[beckyw]

My dog was at the groomer yesterday and came home with a large red abrasion under his chin. The groomer said my dog struggled some on the table, and then the abrasion got worse later when they weren't watching. I can only assume that he struggled so hard against the grooming noose that he rubbed his neck raw. The groomer thought it would be healed by today, but he's still obviously miserable and is not at all himself.

Is this a common injury that is more or less an unavoidable consequence of normal grooming? I feel really angry with the groomer, but I'd like to know if my anger is misplaced. Anyone ever had this happen?

[borzoimom]

no its not- call your vet and then call the groomer and tell them you taking the dog to the vet. And report it to HS..

[Durbkat]

I think they were alittle rough but no need to report them. It sounds like your dog hasn't been to the groomer alot and that he wasn't there as a puppy to get used to it that he freaked out because he was undersocialized in that area. But I would have a vet check it out and have them pay the bill and just choose a new groomer.

[Twinney]

I've never had a dog professionally groomed, since all my dogs really require are brushes, bathes, and Shunka needs some trimming around the ears, but, IMO if your dog was struggling that hard against the noose, they should have had somebody else help them. Me being my hard headed self wouldn't of left the building until they knew my opinion on the deal.

no its not- call your vet and then call the groomer and tell them you taking the dog to the vet. And report it to HS..

I agree with borzoimom. The vet will be able to tell you how to treat it and such... You probably won't need to report it if it was your dogs first go around grooming. If it wasn't, then it would be the groomers fault and you should report it.

[Pai]

I also agree... if he was struggling so hard and so panicked that the noose cut him, they should have either stopped the groom or taken him out of the noose. No excuse to have let him injure himself like that.

[salask]

Was this his 1st groom?

[beckyw]

Thanks for all the feedback. No, this wasn't the first time he'd been groomed, but he was a shelter dog and I'm not sure what his grooming history was before we adopted him (this was his second time since coming to live with us).

I've called the vet and I'm waiting anxiously for a call back. It's so depressing to see your dog so miserable!

[borzoimom]

Originally Posted by Pai

I also agree... if he was struggling so hard and so panicked that the noose cut him, they should have either stopped the groom or taken him out of the noose. No excuse to have let him injure himself like that.

Originally Posted by beckyw

Thanks for all the feedback. No, this wasn't the first time he'd been groomed, but he was a shelter dog and I'm not sure what his grooming history was before we adopted him (this was his second time since coming to live with us).

I've called the vet and I'm waiting anxiously for a call back. It's so depressing to see your dog so miserable!

They let something happen. Either he was unattended on a table and almost hung himself or something. Get the vet record and call them back. And I am sorry- I still would call the HS if nothing else for them to pay them a visit to watch the shop in their method of " grooming" and treatment of the dogs.. I wont comment what else I would do... ( the word lawyer comes to mind..)

[Aggie]

Is it from the noose, or a razor burn?

The noose seems unacceptable to me; someone should always have a hand on the dog on the table.

A razor burn I might find acceptable if I'd never had problems with the groomer, and it's a very close shave where the dog might suddenly jerk and cause one. It's still something you shouldn't expect to see with practiced groomers, and dogs that are used to being groomed.

[borzoimom]

I do not find a razor burn acceptable- especially with those " trained" to groom. and the dog should have been seen by a vet right away. The fact they said the dog would be alright, and they are not a vet raises a serious eyebrow with me..

[Durbkat]

Sometimes razor burns happen if the dog is matted and needs to be shaved down or the owner wants the dog shaved down. Snoopy got razor burn one time when he was matted and I didn't know it and they had to shave him down.

[borzoimom]

Its not acceptable to injure a pet in grooming. Unless they are rushing and not paying attention- and THEN MORE unaccepable.

[Franny Glass]

This is why I don't use a noose.

[beckyw]

The groomer said it happened because Dexter (my dog) was unhappy with them trimming near his ears, so I'm assuming it was the noose; also, it seems too large of an area to be razor burn. It does really bother me that the groomer thought it was preferable to finish trimming near the ears and let Dex hurt himself, rather than stopping and telling me it wasn't safe to do. I would much rather have had him come home with furry ears!

The vet I talked to didn't seem terribly concerned and said I should wait to see how Dexter's doing tomorrow before bringing him in. He has perked up a bit and he hopped down off the sofa to eat his dinner.

[borzoimom]

Originally Posted by beckyw

The groomer said it happened because Dexter (my dog) was unhappy with them trimming near his ears, so I'm assuming it was the noose; also, it seems too large of an area to be razor burn. It does really bother me that the groomer thought it was preferable to finish trimming near the ears and let Dex hurt himself, rather than stopping and telling me it wasn't safe to do. I would much rather have had him come home with furry ears!

The vet I talked to didn't seem terribly concerned and said I should wait to see how Dexter's doing tomorrow before bringing him in. He has perked up a bit and he hopped down off the sofa to eat his dinner.

Yourrrrrrrrrrr groomer was rushing.. The dog suffered.. I know what I would do- its up to you what you would...

[dane&cockermom]

Originally Posted by beckyw

The groomer said it happened because Dexter (my dog) was unhappy with them trimming near his ears, so I'm assuming it was the noose; also, it seems too large of an area to be razor burn. It does really bother me that the groomer thought it was preferable to finish trimming near the ears and let Dex hurt himself, rather than stopping and telling me it wasn't safe to do. I would much rather have had him come home with furry ears!

The vet I talked to didn't seem terribly concerned and said I should wait to see how Dexter's doing tomorrow before bringing him in. He has perked up a bit and he hopped down off the sofa to eat his dinner.

i agree. if the dog was struggling that much, i probably would have sent it home.

but then, there are instinces like i had today. i started shaving a pom and got a little done on it's back. it was really matted so i had to go slow. i got about half the back shaved when the dog suddenly decided it wanted to eat me. i couldn't even turn on my clippers away from the dog without it freaking out. so i called mom and said i didn't feel comfortable doing it because the dog was either going to hurt me, or hurt itself. and mom freaked out on me. wanted me to keep going no matter what. needless to say, i didn't.

i so would have sent the dog home if it was that stressed out.

[Love's_Sophie]

I guess if I was there I would be able to give more 'advice'...

My gut says, that yes, something sounds a bit off...a dog shouldn't get such extensive abrasions from a grooming experience; not if the groomer has a hand on the dog to keep it from jumping off the table, or from backing off, if it is trying to back away.

However, if the dog was flipping out simply because he didn't like what was being done, if they had 'stopped' all together, the dog would likely 'up his anty' the next grooming. On Saturday, I had one such dog...she actually grabbed two of my fingers and chomped away; and this was when I was just trying to put a muzzle on her...she's a dog that just doesn't like being groomed, especially her feet, face and ears. We did fine on her feet that day, but she wanted NOTHING to do with me going near her face...So I had to get a muzzle on her, or what would I have taught her? Snapping stops grooming...not acceptable in my humble opinion. Once I got the muzzle on, she still struggled a little bit, but nothing that caused damage. I just let her have her tantrum, and allowed the clippers to run at a 'safe distance' and she eventually quit.

So, while I don't agree with the irritation (there are ways to prevent that), I am not so sure I would 'blame' the groomer for not stopping, either...they probably could have moved at a slower pace, but to not get the dog done, when it previously was able to be?

Dog may have just had a bad day, or the groomers just haven't mentioned his attitude before this, too...who knows. We all expect our dogs to behave when at the groomer, and that just isn't always the case; people, from my perspective and experience, do not want to hear the Fido or Fluffy is a pain to groom...

Like I said, I do agree that the irritation could have been prevented, but unless I was there, I don't know that I would have stopped grooming the dog...

[poodleholic]

I really don't feel this is cause for calling the HS or initiating a lawsuit (if it happened more than once, yes, and if he was left unattended with the noose on, yes). Maybe it shouldn't have happend, but it did, there was an explanation given as to why, and while that may not be acceptable, accidents can, and do happen.

The dog should be checked by a vet, and I'd require the groomer to pay for any vet treatment necessary, including x-rays, salve or whatever. IF that groomer walked away while the dog was on the table with the noose on, and he fell off the table - THAT would be inexcusable, and gross negligence. But, it sounds like he was struggling while she was trying to do his ears. Still not something desired, but it didn't happen through abuse or neglect. Hopefully, the groomer learned a lesson and it won't ever happen again.

I would think that this groomer would be extra careful with him the next time. You could always take him somewhere else, but, there's no guarantee that groomer won't do (or not do) something that hurts or injures your dog. Should you decide to go elsewhere, just don't tell the new groomer about what that "bad" other groomer did to your dog. Because YOU, more likely than not, will be (unfairly in your case) suspect - about a number of things. Groomers hear all kinds of whacky stories about why their dog is messed up, and quite often it's really the owner. So, if you're going to switch groomers, start fresh with a clean slate, and don't talk about what the other groomer did. DO let them know that he struggles, and that the noose injures him. So they're forewarned, and can take measures to prevent.

[Purplex15]

there are a lot of people making some pretty strong accuasations here. before you tell someone to get a lawyer, you should know the facts. you dont know exactly what happened, all we have is the owners description, and even she can only go off of what little the groomer told her. i dont get why people are so jumpy with getting lawyers and reporting things to HS. whats the point? the dog was not seriously injured, and agin, we dont know the whole story. im sorry borzoimom that just seems so irrational to me.

as far as the injury. im not saying you shouldnt be angry, but try and be a little understanding. your dog is a shelter dog who was more than likely not well socialized to grooming. he is more than likely difficult. i have groomed many dogs that "hang" themselves. these dogs always hang on the noose, no matter if they are gagging or cant breath, they just hang. you either dont use a noose on these dogs (which is usually impossible, id love to know how people groom without one), or you figure out a way around the hanging. i will usually not stop a grooming b/c a dog hangs himself. yes there is a limit to a dogs stress level, and there are signs to look for, but stopping a groom in the middle does teach the dog that whatever he did before you stopped is what he has to do to get the grooming to stop everytime. if a dog just plain doesnt like to be groomed, the groomer should not stop b/c the dog is hanging himself. he/she SHOULD NOT just let the dog hang himself, however, he/she should find a way to groom the dog so that the dog is not hanging. this is where you groomer screwed up. if a dog hangs for 5 seconds, a red mark appears, but goes away after a few mionutes. i cant imagine how long your dog hanged himself for the mark to still be there. i would call the grooming salon before you take the dog to the vet and talk to management. tell them what happened, that you are taking the dog to the vet, and would think it would be more than appropiate for them to pay the bill. i would be shocked if they said they wouldnt do it. if you use that salon again, i would not use the same groomer.

[Durbkat]

That's why america is sue happy.