]

Dear Saint Alice,
There is a spot waiting for you in heaven for this one.
God

Seriouly, it's gonna need a plasma cutter!!
I insist when you get the sweet creature released from the slimy stinky dog suit, you make the owner wear it for a week, or sleep with it on her pillow.
Good luck with the warts and all you find under there. Please send updates!

[Kittypaw007]

I did 3 dogs like that last year. I used my bravura fine tooth set at 10. Some spots were so bad I had to switch to a 30 or 40. One of them I washed first, but I personally didn't notice that it was easier or not. So it dulls your $19 blade. Through it away when your done or tack it on to the price. The legs and pits are the hardest. I washed in cool water w/oatmeal and aloe and conditioner. Good luck and take your time

[onions]

I would "attack" it with a 7skip.
Maybe if she's so bad, start a 10 from under mouth/by neck until an opportunity strikes to get the 7 working.
I've never wet shaved, but I can't see trying to penetrate that much matting with water....
Get that s#!^ off the dog...then bathe with a soothing shampoo.

As to the warts/growths....advise that with such severe matting one never knows what's underneath & what you might "hit" with clipper.
Hey, her problem for neglect.....

[Moonpiepoodlz]

I groomed a dog like that 5 years ago; worst matted dog I had ever seen. The neighbor had called the owner threatening to call animal control and lodging a complaint against him about neglect unless he would agree to get the dog groomed if she paid.
The dog had a good 3'' pelt of matting from the top of his to the tip of his tail; I found mold, a few dead bugs, and his feet were so badly matted the nails had wrapped around several times never hitting the pads.
I used a 15 for most of the shaving.
One of the few dogs I will never forget in my years of grooming.

[Fluff and Puff]

Do what is best for the poor poor dog. I'd probly do a #7 strip and try to make it look as good as you can but just do what is best for the dog and try to talk the owner in to making some appts. on a regular basis. I have trouble giving the dogs back to the owner when they are in that bad of shape. argh

[sheilabgroomer]

If you have a bather (recirc etc) then I would definitely go ahead and bathe her first, blow her out good and shave her down (in the tub if possible, just plug clippers into surge protector). She is going to need another good bath after you get that mess off of her.
If you don't have a bather you may want to clipper at least some of it off of her. That will be a lot of tedious, tiring labor to try to get that mess clean by hand......hope you have a bather!!!!


The main reason I wouldn't rough her in (if possible) is because of how dirty she is and how bad she smells. If it were warmer out I would be concerned about maggots. Bathing her first will keep you from breathing in the air-born **** that is sure to float around and save your blades. It should also make it less irritating to her poor skin and will hopefully make clipping go faster.

I would NOT HV her afterwards as that may cause more irritation. Towel her off really really well and let her dry (if possible) in a warm room w/floor fans on her and a thick padding of dry towels under her.

Good luck to you! I hope the owner takes better care of her after this. The poor girl looks like such a sweetheart! Why in the world would someone get a STP and NOT think they need more maintenance than this!......shaking head.....

[neanea]

I would do it wet simply to avoid irritation and it is easier to get under the mats when the hair is more "stretchy" Personally, I HATE wet shaving, but it does have it's place and in this case, I'd say is the time I'd do it.

I'd shampoo it as well as I could, trying to get it down under the matting, and rinse (but not worry to much about getting it totally rinsed). I'd rebathe after with a good soothing shampoo (I'd used Show Seasons Soothe because it's antiseptic properties).