Wow. Who knows when this poor little Lhasa Apso was last groomed? Lhasas are not a shedding breed, so if their coats are not brushed and combed out properly, mats can form very easily. When mats get wet, through rain, snow or bathing, they tighten until they form a felt-like strength. Moisture can cause bacteria and fungus to grow causing hot spots or even worse infections. The dog's skin is stretched tightly underneath the knots, and her blood recedes. It is then impossible to brush out the dog without torturing her and damaging her skin. The only prudent course is to "strip" the coat off, and allow her (and the owners) to start over.
What a difference! The poor little Lhasa has been "stripped" on a #15 blade. That is just about the closest blade that we can use, but it was necessary in order to clip below the mat line. As you can see, the coat came off all in one piece, which indicates just how tightly the coat has woven together. Hopefully her skin, as the blood rushes back to the surface, will not suffer any irritation. Let's also hope that her owners will do a better job of maintaining her coat this time! Non-shedding breeds should be groomed every four to eight weeks depending on the owner's lifestyle and commitment.
Hello Cousin, Regina my Cockerpoo (more poo than cocker)gets matted easily, I bought clippers to be able to shave her and ,as you suggested above, start new. She is VERY curly and I can't seem to get the clippers to glide through her hair. What am I doing wrong?
ReplyDeleteHi! Great question, Jennifer. I will answer with a horribly long-winded blog post soon!
ReplyDeleteGrooming is a very important part of dog ownership. When you keep your dog in a healthy state, you will see a positive change in its behavior and physical appearance. It is important for responsible dog owners to have a clear idea of just how important it is to keep their dogs clean and healthy.
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Grooming is essential both for the dog's well being and for the owner's enjoyment of a clean pet. If you have a show dog, then you know how important it is to keep him or her groomed properly.
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