Don't know what to do??????
 

On Thursday I took my little guy (Miles) to the groomer, a groomer I have used since we got him. The groomer is great and just loves dogs. When she called to tell me he was ready she said that she is afraid that she cut Miles while she was grooming him. She was so upset, though said it wasnt serious and that he didn't even yelp when it happened, she only found it later as she was brushing him out. I went to get him, and he was very happy, wagging his tail, etc. I looked at the cut and it didn't seem serious at all. We put a salve on it, and I took him home. He seemed ok at first but then started rubbing his face on the floor and started crouching real close to the ground with his tail between his legs (he only does this when he is afraid or in pain). He ran into his crate and stayed in there most of the afternoon. I called the vet, told them what happened and they said to put Neosporin with painkiller on the cut and he should be fine. I did that, but later that night he did the same thing again, and this time was licking at his chest. I looked and found another cut (very small) under his arm. Now, he did have a lot of mats when I took him in because I was traveling and my hubby is not as good at brushing him as I am, so that may explain the small cuts.

Anyway, it is two days later and he still does his frightened "dance" and is still running to his crate. If I take him out of the crate, he shakes terribly. I think he is traumatized? I don't know what to do. I am worried about him, but I don't think taking him to the vet would help because there doesn't appear to be anything physically wrong with him, other than the two small cuts, which are healing nicely. Does anyone have advice? He acts normal one minute and the next minute he is running with tail between the legs and hiding in his crate. If I ask him if he wants to go out, he becomes normal, excited and happy and goes out. But once inside, he starts the wierd walk and ends up back in the crate. He won't go to his dish and eat at all, but if I hand feed him, he eats fine, so his appetite is ok, he is just too scared to come out and eat. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Awe I Am so sorry about what happened to your Miles.
This happened to Kodi when he was a Pup.. He got better but he has be Really afraid to be groomed ever since. He is 6 now :(
It does sound like you should take Miles to the Vet. (At the Groomers expense)

Welcome to YT :)

I don't have any advice, but I feel so bad for him :( I groom my own Yorkies for just that reason. Our Akita/German Shepard also got cut once by a groomer - which healed fine - but never took him back.

We were in the vets office when we got our 3rd baby, and this couple with their dog came in - so frantic. From what they said, Petsmart had cut their dog during grooming and the poor thing was bleeding in front of us. Petsmart paid for the vet emergency visit, but after that incident and our Akita/German Shepard getting cut, I won't let anyone else groom them.

Sorry you had to go through that.

I'm so sorry for your little guy. I don't know what to tell you, other than to love on him as much as you can (I know you're doing that already though). I'm seriously considering doing my own grooming at home too. Of course, I'm scared to death that I'm going to nick Scooter myself and then I'll really feel terrible. It's a quandry!

Poor Miles, I hate that he has had such a horrible experience at the groomers. His behavior does seem a little odd. Is he peeing and pooping okay? I was just wondering if he could have got cut on his private part and maybe that was hurting him. I hope he gets back to normal soon.

you mentioned he had a lot of mats. they do not come out easily and if you didn't want him cut down, it's quite the process to get them out.

does he react when you go to brush him now?

I would give him a few days and I'm sure he'll be back to normal.

Mogli would come home from the groomer and scratch ... it's like a people haircut, little hairs everywhere, but they don't shower to get them off ... so they scratch around!

Mogli also was cut a few times due to shaving + matting ... never bad, sounds like yours ...

He would shiver a bit for a couple weeks ... like an adjustment to his new, short hair ... I would swear his personality changed ... but he wasn't "fearful" ...


How old is your baby?
How many times has he been to the groomer?
Is it cold up there?

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your responses. He is pooping and peeing normally, so no issue there. He was cut short, which is what I usually have done when he goes, but it never occurred to me that he could just be cold. It is very cold here in the Pocono Mountains, but the house is warm, and he only goes out once or twice a day, the rest of the time he has a wee wee pad to use, because he hates the snow. When we aren't home he is kept in my bathroom which has a heated tile floor and is just above the living room where the gas stove is, so he is toasty warm.

He is 13 months old and has gone to this groomer since we got him at about 6months of age. She is a terrific groomer, and really felt so bad about what happened. I take him every 3 weeks and there has never been an issue. I don't like bathing him at home because he loves to rub himself across the carpeting after a bath, which results in instant mats, and he hates it when I try to blowdry him. I don't think I would ever be comfortable grooming him myself, I would be afraid of cutting him. I am not the most graceful person in the world, and I am dangerous around sharp objects (I have the scars to prove it).

We ran out for lunch and when we came home he was his old self, barking and jumping to welcome us back, then about 5 mins later he did his funny walk and ran back into his crate where he is sleeping. I think he just needs some space and time to get over it. He forgets about everything when one of my cats walks by and he chases her barking so loud that the poor cats run and hiss (this is another issue that I need to post about sometime :) ).

Thanks again for all your comments. I will check back in and let you all know how he is doing. I am giving him lots of love and hugs and kisses and hope that is all he needs to recover from this trauma. He is my baby and it breaks my heart when he isn't his happy usual self.