Vet School 101 When pet grooming gets medical…
…veterinarians step in.
I’m no groomer. And no, I don’t relish adopting the mantle of those far better qualified than a vet to trim, snip and clip. I do it only when a pet’s health is involved.
So you know, groomers don’t like it when we encroach on their territory by offering similar services—no more than we like it when they offer healthcare advice willy-nilly, anyway.
It’s true that I’m not trained as a pet groomer, though I’m lucky to have a couple staff members who are. Nonetheless, we do NOT handle routine grooming cases.
In fact, many vets won’t even bathe animals unless they absolutely must. (I don’t even offer therapeutic shampoos, preferring to send these products home with owners.) We DO, however, take on a variety of pets in need of specialized “therapeutic grooming” services.
Here’s a two-handed sampling of these:
1-The MUST! SEDATE! cases
Your pet probably doesn’t fall into this category but I get at least a couple cases a month like this. Usually it happens when every groomer in town has rejected the pet on the basis of a “bad attitude.” Sometimes the owners don’t even try seeking out a grooming professional—they know that Fluffy means business when the brush comes out and her teeth and claws fly.
(Key, here, is that vets are not groomers—so persnickety pet owners with a long list of cosmetic demands should adjust their expectations on the show quality of the clip.)
2-The “every-tick-in-the-world-is having-a-party-on-my-pet” patient
Yeah, I hate these. It means cordoning off an area in the practice for emergency de-ticking. Sometimes I don’t even bother with the indoor experience. If the pet is well-behaved and tractable it’s out-of-doors they go until the “tick jar” is full (sometimes two four-ounce bottles full of pure tick biomass). We charge by the hour, by the way.
3-The pet too young for full vaccine coverage
Most responsible groomers in my area won’t take on a puppy or kitten too young for complete vaccine coverage (less than four months)—unless they work in a mobile setting (which is what I recommend for these patients). In some cases we’ll do a minimal clip-job to keep the mats at bay—and that’s IT. No breed-specific cuts and zero frills.
4-Dirt, feces, filth and blood
Not an appetizing prospect, right? No pic necessary.
5-Mitaban and Lym-sulfur dips
For pets who suffer mange mites and ringworm infestations and require these specialized dips, I strongly recommend in-hospital treatments. That’s because the after-effects of these dips are potentially devastating for pets afflicted with conditions that necessitate these unfortunate therapies.
(Mitaban [amitraz] is a poison I hate to use except in extreme cases. And Lyme-sulfur is one I’ll often apply to especially fragile animals. Though some owners prefer to undertake this at home, in these cases I prefer to watch them recover from their smelly side-effects.)
6-The hot spot or ringworm lesion
Sorry, but I clip most of these. In some cases I’ll shave down the entire animal for therapeutic reasons. It helps the shampoo, spray, dip and other treatments get to where they need to go without getting hung up on all that hair.
7-The “my-groomer-insists-on-keeping-my-dog-blind” bang trim
Breed specific cuts are great for show dogs but they should be modified for pets so they can at least SEE where they’re going. Yes, I do offer to trim bangs. (And I don’t even charge for it.)
8-The “sanitary” clip
This is perhaps the most common medical grooming trick I’ll get into. Prepucial (penis area) secretions stuck to the “pee-pee” hairs? That over-long vulvar hirsutism? Who wants to risk a UTI (urinary tract infection) because of basic lack of hygiene?
Then there’s the “dingleberry” disaster pet. I mean, if you can’t keep your pet’s behind clean then you deserve to have him/her receive a baboon-butt sanitary clip. And some pets just can’t live without a generous sanitary clip no matter how careful the owner is about backside-wiping.
Here's the only pic I could find to illustrate a sanitary clip (sorry about the bad tattoo):
9-The eye goo and ear-hair gunk
You know what I mean. If owners aren’t getting the eye goo gone with daily ministrations I’ll clip that hair at the corner of the eyes. And if all that ear hair isn’t being plucked some pets will acquire a hairy wax build-up in ways Mother Nature never intended. I’ll be sure to get that nasty business out.
10-The surgical, IV catheter and ultrasound clips
Now, I know some owners will complain but seriously…unless your pet is being shown in the next few weeks, medical clipping should be gracefully tolerated. (Even so, I’m told the rulebook says that judges are required to overlook these temporary, veterinary care-related defects.) Sure, you can request that we go easy (that always helps) but it’s no use arguing after the fact—we won’t be able to do anything about it.
So, do you blame me for taking some grooming out of the hands of specialized pet grooming professionals?
November 5th, 2008
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Add Comment29 Comments
Oh - please tell me the Tick Case is not true.... I can stand the thought of it.
*shudders*
CreatureofHabit November 5th, 2008 09:10:00 AM
Dr Khuly, do you use injectable or oral ivermectin for demodex? Severe, generalized demodex usually with a nasty secondary infection and self mutilation are not rare in bulldog rescue. Except in the case of dogs who react very badly to ivermectin, we have pretty much given up on mitaban. The protocols we are using for the ivermectin come from both the veterinarians who work with our rescue and also the veterinary dermatologists who help us with the worst of the worst cases.
For more minor cases or long term control of chronic incurable cases, Advantage Multi was recommended by our dermatologist and has proved a godsend.
I loath mitaban but realize that there are cases that need it, but boy, do I avoid it whenever I can!
JenniferJ November 5th, 2008 01:36:00 PM
I had a cat that required a bath/sanitary shave every six weeks while I didn't like to go the vet to get her shaved sometimes it was my only choice. It is really, really hard in my neck of the woods to find a groomer that will take cats and do a good job. I was heartbroken when my cat groomer moved but I was grateful that my vet's office would accommodate us and take care of her needs when I couldn't find a regular groomer.
Toni R. November 5th, 2008 01:58:00 PM
Jennifer: I try to use oral milbemycin (Interceptor) on all my generalized demodex cases. If the owner can't afford it I'll use oral ivermectin instead. Some cases, however, pose unique challenges in their severity. Working with a veterinary dermatologist as I do on many of these cases, it's become apparent that Mitaban is indeed necessary sometimes, though.
Dr. Patty Khuly November 5th, 2008 02:54:00 PM
Toni: Luckily, we have a great cat grooming/boarding facility near us. I trust them to do most of what our clients' cats require and they trust us to sedate their clients' cats safely (a nice exchange). But I have found that cat groomers can be in short supply in some areas--good ones, anyway. I think a big part of it is that cat grooming requires special skills and a quiet place--and many cat owners are unwilling to pay for what some of our fluffier/fatter cats require (relative to what dog owners will pay).
Dr. Patty Khuly November 5th, 2008 02:58:00 PM
As a professional groomer of 10 years experience, I can say I am only too glad that these cases are handled by a medical professional! Yeuch to ticks... I once removed over 40 of them from a PBGV, poor girl.
I like short eyebrows/falls, too. :)
I used to groom cats, but stopped 3 years ago after one too many blood infections. I'm allergic to penicillin and it just wasn't worth it to me anymore. If they were all sedated it wouldn't be too bad, but I don't work for a vet anymore, so now I stick to the more predictable canine.
clover November 5th, 2008 03:34:00 PM
We've had a few for whom mitaban was the only solution, but I hate the stuff. I cringe about putting anything on a dog that requires me to wear rubber gloves and be done with all the windows open and the fan going! But those mites have gotta die....
Interceptor is a good product. But if the dog tolerates ivermectin, we generally stick with it for economic reasons. Adoption fees never can cover everything. In an ideal universe we would be able to afford the same care for every rescue that we put into our own pets but as we all know, the universe is less than ideal sometimes. :-)
My best friend is a groomer. She has horror stories. Fortunately there is a vet across the street. She has on several occasions point blank refused to take dogs or cats until they have been to see a veterinarian for severe skin issues, parasites, severely ingrown nails etc... And the clinic sends her the healthy but stinky, skunked, matted or otherwise too filthy to treat or examine dogs prior to their physical examines or routine surgeries.
JenniferJ November 5th, 2008 03:53:00 PM
We've had a few for whom mitaban was the only solution, but I hate the stuff. I cringe about putting anything on a dog that requires me to wear rubber gloves and be done with all the windows open and the fan going! But those mites have gotta die....
Interceptor is a good product. But if the dog tolerates ivermectin, we generally stick with it for economic reasons. Adoption fees never can cover everything. In an ideal universe we would be able to afford the same care for every rescue that we put into our own pets but as we all know, the universe is less than ideal sometimes. :-)
My best friend is a groomer. She has horror stories. Fortunately there is a vet across the street. She has on several occasions point blank refused to take dogs or cats until they have been to see a veterinarian for severe skin issues, parasites, severely ingrown nails etc... And the clinic sends her the healthy but stinky, skunked, matted or otherwise too filthy to treat or examine dogs prior to their physical examines or routine surgeries.
JenniferJ November 5th, 2008 03:53:00 PM
i'm only too happy to refer out-of-control pets, tick-ridden dogs, and etc to the veterinarian down the street! I remember one case I had that I refused to touch... a fluffy little Maltese puppy had done a flying leap into his owner's tub of hair removal wax. The poor puppy's skin was bright red because the owner had been in the process of waxing her legs with the heated wax. There wasn't a single area larger than an inch that wasn't covered in wax... and anyone who has ever used wax knows how sticky it is. I took one look at the puppy (who was still a happy, wriggling mess despite it all) and told them to go to the emergency vet (it was after 7p). The owner refused and proceeded to complain to a manager because I wouldn't groom his dog. I think he ended up buying a puppy shampoo to 'do it himself' at home.
That poor, poor dog. I have no idea how even a vet would have fixed that.
Charity November 5th, 2008 05:20:00 PM
the hair wax reminds me of an animal planet episode I saw where the cat fell into a cactus. It was horrible. You could barely see the cat for the spines.
I have short haired dogs now, that twice a month get a shower with one of the kids....they like it.
the cats do well, but I do clip the butt hair on my long haired cats simply to eliminate the dingleberry problem. We also have a very old cat who has decided grooming requires too much effort. I clip her on a regular basis since otherwise she gets crud on the skin on her tail and back.
I've actually never been to a groomer, but I have on that rare occasion had the vet clip nails for the dogs if we are there already for exam. It is amazing to me how many hands it can take to hold a 10lb wiggling doxie who doesn't want her nails clipped.
LorriM November 5th, 2008 05:36:00 PM
Dr. K, Most professional groomers I know are a veterinarian's BEST friend and advocate. Often they are the first to discover a lump, ailment, teeth, ears, you name it-- and either gently or not so, insist on a vet visit. Some will even refuse to groom until the issue is taken care of, and good for them!
And puh-leezz, no-no on the "bangs" , it is called eyebrows or a full "fall".
Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire November 5th, 2008 05:51:00 PM
Lorri,
I saw that cat in the cactus episode too. It made me queezy and I'm not usually squimish. Uuugh.
I love my groomer. She used to show akitas so I know she isn't scared of mine and that she knows how to handle him. He loves it there too.
Back when I worked for a vet I used to hate brushing mats out of sedated cats. They would yowl because it hurt but the owners insisted no shaving allowed. How I wish the vet would have stood up to them and said no.
Marie November 5th, 2008 06:32:00 PM
i always had short haired dogs growing up that i groomed myself. i actually found the nail cutting to be worse than the bathing, ear cleaning, etc. i had one dog that was small mixed breed that my dad would hold like a baby and cut her nails while i fed her little treats. i think now that im much older and more experienced i could have done it alone. she was very afraid of nail cutting. i now have a hairless cat who needs to be bathed at least every 2-6 weeks which she hates but tolerates as long as its me doing it. i would feel really bad for anyone else who tried. i use to take my bosses dog to a groomer (great pyrenees) but he developed sores i thought from the shampoo so i got gentler shampoo from his vet. he still had skin sensitivity so i was worried that something was amiss at the groomers and i suggested they find someone else which they did and the skin issues improved. i also know of a friends mom whose dog got her ear cut. i think if i ever got a dog that needed grooming i couldnt do i would either see if my vet could do it (since i trust her and her staff) or be a hovering dog mom who would have my own clippers etc that was used on my dog. i dont care about styles though as long as they can see, are comfortable and well cared for i could care less on the hair cut.
katy November 5th, 2008 07:30:00 PM
8 oz. of engorged ticks??? EEEEUUUUWWWWWWW!!!
Judy November 5th, 2008 07:50:00 PM
Ewww, almost tossed my cookies, well actually a brownie, on that tick one. I.hate.ticks...I had a Norwegian Forest Cat that went to the groomer every 6 weeks, this cat tolerated brushing from me but nothing else. My groomer was so great! She could bathe, brush and give my cat a "sanitary shave" and the dang cat purred all the way thru it. I was heart broken when she left the pet salon I used. She actually called me, she had cancer and wanted to be home with her family but was willing to do some of her favorites in their homes. She was great with cats and, in turn, was much loved by them. She even worked with local vets for a lot of stuff that would have required the cat be sedated. What she did, how she did it I'll never know. All I cared about was that my kitty was always clean, well groomed and happy to see "her" groomer each and every time.
Donna November 5th, 2008 08:34:00 PM
You're absolutely right about showing and IV/surgical clips. You can't show a dog with sutures still in (duh!) but an area of clipped hair is no problem, although the judge may of course ask what happened.
BTW, you CAN show a dog with a small wound that has been closed with surgical glue.
Although I would be willing to bet a bunch of money that of all the clients you've had that complained about the hair that was clipped for a procedure, not ONE was planning to show the dog anytime soon, if ever!!
Barb November 6th, 2008 09:34:00 AM
*can't
Ooops... I can't stand the thought of it.
Ticks make me light-headed!
CreatureofHabit November 6th, 2008 09:58:00 AM
Ticks used to bother me a lot....till I began volunteering in a shelter. Now it's *almost* business as usual. Here in semi-rural western PA dog and deer ticks are practically endemic. A couple months ago, a shelter employee and I spent a couple hours and removed over 100 of the little suckers from a stray coonhound. My favorite tool for this chore is the O'Tom tick hook--our shelter even sells these at the counter. It's a simple, hands-off tool that works! If you've never tried it, it's amazing (ranks right up there with the Furminator, IMO). You'll never go after them with forceps again. We even have a couple sets to use on humans in the ER where I work at my "real" (read: paying) job. They come in sets of 2; large and small for about $4.
Check it out at: http://www.otom.com
Shellie November 6th, 2008 07:36:00 PM
Great post. Thanks for the detailed information. I will share this with my clients. All pet owners should be aware that grooming should first and foremost be for health reasons prior to any vain human ideals. :)
BocMeow Pet Care November 6th, 2008 08:50:00 PM
@ katy
"or be a hovering dog mom who would have my own clippers etc that was used on my dog."
i'd recommend never getting a dog that requires grooming then, unless you also plan on shelling out $179 on a pair of industry-standard professional grooming clippers. While there are crappy groomers out there who care more about quantity of completed grooms rather than quality of individual grooms, the majority of us genuinely care about our craft and our clients. it is always extremely insulting on the rare occasion that a customer comes in with their own (low-quality) 'grooming' supplies and insists that we use them on their dog. I always just refuse to work with their dogs, as their equipment is never up to the standards that mine is. and I refuse to use equipment that isn't at least as high quality, and as safe, as mine is.
just an FYI from a professional groomer
Charity November 6th, 2008 09:30:00 PM
Barb: You're right. I don't have many complainers who do show. But I have had smart showing clients who planned their elective surgeries around their show schedules. And they NEVER complained about the clips later.
Dr. Patty Khuly November 8th, 2008 12:09:00 PM
One such program Gary Winnick has helped to support by a grant from the Winnick Family Foundation is the Jewish Federation’s Holy Land Democracy Project.
Lisa February 19th, 2009 12:43:44 AM
Great post. Thanks now the tremendous information. I leave cush this with my clients. All acrimony owners should stand for aware that grooming should best besides incomparable embody seeing health reasons prior to molecule spectacular human ideals.
Gary Winnick February 19th, 2009 12:45:09 AM
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