Hello, My name is Lisa Drummond. And I have been working in the pet industry for 30 years now. I have Professionally Groomed pets for Veterinarians, Pet Daycare and Boarding Kennels, Pet Shops, Grooming Schools, Successfully owned my own Mobile Grooming Van, even Professional Groom shops for Pets and Show Dogs. And I am still in love with what I do, thanks to my wonderful mom also a 40 yr Professional Groomer, who instilled an intense, passionate love for animals and the Art of this trade. I have learned alot over the years, and I love to teach. So below you will find dated articles written by me for the Bartow Buzz magazine WWW.BARTOWBUZZ.NET Lot's Of Good Information for The Public and Professionals Alike... So Enjoy..
OCT 2007 CHOOSING AND KEEPING A GOOD GROOMER also EASE CHAFFING AND CLIPPER BURN...Let’s begin this issue with Choosing and Keeping a Good Groomer. One that is not only kind, safety conscience, knowledgeable, and creative... But one that desires the very best care for your pet. Tasking yes, but once accomplished is worth every effort in the end.
A pet’s future behavior will depend on the patience of a good groomer, since they are the second initial trainer of your pet. Usually if a groomer has been grooming more than 5 years, they have goaen past the initial learning stages, which makes them less accident prone. Be sure that the groomer is easy for you to talk to. Let’s face it, you both have a major thing in common. Your pet! If you can’t communicate your desires or concerns with that groomer, then how will they know? Never assume a Groomer knows when they have messed up. A good groomer wants to know if there is ever a problem or concern with the service they gave your pet.
For example: A customer calls me crying “I fear the groomers were mean to my pet the last time she was groomed! She hid under thebed and pouted for several days... then she had blood under her neck and on her cheeks where she had been scratching.”
My first initial thought was well the dog was clipper burned or chaffed. And that was very important information for me to know, because all I had to do was note the chart and use a longer blade next time to stop that from happening.
***GROOM TIP EASE CLIPPER BURN & CHAFFING *** Then I would inform the client that if that ever happens again on a shaved area, immediately use Neosporin or triple antibiotic, Vaseline or a good re-moisturizing conditioner/lotion.
This reaction isn’t caused by a heat. It is the sensitive skin of a pet that has a chaffing rash, similar to those we get when we shave under our arms or faces when it burns afterwards.
A pet scratches at the itch, or rubs it on the floor sometimes until it bleeds. Then too, those fresh cut nails from being groomed will sometimes really tear up the skin. So it is very important, at the first signs of scratching, to apply any one of these products in order to put moisture back into the skin, easing the itch and forming a protective barrier then healing begins.
More times than not the groomer really didn’t know the dog was chaffed because it wasn’t scratching when it was at the salon. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to be able to communicate with your groomer.
Please send me your questions via email at lisa@bstylinpets.com, and I will try to answer them for you in future issues.
