We have a little Coton de Tuléar who is 8 and a half months old. We took him to the groomer for the first time four days ago.
Up until then, our little pup was happy and playful, and always 'glued' to our sides...
The groomer had to shave him right down because there was far too much matting in his undercoat.
Since we got home, he has been completely withdrawn. He’s lost his appetite, he doesn't want to play, and he spends all day whimpering, hiding under the bed or in corners. It’s truly heartbreaking!
Has anyone else dealt with this kind of dog behaviour before?
If so, what did you do to help? Any solutions?
Thanks for your replies!
P. R.
Translated from French
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Goodness! It’s lucky for him that you acted so quickly.
You might be better off grooming him yourself from now on, it’s much safer...
(I comb my Havanese a few times a week using metal combs – I’ve got three different tooth widths – plus a dressmaker’s seam ripper for any knots or burrs he picks up).
(And I regularly trim around his face with sharp but round-tipped scissors; you can get "moustache scissors" from some chemists, or you can find decent safety scissors in pet shops too).
I don’t usually like washing dogs unless they’ve rolled in something truly revolting. When that happens, I swear by black soap; it’s really effective, very cheap, and animals tolerate it brilliantly.
If there’s any skin irritation, aloe vera gel works just as well for our pooches as it does for us.
Before buying any flea treatments, you must always remind the vets about these allergy issues, as a dog prone to allergies can react to all sorts of different products. Basically, it’s best never to forget this unfortunate incident.
Thanks for the update!!
Evening, I took my dog to the vet and they said he's had an allergic reaction to the grooming products. He's had a jab and some medication for 10 days.
So glad I went! His ears were all inflamed and his bum was too, as well as all the itching, poor thing...
Anyway, I hope he’s on the mend and gets back to his usual self soon!
Thanks for your reply. He’s still really traumatised (he won’t even move around the house, or play, or anything) and on top of that, he’s crying out sometimes, so he might be in pain somewhere. I think I’m going to take him to the vet.
Oh, a few walks in some lovely new spots and he’ll start seeing you as the magician who shows him all these amazing things again—and hey presto, life is good! Also, try playing with him a bit more at home over the next few days.
Hi, thanks! Yes, he was already out playing with his mates yesterday and he was fine then, but at home he’s still not quite himself. Most of all, he seems to be sulking with me (I’m the one who took him to the groomers) but not with my partner.
Small dogs are really sensitive souls, and changes in body scents are incredibly stressful for them. Going for a play with a regular doggy friend and rolling around with them will probably be the best cure.
