Macy is a small poodle cross well into her senior years. Whenever her owner brings her in for grooming, she says, “Try not to clip her moles and make them bleed!” As dogs age, many develop a myriad of lumps, bumps, and growths on their skin. Some breeds seem to be more prone to this than others. As groomers, we get an excellent view of these growths as we wash and dry the pets. The problem arises when some of them become irritated or bleed during grooming.
Pet owners seem to automatically assume any irritation to the growths is because we have literally cut them while we groom the dog. In fact, most often, any inflammation during grooming can be caused by water or air pressure during washing and drying or by simply brushing and combing the coat.
While we try to avoid irritating these lumps while we work, it can seem impossible, especially on dogs with many.
It is important to educate customers about the grooming process and assure them that we do not intentionally cut their pet's skin while we work. Many seem very relieved when I explain that the simple process of getting the skin wet to shampoo the dog can cause very sensitive growths to bleed. They often say, “Oh, yes, sometimes they bleed when I just pat her there.” Pointing out that these very delicate growths can become inflamed with just the slightest touch and that we are not physically cutting them with a clipper blade or scissors can make them feel better about the process.
Depending on the location of the bumps, a slightly longer hairstyle on these pets is usually a good idea. The fur hides the unsightly growths, and we can use a longer clip comb or blade toreduce the chance of bumping them as we work.
It can be easy to accidentally brush a bump even when you know it is there because they hide under the fur and are easy to forget about as we work. One handy trick is to buy a roll of brightly colored painter's tape. Tear off small pieces and pinch them over a bit of the fur that hides each lump and bump. As you brush, comb, and clip, you will be reminded to slow down and use extra caution as you near that bright tape. Once the pet's groom is nearly complete, remove one piece of tape at a time and mindfully brush the fur and scissor there to match the rest of the clipped or scissored coat. Painter’s tape will not leave a sticky residue. Alternatively, you can use tiny plastic hair clips made for infants.
Educating owners about the grooming process and avoiding brushing over skin tags and moles while we work can reduce the chance of irritation for both pets and owners!
