Dog owners trying to groom their pets during lockdown could cause harm and distress to their beloved pooch, according to a professional dog groomer.
Meath based dog groomer Sarah McMahon is urging pet owners to hold out until normal services are resumed and not to be tempted to take the scissors to the dog’s coat.
Sarah, 33, who runs Grooms by Sarah@Advance Pet Care in Navan says a bad cut will lead to injury and reluctance to be re-groomed in the future.
“Most grooming parlours are still closed at the minute and I’ve had numerous calls asking me to do home visits or to reopen,” she said.
“At this stage many dogs have very long and thick coats and are uncomfortable in the growing heat. Owners may think they are doing their pets a favour by cutting their coat but they could be doing more harm than good.
“Often nails get cut too short. There is a vein in the dog’s nail which is very sore if cut and could bleed for hours. It’s one of the reasons dogs hate getting their nails clipped and it’s very common to get it wrong if you don’t know what your are doing.
“The dog’s ear could be cut if you can’t see where it starts and finishes.
“Groomers are trained how to hold a clippers, which way to run the clippers down the body of the dog and where not to use them, as there are sensitive areas such as under their arms and between the legs that need different blades to avoid catching the skin.
“Dogs move! Groomers are prepared for this and most time will anticipate it as they can read the dog’s body language.
“Using a blade that’s too short can cause clipper burn which can irritate the skin as well.
“Any one of these mistakes can result in a dog developing an intolerance to grooming which can lead to them biting the groomer or owner. The dog then has to be sedated which is far from ideal, as they need grooming up to four times a year.”
Sarah has been grooming for eleven years since she developed a love for it as part of her studies in animal welfare and dog grooming in Dublin.
She worked with the Dog’s Trust for eight years before starting her own business two years ago.
She understands that dogs with big coats are uncomfortable at this time of the year but offered a few suggestions that could make them feel cooler until they get properly groomed.
“Brush the dogs hair every single day. The coat is thick but the knots will make it more uncomfortable and stop the skin from breathing. If you can keep the coat free of knots, you can soak the dog down with water each day to keep it cool.”
