Avoiding injuries and what to do when they happen?

When you mix sharp equipment and unpredictable pets, accidents and injuries can happen. Even if animal safety stays at the top of your mind and you always take necessary caution, dog grooming activities often pose potential risks. In this blog, we will discuss ways to help prevent them from happening whilst you conduct your dog grooming services.

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Brush and Clipper Burn

If your pet dog has long hair and requires repetitive brushing in the same area, whether there are tangles or matting, it can cause burn, especially to sensitive skin.

Similar to brush burn, razor burn happens when the dog is clipped very closely to the skin. Sometimes this is caused from a dull or hot razor after shaving through thick matted, or pelted, hair.

According to the British Dog Groomers’ Association, the first thing that is recommended is to take the dog to the vet to ascertain the cause of the burn. They will probably prescribe an antibiotic ointment to soothe it and prevent further irritation or infection. If the dog is particularly interested in agitating the rash, you can also advise the owner to use an Elizabethan Collar.

You can prevent excessive brushing or shaving close to the skin if dog owners brush their dog regularly between visits and use appropriate brush.

Nicks and Scrapes

Other injuries that can happen are when groomers accidently nick or scrape the dog. These small cuts made by scissors or clippers can occur for a variety of reasons, but the most common are; when a dog is very jumpy or wiggly, when a dog’s skin is thin or when a dog has tight matting or is pelted, or if there are hidden warts, scabs or moles.

There are a few things you could advise dog owners to do to prevent this from happening or minimise the extent of injury. Starting their dog’s grooming sessions in the salon as early as 12 weeks old will help them feel more comfortable with their groomer and less likely to bite or jump.

Matted hair, which is another common reason for cuts and scrapes, is often built under armpits or between toe webbing and even groomers find it hard to determine where the hair ends, and the skin starts. So, asking pet owners to brush their pet regularly and book their grooming appointments every 6-8 weeks will help prevent a majority of these issues.

It is always advisable to check with the owner if the dog has any warts, scrabs or moles, so that cutting them is avoidable.

As a dog groomer it can be scary knowing that you nicked or scraped a dog, but in most cases, it is nothing to worry about as the wound will heal quickly and, as long as you ask the owner to keep it clean, the dog will stay happy and healthy. Of course, for bigger cuts it is highly recommended taking the dog to the vet.

Ear Plucking Irritation

Ear plucking is when a groomer pulls the hair out of a dog’s ears as excessive hair normally blocks the flow of air that keeps the ear canal dry, traps dirt and causes matting.

This procedure normally triggers irritation and discomfort to dogs especially when attempting to pluck hair around sensitive areas.

Plucking the hair from the ear canal is a disputable topic in the dog grooming world. Some dog groomers claim that they see more ear infections in dogs that get their ears routinely plucked, while others claim just the opposite.

Whether to pluck the dog’s ears or not will depend on their individual circumstances, however, remember to remind dog owners that ongoing ear care is important for pets that suffer from ear infections.

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Cutting the Quick and Broken Nails

Another common dog grooming injury that occurs, both at home and with professional groomers, is the cutting of the quick on a dog nail.

Cutting the nail too short looks like the most horrific injury with a lot of blood, but it isn’t always quite as bad as it seems. Dogs have loads of blood vessels stored inside each nail and routine nail trims will help them recede and make the nails safely shorter.

Styptic powder is the most common and efficient way to stop a dog’s nail from bleeding. It’s what vets and groomers use to treat minor cuts as well.

If a dog in your care suffers any of these injuries the key when dealing with them is to stay calm. Having a first aid kit on hand is essential.

You can find out what to include in your dog first aid kit from our blog here. Or if setting up a dog grooming business is a long-term ambition of yours, here are some important things to keep in mind when starting a new business venture in dog grooming: What To Remember When Becoming A Dog Groomer.

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