Dogs and saying Hi between them

Today I saw something I always see with pets that are around one another; standing in line to get vaccinations is the best place for your dog to meet the dog standing next to him/her.  But, why would someone like me who sees this all the time cringe when I see this.  Well, if it were my pet I would not let them sniff nose to nose because I wouldn't want a pet to quickly snap and bite my dog.  Or further more my senior pet to snap and bite or warn another dog.  I also wouldn't want my dogs to pick up any diseases like Parvo and bring it home or simply pass away from the situation.  All dog owners do not vaccinate their pets regularly.  So be careful when you let your pets sniff around with other pets.  Also keep in mind not all dogs treat their pets for fleas and a flea could jump right over to your pet and we all know that can take months of anguish to get rid of.

www.myfavoritegroomer.com

Dede Croy

Outside Pets

http://shine.yahoo.com/pets/5-ways-to-help-your-pet-live-longer.html


This link gives some great details.  Although I do agree with most on this site especially the Dental situation. I think that a pet that spends 60% of it's time outside in the sun and elements are healthier than those pets that spend 60% + of their lives inside. They have less tolerant immune systems. I have a 20 year old Chihuahua that I rescued three years ago and she is probably that old because she was an outside dog before I got her. My other ones that spend less time outside are quite sick in their senior years. Montioring your pets while they are outside and ensuring they stay away from other sick animals is key. But, I think good outside time helps the overall health of a pet.

Saying Good Bye to My Pet

A client received a piece of hair from her pet in the mail that I sent to her because I had a feeling her senior pet had passed away.  Princess did pass away.  She replied she doesn't ever think she could have another pet again due to the pain of the loss.  I replied to her:

Thanks for your response.  I can feel your hurt and since I hadn't seen you all and found out that you moved as well I kind of figured in my heart Princess had found her way to doggie heaven.  My website had Duke's Memorial on it.  It helped me to write it all down.  As my Dad put it, it's worth the hurt and the many years these wonderful angels are in our lives.  To give them the pain of remembering them in their afterlife is just the little we can do when they devote their little hearts to us all the years their alive.  I have to say I still have Duke's Brother whom I may lose any day now.  And one day after Duke's one year anniversary I had a wonderful angel Faith come into my life where I rescued her from being found on the streets.  She reminds me of Duke so much that when I called her Duke a few times; she responded immediately.  Her attitude is such of Dukes in many many ways.  And she was one years old whens he found me. 

I also just now adopted a puppy too.  Who has found Faith as her best friend.  They are truly angels and in time you may find room for your another puppy in your life.  Whether it's an older pet you've rescued or a new one that's a puppy.  But, no pet will replace Princess.  She will always be your baby forever.  But, there are too many days left in our life not to share it with a pet that will devote his/her heart to you in the tough times and good times, no matter what.  The pain we go through is just a little we can endure to have them by our sides I think. 

It is the most saddest days of your life to lose your furry family members.

Your Princess will forever be in my heart.  Thank you for letting me be your groomer all these years.

Always, Dede Croy

Collapsed Trachea - Response

Initial Email from a Youtube watcher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BddFmBI9UpM&feature=channel_video_title

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my 11 month old shih tzu with what the doctor sais is collapsed trachea. She did that reverse sneezing thew odd time, but right after she was finished, she went back intoplaying. I had no warning. I walked her fridaynight at 11. and at 4 inthe morning I woke to her squeel. I rushed her to the hgospital where she died. I dontknow how she could go downin 3hours. Do you have any advicefor me. Also, If I buy anotherloved one. what should I check for? tyfor yourinfo.. my sypathies to you intheloss of your familymember..Rick

Reponse from My Favorite Groomer:

I am so so sorry for your loss.  Was this recent!  My heart goes out to you!  I acutally am about to go through the same thing with Duke's Brother Sueii who is almost 15 years old.  His coughing has gotten severe.  Some things I would do would in clude getting a choke free harness (I sell these for 20$) they are a way to walk small breeds without pulling on the neck.  I would put the rabies tag and city tag on the choke free harness and not have my pets wear a collar.  I would let there be rambunxious play at a younger age but I would not allow it to happen for 30 minutes straight.  I would not have multiple surgeries on my pet; a couple dentals in a life time and good dental hygiene cleaning at home with rawhide bones for chewing.  I would pick up my pet when he / she gets too excited when I get home.  I would put my pet in a comfortable place while he / she is waiting for me as to not cause too much excitement.  Kennel training is optimal especially when they are seniors and you can't incorporate a kennel then. 

I hope these tips help.  I would get a shihtzu again and I would change a few things I did but they are the greatest dogs ever. 

I'm so sorry for your loss,

Your friend,
Dede Croy

http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/

Dew Claws

Most pets have dew claws.  Which are like our thumbs.  They are a pair of nails on the inner arm of the pet higher than the paws.  Their is usually one on each forearm and sometimes even some on the rear legs.  Sometimes I've seen two or three dew claws on the rear legs of the pet.  It isn't unusual.  I see it all the time.  I had a lady ask me if she should go have them removed.  I told her I wouldn't worry too much about it if the pet is passed the puppy years.  Even as a puppy I personally wouldn't go and have them removed.  That's just my preference.  I have studied my dogs and found they use their thumb dew claws to itch their head and eyes and even remove gunk on their face.  It's definitely handy to get a better grip on things too when they are jumping up on their people family members legs and sorts.  Yikes, it does hurt though.  However, even the rear ones I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to have removed especially if the pet is older.  The sensation the pet may forever have after the surgery to that area just isn't worth it.  However, if you find your pet does have dew claws on the rear legs or more so more than one on the rear legs always let your groomers know and be aware of it yourself.  I have seen groomers take them right off when shaving a pet when there may be very little skin holding the dew claw on and or very little view of an apparent dew claw there at all.  Just let your groomer know it's there. 

MyFavoriteGroomer.com
Owner,
Dede Croy
817-676-1585

Nail Trimming Versus Nail Dremeling

The way I do nails at My Favorite Groomer allows us to clip the nail down to the vein without piercing the vein.  I have been doing toe nail trimming for so long I have my own technique to doing it this way and it works awesomely!  We can still hit a vein every once in awhile since all nails are different and grow with their own style.  But, we are very careful and try to avoid hitting the vein.  Clipping the nail down to the vein works great if the nail trimmer knows what he/she is doing.  But, dremeling the nail which runs a little higher than just a basic nail trimming bevels the nail around so that the edges are smooth and softer than a fresh cut nail.  There is a difference in the nail in the long run when you do pay for the additional dremeling service.  I see that nails grow back slower and are quicker to stay back than regular pet nails.  The overall finish on the nail is more superb than a regular nail trim. 

MyFavoriteGroomer.com
Owner,
Dede Croy
817-676-1585

Wash your pet collars today

I think that pet collars are sometimes the last thing we think about when it comes to cleaning the house or doing the laundry or grooming your pet for that matter.  But, when folks come into the groom shop and the collar for their pet is embossed in thick film that's similar to paste, I usually let them know they can wash their pets collar.  So, here is what I would do when attempting to wash my pets collar.  First, if you have an old tooth brush that will work great.  Take a small bowl of some sort fill it with water and a table spoon of laundry detergent and dip the dogs collar in it and scrub the collar clean with the toothbrush.  Then rinse well and let sit over night in water.  Then rinse the next day and hang dry.  Wala, a clean pet collar.  By the way, having a spare collar is a definite if you have a pet that is outside full time so the pet can have a clean collar on in case your pet runs away.  Also, an ID tag is ideal.  Contact me if you need a good one that won't degrade over time.  We sell the best!  Also, I personally do not leave my dogs collar on all day.  He is an inside pet and I feel the strain for an everyday isn't needed.  However, he has it on every time we go out to the dog park or social event or for a ride. 
Thank you,

MyFavoriteGroomer.com
Owner,
Dede Croy
817-676-1585

Frontline Applications

I think folks may not know it or may forget; but when you are applying Frontline or any other topical to the back of the pet make sure you give yourself at least three days before and after between baths.  When you bathe your pet you deplete essential oils from the skin that these applications need to spread all over its entire body.  Hence, if you bathe today, add three days to the day and apply Frontline thereafter.  Even though there is such a thing as Frontline Plus (waterproof) the application isn't cheap and I've found you will not have a doubt if you give some space between applying Frontline and the bath time. 

Another thing I should mention here is the way you use Frontline.  I did have a pet that would burn at the spot I applied the Frontline if I applied it all at once in the same spot.  It happened twice and then I chose to apply the Frontline in a trail but very close to one another just not all in the same spot.  And I didn't do too many different spots just one or two depending on the amount of Frontline the size of your pet calls for. 

Dede Croy
http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/
817-676-1585

Time for blogs and Newsletters

I have to say that making time for a blog or newsletter on top of being a full time groomer / owner is HARD.  I used to send out a newsletter once a month, it had a lot of information on it.  But, it took me about two weeks to get it sent to all of over 2000 recipients.  I was about to try out constant contact when I saw what the costs would be for that amount of recipients.  It was ridiculous!  Especially being that the newsletter has brought me in no new clients it was a benefit for the current clients I do have.  So, I decided the time and money I was putting into doing the newsletter wasn't going to be feasible.  So, here is the blog that I started for a student to do for me.  When she pulled out of the task it was after I had already started the blog.  So, here it is a great trade for me to do the blog, post facts and situations for clients like you reading this instead of spending countless hours trying to beat the spam on gmail to get all 2000 emails out.  Whew.  But, still it is hard to make time to do these things :)  But, the knowledge must come out and I want my clients to know about the many things that could happen with their pets and ways to treat them and prevent them. 

Dede Croy
http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/
817-676-1585

Have you HIT a DOG!

Can you imagine.  Running over a pet dog!  Or a pet cat...or an animal of any kind.  Well, running over a dog is so hard to picture happening.  But, let me tell you it CAN happen, and it probably will at some point.  I am a huge dog lover and it's based on everything I do as a person...dogs that is!  I never could imagine hitting a dog.  Not on purpose anyway.  But, let me tell you; two big HUGE dogs ran right out into my truck a few weeks ago.  One just kept on going into my truck and right under the back wheel well. I didn't even see them coming and before I could blink I saw the dog tumble behind the truck.

Just yesterday a client called and called me over and over.  When I spoke with her today she informed me she had hit a dog and didn't know what to do.

So, I'm here to give you a few tips.

First, program your city's animal shelter phone number right now into your phone.  (Fort Worth, TX animal control; 817-392-3737)  So, when this does happen you are not standing on the side of the road with some other sweet passerbys trying to figure out who to call and what to do.  Next program the number of your nearest 24 hour pet emergency hospital (Hulen; 817-349-2050, West Freeway; 817-560-8387).  And Last, make sure your pet has a collar and identification tag on with your number and address on it.

Now, the hard core facts; know that if you take into possession a pet that you've hit you are now taking on all full responsibility of that pet to include medical costs.  Truth is you need not pick up this pet but you MUST wait for the pet to be picked up by the City Animal Shelter so care can be provided to it or an owner can be found.

Sounds harsh doesn't it.  We want to save every pet and every situation.  But, honestly, we all can't go around spending 3000$ on a pet for who knows what kind of medical care.  And with my situation having a multitude of pets at home including mostly senior ones bringing home another pet is not feasible and affording that kind of care for another pet isn't imaginable either.

We can't save the world.  We can do what we can.  But, this is a prime example of why a collar with a good identification tag on it makes sense.  The pet I hit didn't have a tag on it.  So, I couldn't contact an owner at all!  If your pet doesn't have an ID tag, call me today so we can get one ordered for you (817-676-1585). It is crucial!  They cost between $11 - $13 dollars and the right kind of tag that doesn't fade is important!

Do what you can within the boundaries of what you are capable of.

The client who called me hit a pet that was running from it's owner.  Luckily the owner was there and it was essentially the owners fault for not controlling her own pet that the pet ran out into the road.  But, if my client would have picked up that pet, it would rest on her shoulders to care for that pet now.

Know your limits in all avenues of your life to what you can handle and what you can't.  But, also, be aware of what will lie on your shoulders in this scenario.  And please please make sure you have a pet id tag on your pet if you want to know about situations like this that could very well happen to your pet.

Facial Hair

Did you know that dogs have facial hair.  I mean a lot of it.  But, what you might not notice is the fact that right up on their upper lip sometimes dogs have long strands of facial hair that they lick that area of their mouth and pull all that hair right into the mouth.  When this happens it wraps around the teeth and may cause the teeth to rot out sooner as well as may even cause choking depending on how long the hair is.  If your pet has this use some thinning shears very carefully trim this hair regularly.  I recently have seen a stream of these types of situations at the groom shop and I trim them down pretty good.  If there is red tint on the hair that means the hair is staying moist.

Dede Croy
www.myfavoritegroomer.com
817-676-1585

Hair Growth Weirdness

Today I had a friend and long time client ask me if I had knicked her big fluffy dog; an australian shepherd.  We always shave this dog down to merely no hair but not with his skin showing.  So, she continued to explain her concern.  She said near both hip bones he has hair turning in a circle.  And as I giggled listening to her I let her know that all that was is the hair growth.  Believe me, it's weird.  But, hair can change pattern anywhere.  I grooming a dog years ago; a little Shih Tzu.  She was adorable.  Her mom said to me one day "oh, it looks like Dede went a little shorter here under your neck".  In reality, the hair grew upward under the neck and downward everywhere else.  The hair growth is usually going down with the hair growth.  But, when hair goes the opposite direction or in a circle in the middle of nowhere it causes the cut to be shorter when the blade we use continues to go down stroke with the hair.  If we go against the grain of hair growth, the cut is shorter.
So, I told my friend/client that the spirals on both hips were change in hair growth.  I could hear how she dropped her chin and just said "NOW THAT IS WEIRD"  haha.  I thought it was hilarious.  But, it's just like a Ridgeback.  Ever hear of one of those pets?  Well, that's what they are known for; the ridgeback is hair growing against the grain causing the ridge.  Very Interesting!

To our hair growth weirdness.


Thank you,
Dede Croy
www.myfavoritegroomer.com

Catching a scar

Working in an outdoor environment on the weekends does take it's toll.  Whether its the weather; sustaining a canopy and supplies and products during a thunderstorm or cooking in 100 degree heat.  Every weekend we are somewhere following www.vaccinationstation.com doing nail trimming, ear cleaning, and more on pets.  But, in my experience I have found most of the scars I get from working with pets happens at one of these events and not in my groom shop.
Sunday I had a gentleman come over for a nail trimming on his pug.  He gave me no warning that his pet would spring around like a bumblebee on the table and at the same time zapping its nails across the inside of my forearm and on my wrists.  It took saying "NO" sternly and telling Dad repeatedly not to let go of his pet before I was done clipping every toe nail on this pet.  The cut on my hand that this pug skinned into my wrist will probably scar and last 10 months if not longer.  After all said and done.  The client paid 10$ and didn't tip at all for his pets crazy behavior.  He's not the first to turn the cheek when it comes to pet ownership.
I love what I do but I don't think people understand that having control over your pet is needed in every situation.  Whether you need to walk your pet daily so the pet learns who the boss is, learning how to hold your pet so it doesn't hurt someone else when things need to be done to it, or taking the pet in regularly for nail trimming so the pet can get used to it in due time.  Either way, the man saw the blood coming from my cuts and didn't even say sorry for it.  People, be aware of your pets actions and make sure you can control them.  YOU ARE THE LEADER believe it or not.  Just remember you are the one that sets the example.

Thank you,
Dede Croy
www.myfavoritegroomer.com

Today with a Senior

I just met a new client.  She arrived over 30 minutes late to her pets groom.  I had allotted her senior pet extra time for her groom since the pet was arriving unable to stand on it's back  leg very well and due to an allergic reaction to a metal pin in the leg bone it had an open wound its hip.  But, with her being so late I was so liery to do anything on the pet.  As it would possibly set me behind on my next groom.  So, I explained to the Mom some options we had.  We could make her a new appointment that might be two weeks out.  I felt bad about having to do that even though it wasn't my fault she was late.  I decided to ask her if she was interested in a low cost shave where I would get most bulk off this shedding chow mix.  But it would be an imperfect cut and it would be fast without any bathing.  It would be cheaper but less stressful on the pet too.  Which is hard to explain to someone who doesn't see what I could see in her pet.  We don't want to push your pet over the edge I told her.  All the while the dog was shaking.  Mom agreed on doing the low cost cut.  She didn't want any help unloading the pet from the rear of the vehicle.  The pet had also recently been diagnosed with loss of usage in the other leg as well just the week before.  After hearing Mom continue to explain the pets situation; They found this dog in a parking lot years ago at the same time their daughter was diagnosed with cancer.  After the pet recently sustained injuries they refused to put the pet down nor amputate the dogs leg which was all Veterinarian recommended.  As the dog waddled with a fabric grocery bag around the waist whilst Mom held the leash and bag to help the pet get around I just felt a huge amount of loss for the family.  They didn't want to let go of the one thing that carried them through their daughters cancer.  After over 30,000$ she explained of surgeries for this pet just last year alone I can't imagine what this senior pet has been through; over 9 surgeries!!  Mom let me get most of the back hair off before suddenly she decided the pet had enough of a groom for the day.  We closed with a very unfinished groom and I so badly wanted to recommend that Mom spend time with her pet but I just couldn't.  The pet was ill, nervous, and loved.  All in the same.  And I was just in awe, lost in thought about their situation.  As she waddled the pet out the door to start her way towards home so she could continue caring for her ill husband I felt overwhelmed with an emotion that I can't quite put my finger on.  We love our pets & our family members.  And sometimes things happen that you just can't let go of and you can't explain.  My heart goes out to this situation.

Dede Croy
My Favorite Groomer
http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/

Pets Hate their Tails Groomed

I was grooming a pet yesterday and as I was shaving down it's tail to match the entire body's shave I remembered how much pets hate their tails messed with.  Their as bad with their feet as their tails.  I think the philosophy I have found is all the nerves in our body end in our tails or feet.  So, they are much more sensitive.  Maybe they don't end there but there are more there.  So, when a client hasn't brushed their pet in months and the tail is thickly tangled or if we just do a shave down and match the tail to the body.  Know that 99% of the time your pet HATES it.  They will swing the tail whipping it back and forth from me.  Or pull it under themselves as if to hide it from my clippers or brush.  It's hilarious.  Every once in awhile I'll get a dog that wants to bite me or attack me aggressively just by pulling the tail out from under him/her.  In those cases muzzles are my lifesaver.  Even though muzzles are not a 100% fix in the situation.  It does help to let me get in where I need to and do the work quickly without truly getting a full bite.

www.myfavoritegroomer.com

Catch up -2

So, I'm trying to remember some other situations that have happened the last four days since I've blogged.

I've recently grooming for a some folks that have hit hard times.  I want to remind you that when you choose a groom choose one that fits your lifestyle, your pets needs, and your budget.  For instance, if you don't have time to brush everyday and you have a hairy dog lets get it shaved down nice and tight so you don't have to brush for three months.  Wouldn't that be cool!?  Also, if you have a really tight budget because of all the things life throws at us, let's do a low cost shave only groom, shave the hair off so I don't have to see you for 3 to 6 months and you won't feel bad because it saved you money and you don't have to come in again for a months!  There are always options and I'd rather save you some money and get you an ala carte groom for your pet rather then not see your pet for 2 years.  Nail can get totally out of control in a year.

Thank you,
Dede Croy
www.myfavoritegroomer.com

Days of catch up-1

So, I realized that when I took on doing this blog I thought I would have a helper but since it didn't work out, it hit me that I am gonna get days behind since I do everything else with my business.  Crazy!  So, here I am trying to remember the situations and pets that I want to tell you about.  They all seem to run in together after the first day.  20 pets later 50 clients later you can see how it might be an array of thoughts to spill.  So, I guess I better try to take some notes until I can get it onto this blog.

The first situation I want to share that I CAN REMEMBER, lol is yesterday during an outdoor event I saw this pet that looked like a Bichon Maltese mix.  It had a longer body than a Maltese but thick hair like a Shihtzu.  It had a bloody gash in its back leg.  It wasn't dripping but you know how you have a really deep cut and it's fresh and it's completely bright red.  Well, this white dog had that!  I went up to the Mom who was waiting in line for the low cost vaccinations and asked her "you do know there is a gash on the back leg of your dog right?"  She non chalantly explained she knew it was there with a smile told me how her daughter got to cutting the dogs hair and she had no idea how the daughter could have gotten skin.  Well, I was further telling her that it looks BAD and to keep it VERY clean and monitor it and not to let the pet lick at it at all otherwise the germs in the pets mouth and wetness of licking it would make it inflammed, irritated, and later infected (which she may not realize that's an $150 Vet visit!  And as I further looked at it from the few steps away I was at I could definitely see straight scissor swipes.  This poor pet.

All I can say is DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS USE SCISSORS ON YOUR PET.  They don't know what they are doing and pets are not toys folks.  I felt horrible for that pet.  I know adults that have done the same too.  Trying to save a buck on the groom or maybe even embarrassed for letting the hair of the dog go over a year without grooming.  So, this advice is for those parents too.  I too once took a pair of scissors to Duke before I was ever a groomer.  For some reason it's absolutely hard to explain that the skin is usually closer than you think.  Before you know it if you are not holding the shears the proper direction you are right up against the skin or in the skin and then its too late.  Take a training class like the ones we offer but do not attempt to cut hair without taking time to educate yourself first.  Your second option is to come in for a shave only groom which will save you money too!  There are options with My Favorite Groomer at least.  I'm here to help, educate, and give you tips. Don't hesitate to ask first before you start an endeavor that might leave a bloody gash in your pet.  

www.myfavoritegroomer.com

Thank you,
Dede Croy

The Day before your pets groom

I groomed a pet yesterday that when the client came in she explained to me the night before she had already tried to do one of her pets nails and quicked (made bleed) several of the nails.  I don't know why this happens.  If your appointment is coming up don't worry about what has gone unnoticed for several months already.  Its not worth it.  If you can get your pet in at all its better than if you couldn't.  We all have our hold backs whether its family, work, health, or money.  A groomer like myself doesn't hold it against you I'm here to educate you on what I see and then fix the problems the day you come in.  Several days before this another client came in and her dog smelled like it just got a bath.  Truly, you don't have to impress your groomer folks.  I am the one that is supposed to do all the tidying up.  I'm your groomer and it's ok to save the hard pet stuff for me.  I don't mind. I'll just tell you if the nails did go too long and if the coat has matting.  But, I'll also be the one to take care of it for you.  So as long as its not harmful to the pet on severe matting cases.

Thank you for being my clients.  I'm here for you and your pets through it all.
Dede
www.myfavoritegroomer.com

A day late

Reporting on a pet I groomed a week ago.  Found out the pekingese I groomed and have known since she was a puppy had a severe knee issue and went into surgery the day after our groom.  She is in recovery and because I made quick judgement and referred her to the Vet immediately as well as doing a low cost groom for the client since I felt she was going to be needing the money for the Vet, little Lacey will recover soon.  It touches my heart when clients let me know that my judgment is right there with what I love doing.  And my instincts were right.  Love you Lacey and I'll pray for you a fast recovery.  :)

Counting Days

Every now and then I get to grooming a pet I've known for years.  Today, Duke came in for a groom and his Dad told me how Duke hasn't been feeling too good and how he's been giving Duke double meds for arthritis.  Duke's been sleeping a lot and when Dad said "wanna go see Dede" ....Duke somehow put all his pain aside and jumped up and ran around like a sprint car ready to see me.  When he got here Duke came right in as he always has for over six years.  He was a champ on the table.  We did a video unlike most of other visits which included  a few pictures here and there.  I could hear his soul tell me how he was getting old on me.  I actually felt this last month when they came in.  But, this month the feeling is stronger.  So, I touched Dukes back during his bath...softly ran my hand down his rubbled body with lumps and soft silver fur from his schnauzer breed.  His eyes tinted gray looked at me and smiled.  He spoke to me in ways only sign language can read.  He is staring at me thru the cage right now while I type this all out.  Oh how I love you Duke.  :)  We didn't push his groom too hard today.  Got the hair off.  Blew dry like normal just not too picky.  Went over the coat again but not excessive.  Got him on and off the table in 30 minutes just so that he could take it easy and I don't push him "over the edge" as I call it.  Over the edge is when a pet is old and we do every thing we can to get the groom good but it burns them out energy wise and we could lose them due to the stress in the days following a groom.  No hair cut is worth that; wouldn't you agree? 

Take a minute today and love on your pets and really look at them.  Right in the eye and see them.  I do :)

He loves me too.

Late Night

Ahhhh, what a night.  Got done grooming around 945pm.  Late  nights are tiring.  Got home.  Let the doggies release themselves and toss themselves all over the place from missing me.  But, tonight had a couple different situations occur.  It started out with a client I hadn't seen since Aug 2009.  The pet wasn't SEVERELY matted but much of the back legs and hips were and the front legs would need additional work to keep the hair.  The back of the dog was good.  The face, matted under the chin and under all the hair.  Dad refused to let me go short on the hair cut. I said the only thing I can do then is cut all the matted areas short and the pet would look silly for about 2 weeks and you all will have to have a sore eye on the dog.  But, then he refused to have his pet looking silly.  He called the wife who said "no short hair cuts"....so after saying "sorry but I won't put your pet or me in danger" I won't cut your pet trying to leave the matted hair long nor would I brush that pet out until it has brush burn all over the heiny.....he decided to find somewhere else to go.  I gave him some referrals.
On the next pet that came in it was a great great long term client of mine.  Her nails were so severe that she had definitely been walking on them for some time.  Months...since Nov 2010.  The first thing Dad said to me was she isn't walking on one of her back legs...oh my I thought.  I've known this dog since it was in the palm of my hand and I tell you, this definitely touched my heart.  So, I put her on the table and started roughing her in (getting all the hair we won't need so dry time is less).  I decided after seeing her stance on the table to cut her nails so she wouldn't be going thru more pain.  Did that and found all her nails were excessively long.  Probably causing knee issues if not more.  So, I got the nails right down to the quick (vein)! She was nervous letting me know I was close, but truly, it was perfect where I cut the nails to.  After the rough in and into the tub....she slouched and I could then tell how much pain she was in.  FOLKS, nail trimming should be done every 4 to 6 weeks...it's so important.  I called mom to let her know that baby girl should get in tomorrow to the Vet.  Usually I'll monitor the situation and advise to wait 24 hours...but unfortunately for this baby, time was all used up and her knee ligament was totally loose and separated.  I gave her a low cost groom price and dried her and let her rest.  Mom was totally fine with that.  They will be seeing the vet tomorrow.
This last note makes me a little nervous.  The last doggie was a simple bath package, but I still did the face feet and sanitary cut on him since he's a poodle and he looked like a mess.  Well, he almost bit me when I was working with his back foot.  Thank goodness he doesn't have any front teeth.  But, he ISSSS a senior and I should be more careful. lol!  Well, after working with this poodle tonight....I had to let mom know to spend some time with her baby who is 14 years old that he may not have very much time left.....she said she's never lost her own pet and tears triggered in her eyes.  I said, I've been 99% right and hope that I'm not, but just in case....love on her baby boy now as much as she can.  

Grooming touches me in so many ways.  Good night dog lovers :)

fleas are alive and well this spring

I am here posting so I can update you all and let you know my blogger hasn't been logged on yet so I'm going to recap some of my grooming situations yesterday.  I found out that fleas are alive and well when a client came in with a dog that had fleas.  It was a maltese and it had one adult flea on it which means, omg, house needs sprayed, pet needs to be treated, and get a flea collar, and just PANIC!!  Well, ok, it's not that bad.  But, personally, I can't stand fleas.  So, it's a big deal for me.  If you keep your pets on frontline once a month you will not have a problem.  NEVER SKIP is my own personal "learned from experience" moment.  Pets usually end up having an allergic reaction to a flea bite.  This makes their skin swell, itchy, and lose hair and also makes them become tedious about itching themselves until their own skin is bloody. Gross.  So just pick a preventative.  Make sure it treats all stages of fleas and go from there.  I hate fleas.  This doggie was a champ though. He was scrawny and looked hilarious looking at me as I let him soak for 10 minutes with some flea shampoo on him.  He yelped a few times in the bath.  Mostly wanting out.  But, I learned to stay closer to him after I got my invoice done.  Then I just waited the time out with him nearby.  We listened to Eli Young Band while we waited.  He didn't have fleas when he left the groomer, that's for sure.  Check my website under the "newsletter" link on what to do when you have fleas.  Night Night Blogspot.

The First Day

Hello Folks,
So the day I decided to do a blog was over a year ago.  Nothing ever came of it since I am so busy doing everything you can imagine; ordering supplies, updating the website; tweeting; facebooking; checking voicemails, texts, emails, and more to schedule appointments, and on top of all the business stuff, grooming your pets day or night.
Well, with the growth of my business getting excessively heavy I had a spring break helper named Sharlene come out and help me bathe pets.  When she arrived I found her common sense level super high, her attentive to detail superb, and her passion for being better than she could possibly be to good to pass up on.  So, I am giving her an opportunity that will hopefully grow into her as a being and teach her so much at the same time.  She has accepted the position as my blogger and she will also be the main poster on this new blog of "The Diary of My Favorite Groomer".  This blog will direct its information on the daily life and pets I deal with in my groom shop.  What and where they came from and what issues they have and what can be done on the pet parent side.  At the end of six months we will hopefully be able to put together a really good book for you to read.
Welcome to "The Diary of My Favorite Groomer"  I hope you enjoy it!  Here we go........