When a freshly groomed dog won't stop scratching
A freshly groomed dog is supposed to strut. Most do: fluffy, smelling of shampoo and extremely pleased with themselves. Once in a while, though, one goes home and scratches all evening, and a good groomer wants to know why before the owner even asks.
Our grooming blog traces most cases to five causes. Shampoo or conditioner left on the skin is a common one, and so is a reaction to an ingredient in a product. Then there is clipper burn, which a veterinarian writing for petMD describes as a skin lesion from a hot clipper blade touching the skin. Skin dried out by frequent bathing, or a skin problem the dog already had, can show up after a groom too.
The good news is that most of that list is in the groomer's hands:
Rinse thoroughly, then dry the whole coat right down to the skin before the dog goes home.
Keep the clipper blade cool, because the burn comes from the heat.
Patch-test a new product on a small spot before it goes on the whole dog.
Know when to say "see your vet": itching that keeps going, skin that gets worse, any wounds, or a change in behavior.
That last one matters as much as the first three. Groomers are not there to diagnose anything, and knowing exactly when to hand a question to the vet is part of being trusted with someone's dog.
Clients notice the haircut first, but what brings them back is a dog that feels as good as it looks, and every habit on that list is learnable with a pair of hands and a little practice.
This piece is from Pet Career Weekly, a free weekly newsletter for future dog trainers, groomers and veterinary assistants. Read this week's full issue, or subscribe to get the next one, plus advice for your own career path.