Do you get dog hairs in your skin?

0hmyd0g · 09-08-2008, 05:57 PM

While grooming I sometimes get dog hair slivers in my skin, mostly between my fingers and the inside of my elbow. This often happens while using my clipper on a terrier. I sometimes need to use tweezers to get it out, and it hurts. None of the other groomers I work with get this, but it happens to me almost every day. Does any one else experience this? Should I be afraid of infection?

jesirose · 09-08-2008, 06:04 PM

Wear gloves?

Graco22 · 09-08-2008, 06:05 PM

Your aren't alone..I get them too..Daily...Cockers are the worst, but terriers, shavedown labs, etc...terrible. I get them in the exact same places...between fingers, and inside elbows. Sometimes I will get one in my fingers, and those really hurt..the others don't hurt usually though, just gross. I have to tweeze them out too. Other groomers have told me they use duct tape, etc..but I have never gotten duct tape to pull anything but my live hairs..lol I think the risk of infection is small, but sometimes, if the hair stays in there for along time, the body makes it into a "pearl" and makes a hard little ball..you can dig that ball out, but it leave a permanent tiny pocket in your skin where it was..I have one on my palm from that and I know another groomer with one on her finger like that..Hazards of this job....along with Groomer's Lung.

Inga · 09-08-2008, 06:06 PM

LOL Not with my dogs but I did when I had my little Doberman foster. She had picky hair and I was forever having allergic reactions to her fur. I loved her anyway, but am now enjoying my softer hair dogs.

TheDogLuver90 · 09-08-2008, 06:55 PM

Yeah ive gotten them. and they do sting just like a wood sliver!

Graco22 · 09-08-2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Wear gloves?

In my opinion, a groomer cannot do an efficient job grooming with gloves on. Not to mention you cannot "feel" the dog for lumps, bumps, etc. that you need to be on the lookout for. And any thin glove like surgical ones won't help. These are hair slivers from the cut shards of dog hair, and they will penetrate a glove and then be smashed in even farther in your skin. Dusting with gold bond powder, cornstarch, etc. helps them not to stick and go into the skin, but I don't think clients want to go home with a dog covered in powder. Hair slivers are part of this job for most groomers. The ones under my fingernails are the worst ones for me...ouch those hurt, and are so hard to get out when they are white or light colored.

GroovyGroomer777 · 09-08-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graco22

Your aren't alone..I get them too..Daily...Cockers are the worst, but terriers, shavedown labs, etc...terrible. I get them in the exact same places...between fingers, and inside elbows. Sometimes I will get one in my fingers, and those really hurt..the others don't hurt usually though, just gross. I have to tweeze them out too. Other groomers have told me they use duct tape, etc..but I have never gotten duct tape to pull anything but my live hairs..lol I think the risk of infection is small, but sometimes, if the hair stays in there for along time, the body makes it into a "pearl" and makes a hard little ball..you can dig that ball out, but it leave a permanent tiny pocket in your skin where it was..I have one on my palm from that and I know another groomer with one on her finger like that..Hazards of this job....along with Groomer's Lung.

I get hair splinters in the same places mentioned above. I shaved down two lab mixes recently....I had to go into the bathroom and stuff toilet paper in between my breasts and my bra because I had a hundred sharp hairs stuck on my chest...that was really bad, not so much painfull as itchy!!

Graco - what is groomers lung? Do you think grooming may be the reason I have such bad sinus issues?

Graco22 · 09-08-2008, 08:47 PM

Groovy, "Groomer's Lung" is kinda a nicknamed term by groomers who have a chronic type of bronchitis, etc. Basically, we inhale millions of tiny particles of hair, dander, etc every day, and some of this gets into our lungs, and it doesn't come out of course. Over many years, this can buildup and cause chronic lung problems. Here is a link to a discussion by groomers about it and their experiences.

http://www.groomers.net/discus/messa...tml?1194009135

Love's_Sophie · 09-08-2008, 10:51 PM

I often get those nasty 'splintery hairs' in my arms (and other places) it's so annoying, but usually a hot soak in the tub and a good sponging over those areas gets rid of them

pamperedpups · 09-10-2008, 12:32 AM

I guess I must have "thick skin." I rarely get splinters.

pugmom · 09-10-2008, 04:45 PM

YES!.....I get them in the heel of my foot. I will be walking around the house barefoot or in socks and feel this pain, I got to look and its always a small black hair from my boston sticking half in/out.....sucks!

Line-of-Fire · 09-13-2008, 05:25 PM

I don't get them with our Shepherds... But I have seen my step-mom get them, and I've had a couple as well. They're not fun.

HersheyPup · 09-13-2008, 08:16 PM

Yes, I get them, too! If the dogs hair is very coarse they tend to lodge in my pores in certain areas. Sometimes it feels like a piece of glass! Very annoying, to say the least!

I can't wear gloves for grooming, only bathing, so I just live with it. Hazard of the trade, unfortunately!

It could be worse, my husband is a C-10 Electrical Contractor and he gets a jolt now and then. Some worse than others, I think I'd rather have hair stuck into my skin than get an electrical shock!!