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Cases of serious neglect

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Shonnie
Angel_saza
scallywags
jonna
misskja
Chase
B&B
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Cases of serious neglect Empty Cases of serious neglect

Post by B&B Tue Oct 30, 2012 9:24 pm

Hey all

I spent 3 hours grooming a Mult x Shihtzu yesterday because of the matting. Flea ridden aswell. Worst I've seen so far (Im sure there will be more) Had to charge double, and didn't get the the 2nd dog. Was a complete nightmare, carefully putting the corner of a 30 blade under the matting on legs and tail. The tail took me about 50mins alone. This poor dog's legs and tail were encased completely.

Cases of serious neglect 2012-10-29153939480x640480x640225x300

My question what do you do in this situation? In hindsight I think I would prefer to refuse the groom, my wrist injury which has been non existent for months is starting to play up again since. And it is also too much for the dog. Ended up too much for both of us...they should go to vet to get it off. But in that case what would you do to make sure they follow through with getting it done?

There was some remarks when I spoke to the owner today on the phone about free to good home options. So I am diplomatically trying to sort something out with a rescue organisation. I want those dogs out of that home

Id like to hear other people's stories or advice. This is the first time I have come across one as bad as this, and I was disgusted. I haven't taken that long to clip a dog since my first groom on my own.

Also I don't have a shorter than #30 blade in my kit, would anything shorter have made this any easier??
B&B
B&B

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Post by Chase Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:34 pm

I prob would have done the groom just to get that dog comfortable again. but if it was stressing out the dog and your wrist (and most likley if it took them that long to get their dog groomed they would not pay the extra for getting it done at a vet) Maybe next time do it over couple of days. that way it gives your wrist a rest and the dog.

Its really hard to know what to do in a situation like this and sometimes you have to play it by ear. i have one dog i know when it comes to me once a year its going to be in a bad condition. Its an old dog and they now have a young pup that annoys it a lot. so when it comes to me i keep it with me for the whole day to let it rest and escape its house a bit. the poor thing never wants to leave and breaks my heart when i see her go
Chase
Chase

Location : Victoria, Australia
Posts : 598

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Post by misskja Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:52 pm

Sadly I see a couple of cases a year of extensive matting. One recently was matted from neck to toe. His legs were like tree trunks. Breaks my heart. You may already have employed this technique but my approach is to slice through the mats in sections with scissors which then allows my clippers to make progress (hold a large pair of scissors at right angles to the mat/skin, push the bottom blade through the mat and once the blade is out the other end cut the mat). Using this technique you should be able to use an even longer blade (the shortest in I use is a number 10) which would be a better outcome for the pooch (reduced risk of sunburn etc). I charge extra for neglected dogs but encourage the owner to make an appointment earlier next time by quoting the regular price and suggest that I call them after 4-5 months to arrange an appointment if they have failed to do so. If clients don't seem to be 'getting it' I mention that it is against the law to neglect a dog to that extent. Shame them, frighten them, woo them, educate them...........whatever it takes. You're a good sort for caring. Keep it up.
misskja
misskja

Location : South Gippsland, Victoria
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Post by jonna Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:33 pm

The worst case I ever had was an under 10lb intact male Maltese. Yes, completely encased. The legs were a nightmare; just getting access.....sweated bullets. I had to carefully scissor an opening for each leg.
There is no solution for this problem. Some owners just don't care about the grooming requirements. The potential health issues related.
I gave up years ago saving the world. Now I just do the best I can for the pets. I'm sorry if my response doesn't help. This is just the way it seems to be, sadly. We have a tough trade.
jonna
jonna

Location : Pennsylvania, USA
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Post by scallywags Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:52 am

I also get a few cases every now and then but not as often as I rearly take on new customers. I recently did a dog after having not been there for well over a year, they said they had him done in the meantime but I doubt it. I showed them the big hunks that had been cut off and told them (nicely) to imagine their hair being pulled back too tightly in a pony tail and how uncomfortable that is. I will be calling them after about 3 months to get them to book in again.

I use the same technique as misskja. Carefully slice through the matts a section at a time so you can get a #10 blade underneath. I also use this technique with the tail, cutting the matts in the direction from top it tip then cut off the matt before brushing what's left.

Just do what you can.
scallywags
scallywags

Location : Pakenham Upper, Vic
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Post by B&B Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:37 pm

Thanks for your advice guys. I have done some soul searching and I think I will be better prepared in my head for how to handle to owners next time.

I did figure out about half way through the groom to get the scissors under it and cut through it to gain access.

I think I am getting over the shock of it all now. I was really upset....and well I guess it just makes me think about all the neglected dogs out there. I guess we usually see the type of owners that love their dogs. People who love their dogs don't mind paying to have them looked after properly.

BTW, I swear that I found fleas under those matst that looked like they had been squashed and stuck! Even the fleas weren't happy. Insert expletive!
B&B
B&B

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Post by Angel_saza Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:08 am

I had a client call just before christmas, it was my third week on the road and i needed the job. I wasn't clipping at this point either. This poor dog was so matted and unkept. He had a knot over the of his manhood! I felt so bad and knew he wasn't going to get into another groomer, i spent 2 hours scissoring him. He actually didn't look too bad by the end of it. The owner appreciated my efforts and paid me accordingly and has been a 4 weekly regular ever since :-)

Angel_saza

Location : Adelaide
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Post by Shonnie Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:53 pm

I've had one that was that bad it had a matt the size of a golf ball down his ear canal. Luckily working at a vet clinic had the vet take a look before we attempted to pull it. She originally thought it was going to be a tumour! But no a really bad yeast infection coupled with not being groomed for nearly 8 months caused the matt. We pulled it out under sedation and cleaned it up for him.

I also had a dog the other day who's hind dew claws had curled all the way around in a spiral and had started another loop! I've had them embedded before but not a complete loop and kept going! 

Working at a vet clinic I get the cases that other groomers have refused to do and some of them are nasty. One covered in a yeast infection all over her body, another as I clipped I found a huge scab under her chin and as we soaked it of there was an old infected wound that we could stick our fingers in. Others with ears matted to their heads or their tails starting to strangulate. Even found a dead moth in ones fur one day.

It's all pretty bad but at least the owners are getting them clipped.
Shonnie
Shonnie

Location : Maitland NSW
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Post by snaggywoo Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:55 pm

Its so sad to see these dogs. I've seen embedded dew claws, golf balls in ears, golf ball matt under the eyeball one day and I almost gave up but managed to get it off. Glad that some owners learn but some never learn.

If only the dogs could abuse their owners and tell them how unhappy they are?
snaggywoo
snaggywoo

Location : Newcastle, NSW
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Post by UNM Thu Mar 27, 2014 3:24 pm

Dead moth? I found a fish hook in a keeshond once. Hadn't penetrated the skin thankfully, but it was suitable for snapper fishing, not small!

UNM

Location : Glen Waverley, VIC
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Post by QB Fri Aug 08, 2014 11:11 pm

I have been there and done that.. seen many dogs with terrible mattings on legs, body, face, ears etc...
But one experience I will never forget ever...It was so shocking as I was clipping the back of the dog which was extremely matted halfway the skin was exposed and I could see raw skin and bleeding.  I told the client maybe better go to the vet, she told me she did not want to do that but for me to finish the job.  I did not need the clipper as the matted hair just peeled off the skin which was horrendous and I hoped that I did not do any damage but lucky all the matted hair was removed with no damage.  I later told the client to bathe the raw exposed skin with salt and water to prevent infections..Has anyone else experienced this??.

QB

Location : Vic
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Post by puddles Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:12 pm

Qb, i had one of those, nearly the worst I've done. He was a tiny white dog with huge lumps of hair peeling off his skin. He was practically bald already. Had infected eyes and ears, too. When I took him inside, he started rolling around - and bleeding all over his body. His hair had just been ripped out of his pores.
Owners didn't care. I showed them the damage before i started, repeatedly told them he needed to see a vet. They just shrugged.

puddles

Location : Vic
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