Matted Pets
Severely matted fur does not allow for air circulation to the skin, causing hot spots as well as bacterial and fungal infections. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, maggots, etc. may be underneath the coat causing further skin irritation or infection. If the matted coat has been washed, it can not dry properly and can lead to rotting fur and/or skin. It is not out of the ordinary for the skin underneath to be raw, inflamed, irritated, or bruised.
Matting on the ears can cause hematomas which will need to be addressed by a veterinarian immediately. Hematomas caused by matting are rare, but do happen. The skin on the ear is very thin and when matted, the matted fur pulls tightly constricting blood flow to the tips of the ears. When the mats are shaved off it causes a quick rush of blood into the vessels surrounded by weakened ear tissue, which then causes “bleeding out”.
Top Dog Spaw is a humanity before vanity salon. We do offer de-matting if the pet is tolerant of the process and at the stylist’s discretion, at a $1 / per minute. If a pet is biting, thrashing, becoming stressed/agitated/aggressive toward being brushed, the de-matting process will be stopped immediately and you will be notified that we will need to take your pet down to a length that the tangles can come out. That length is determined by the severity of the matting and what length of blade can go under the matting, to safely remove the matted hair from against the skin. Extensive de-matting can be uncomfortable and at times painful for a pet, and every pet has a different tolerance level. Chances are if your pet is not allowing you to brush it’s coat thoroughly at home, we won’t be able to either!
Difficult Pets
Under no circumstance do we accept pets exhibiting any signs of aggressive behavior. If your pet has been known to have difficulty during parts of the grooming process, please make us aware at the time of check in. In some circumstances a muzzle or cone may need to be used and the grooming service may take longer than normal. Additional fees may be added when extra time is necessary for a difficult dog without further notification to the owner. In the event that your pet is too stressed or becomes dangerous to groom, Top Dog Spaw has the right to refuse grooming services, stop grooming services, or cancel grooming services at any time before, during, or after grooming and client will be charged a grooming fee.