Dog Need Spring Cleaning?

It's sad that a reminder is needed for some pet owners to clean up their dog. I know Daisy feels better after a warm bath.

thanks for that reminder for folks, doc!!! spring always wears me out (as a groomer)because we get SOOO many of those "yearly" folks calling in. what always gets me is they always want the dog in like YESTERDAY (although the dog hasn't seen a groomer since this time last year) and they always balk at the prices. what people don't understand is that a dog that has been neglected like this for so long is harder for us groomers to work with, because they are not used to grooming.(more time spent= more $ we have to charge) they may try to bite, jump around, even go to the bathroom on the table (or worse, one of US! yes, it's happened to me many times, yuck, i know!)it can be VERY stressful on the dog...some we have had to send home half groomed because we thought it could not take anymore! :( we can't cut the nails as far back as the owners want us to, because they have become sooo long, the nerve has grown out, so if we were to cut them way short, it would bleed profusely...not to mention hurt the poor dog! (and we wouldn't even be able to finish the dog, once we hurt it like that, as it will DEFINITELY not cooperate after this!)since it's been so long that their skin has been exposed, they are much more likely to get irritated skin, OR, a sunburn, when the owners leave them outside for long periods without shelter. we get accused of "clipper burning" them, when actually, the dog has become soooo itchy after having to be cut so short, it scratches wildly, sometimes making themselves bleed, or some even develop hematomas on the ears, from shaking their bare heads and ears so much! then it ends up costing the owner MORE, because they have to go to the vet! it also costs the groomer more to do dogs like this, because of the amount of time we have to set aside, as, say, a yearly cocker shave down will take, is as long as it takes to groom 3 monthly grooms! we also sometimes have to go through several blades, as all the dirt and junk in their matted coats dulls our blades very quickly. when a dog is matted, and the mats are not brushed out, hair growth does not stop! new hair continues to grow underneath those mats, causing worse mats, and so on. ever had a knot in your hair, and had it pulled? imagine feeling that 24/7, because this is what dogs experience when they have bad mats like this, those tangles pluck and pull at their poor skin every move they make. i have always tried my best to educate owners of dogs like this...i try really hard to at least get them to have the dog groomed short again in the fall, and maybe a bath during the winter, because the folks who have taken my suggestion on this, have seen better results! the dogs act better, they have more "positive" experiences with the groomer, and they don't have to be clipped so short...some owners realize how much they like the more regular grooming, and come even more often. when i am able to get through to just one person like that, then i am happy for the dog. i think that sometimes people just don't realize what their dog goes through, and also what the groomers have to go through! regular grooming is better for EVERYONE! :)

Great reminders for everyone! I'm glad I have the wash & wear style but for you pampered pups (Nutmeg & Rusty), don't neglect this important part of pet care.