By Michelle Robinson
May 2, 2016
Classy’s father fell ill, as well as her grooming routine was put on hold for a number of months. I got a phone call from her mom, wanting to get her back on track. As I backed proud Mary into the driveway. I might hear her barking excitedly, however she wasn’t in the window bouncing off the couch as usual. I believed perhaps she was in one more space or she was waiting at the garage door. As I went into the house, I might hear her barking happily at the top of the stairs, with her tail moving at propeller speed. I greeted her with my typical squishy kissy deal with as well as raspberry smiles that sends her into excited twirls!
I noticed that she would not move past the top step. I just figured that she was anxious on the slippery floor as her nails were well over grown. I scooped her up as well as brought her out to the truck, enjoying my cosmetics eliminating kisses the entire way. I put her on the table as well as carefully slipped the grooming loop over her head. then it happened. Classy, who was normally relaxed as well as laid back, went ballistic! I mean, full out tantrum! Snapping, thrashing, as well as alligator rolls. I quickly lowered the grooming arm. believing that I had it as well high for her little frame. Nope! Still the exact same reaction. I eliminated the loop from her neck as well as she quietly collapsed on the table with a heavy sign.
Now I comprehended the crux of the problem. She was having some type of structural issues. I carefully glided my hand down her back to see if she had an adverse reaction to my touch. To my relief, there was none. I scratched her head as well as behind her ear carefully as I dialed her mom’s work number. I had a grocery listing of questions. I told her about the incident as well as asked the complying with questions:
Has something occurred recently? has she been limping lately, fallen off the bed, or down the stairs? has she been whining or hiding a lot? have you noticed that she can’t stand or pull herself up from a laying posting? The response to most of my questions, was no. She did state that she noticed that she stopped going down the stairs a couple of months ago. Also, that she started utilizing the pee pad in the house, as well as was not thinking about going outside.
She reminded me that classy had been hit by a kid on a bicycle when she was younger, as well as the physician had warned her that it may be an problem for her as she aged. She is now 10. I advised mom that I would cut her nails as well as do her paw pads first. If she seemed comfortable with that, I would proceed. At any type of point where she seemed to be in pain, I would stop. I still advised her to take her to the vet to make sure whatever was alright.
We got with the groom without any other incidents. She enjoyed the warm water on her legs as well as stood up for a few minutes to let me rinse her thoroughly. As she stood I paid close interest to exactly how she moved. I noticed that it was the previously injured leg that was providing her trouble. She might stand, as well as walk around the tub for a few minutes before the leg would begin to shake. then she would sit down again. I have discovered more frequently that there are a great deal of dogs with structural problems. Not all of them are seniors.
More as well as more dogs are being cranked out of puppy mills that are overbred as well as most frequently not in great health. then they are being subjected to over zealous backyard breeders looking to money in on a “pure-breed.” You can comprehend why the integrity of many dog breeds have been compromised. It doesn’t matter if you have been grooming 10 days or 100 years. We have all seen the bit pork sausage with infant carrots legs as well as the huge U in his back, who is the pure-bred _______________.
When we have 10-15 dogs to crank out, the phone is ringing off the hook, as well as people are walking in at 10 minutes to 4 asking if they can get their dog groomed today, we have a tendency not to listen to our client. The one that is on the table, we want them to stand like a versatile statue, as well as let us clip, strip, as well as scissor them to perfection to ensure that we can get to the next one. For the ones that won’t, we muzzle or utilize no sit contraptions to ensure that we can get the objective done. Time is of the essence. however are you listening to your dog?
Some dogs misbehave since they are in pain, or are anxious as well as afraid. As was the situation with Classy. If I had not had a history with her I might have quickly dismissed her habits as being one more “bad dog”. had I not been listening to what she was telling me: “I am uncomfortable, can you let me rest for a moment?” it might have been an unpleasant experience for both of us.
I have one more dog, Simon, a 3 pound Chihuahua, affectionately dubbed as furry nitro-glycerin. He has been kicked out of every groom shop in the area. I finull