[WonderPup]

I use a # 15 blade on face and feet on clients dogs. I reccently got the guts to do Jazz's face with a #40 blade and OMG. I love it, but yes she did get a little rashed. Poor baby. She twitched and I accidently sort of dug the tip of the blade into the bridge of her nose. It was a little red so I put some tripple antibiotic anti itch loton on her and regular cream on the rest of her face. The next day there were little scabbies in that one place so I kept the antibiotic stuff on it a couple times a day and made extra sure her nails were filed totaly smooth. That was last friday and now the little scabs are gone and her face is sooo perdy. I don't know if I'll keep it that short forever though... we'll see.

It could be that the groomer took the face shorter than Ginger's skin was used to. As for scratching, alot of poodles do that right after being clipped just becuase it feels different. The problem comes in when the nails are clipped and not filed, leaving sharp edges. I would think the effect on newly bare shin would be obvious but I am surprised at how many groomers don't think about it. Also sometimes if the blade gets hot burns happen. In a perfect world that wouldn't be the case but I will admit to occasionaly forgeting the check my blade and cool it down mid groom. I keep my blade really cool as a rule buuuutt, there have been times when I pressed the blade to my wrist to check how warm it was and got a nice little sizzle. I hate myself when that happens, *knock on wood* though it doesn't happen often.

Be extra sure to tell the groomer about the clipper irritation on your next visit and ask them to file the nails and to do Ginger's face with a #10 blade only. Also ask what type of "cool lube" they use (the question is ment to remind them to use it rather than actualy get info on the product). Let them know she is sensative and that you've been doing the face with a #10. They may also put a hypo conditioner, or a skin soothing spray or lotion (or both) on her face, feet, and tail in the bath and after the groom. That might help too. Hope her face stops itching soon!!!

 

[WonderPup]

I use a #30 in T but he is dark which seems to be less of an issue than the lighter dogs, and we have never had any problems at all. I spray an after sun lotion for babies on all shaved areas immediatley after the clip and he seems to be fine, but it is really what the dog is use to and/or can tolerate.

T has had the #30 blade weekly since he was 3 weeks old and their skin does toughen up apparently. I did do a #40 just to see and I did love the look but it was a little too scarey for me so I have gone back to the #30.

Thats a good point about the darker dogs. Longer blade lenghts tend to look better on lighter colored dogs. Now that I think on it I do use a 10 blade for faces on really light dogs or old dogs. On darker dogs I do the feet with a 40 if they don;t have boney feet but light ones get a 15. I can remember the last time I did a #10 for feet though, it always looks sooo hairy to me.

 

[WonderPup]

I love bag balm, I've been putting it on Jaz's rough, cracked feet and they are much improved. A few years back one of our good friend's husbands told us to put back balm on a blad spot on howie's head (he stuck his head under the fence and got a nasty scrape that when it healed refused to grow hair back - just as smooth as could be). He said it would make the hair grow back. Ummm K. So we did and I was amazed. Of course it could have been a fluke but to this day I still keep in on hand right next to the neosporin for lifes little emergancies

Sass, The #40 blade IS very short. At first when I did Jazz's face with it I was horrified. I love it now though, and I think I'm gonna do it one more time and see if she burns. If she does, we'll go back to the 15 blade but if not I think I'll keep it that short. I loves it! I just looks so smooth and perdy!

 

[WonderPup]

Oh wow Pmaela, I didn't realize this was the second time with the same groomer. I'm sorry to hear her skin didn't clear up. I would highly suggest going to the vet and calling the groomer. If she doesn't own she shop talk to the person who does and request that they pay for your vet visit. I might even go as far as taking Ginger up there to SHOW them that the burn is serious. I would be worried about infection in a scabbed area if it had an odor to it. Hubby says not to wash it in peroxide again, he's an EMT and has some long explination about why which I don't feel like re-typing. Also, and I just thought of this, when I worked at the vet clinic we were told NOT to reccomend neosporin because in dogs it retards the healing process. This was per one of the four doctors that owned the clinic. So it might be worth a phone call to your vet to check what their opinion is. I have a habit of calling all antibacterial ointments neosporin but the one I have actualy isn't. It's made for animals and comes from the vet clinic. My vet tells me it is different from neosporin so I just nodd and say OK, since I'm not the expert.
Make doubly sure to tell your next groomer about the problem as well and request they use the same blade you do for the face.
Poor Poor Baby!!! I hope her skin clears up soon. It can't be confortable for her.

 

[WonderPup]

It may help, but be careful what your putting on her face. I see a lot of put this or put that on her, (some of my posts included), and it wouldn't do to double up on a huge amount on her.

Instead of benydril do you have something with hydrocortisone in it. I know they make those types of creams for dogs but I think the human version works just fine as well. I've never used benydriln cream on a dog before, I've only ever used the tablets.

Definitly call the groomer, she may be copletely unaware, and I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose. She needs to be made aware at the very least of why she is loosing a customer. We never learn if we don't get feedback and I'd be willing to bet you were happy when you picked the dogs up right? So she probably thinks all is well.

 

[WonderPup]

We've used tea on rashes and hot spots before and I was thinking about it being similar to what happens to the skin after a clipper burn. The resulting rash is basicly the same thing. We brew the tea strong and then use the tea bag plus cotton balls soaked in the tea on the area several times a day. I haven't used it in a couple of years and had forgotten about it, but it's a neat trick to have in your bag in case you need it. Anyway here is a link for more info.
http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/hot_spots.html