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My sweet girl is 15, and she had gone to the same groomer for years. Two appointments ago, she was kind of cranky when we were walking into the shop. The last time, she was terrible dragging her feet, anxious, and so unhappy. I got a call one hour into the appt. telling me they had to stop. She nipped at the groomer and peed herself.

I went and picked her up and her body was clipped, there was a swath clipped on each leg, but the rest of her body was unwashed and ungroomed. I took her home and bathed her and cleaned up her head, ears and neck, and then she let me know she was done.

A month later, my poor old girl looks like a hippie. She's getting matted and her nails are out of control.

What do I do? What do you do with unruly pets at the groomers?

I wonder if it was something the groomer did by accident or some fluke thing. Maybe a paw was trimmed too short and hurt. Would you consider a different groomer? Maybe talk to the vet. Ask for recommendations or if they do grooming. Also, when discussing this with the vet maybe ask if Zoe needs med to relax a little just for the 1st or 2nd time till she is used to the new groomer. Sending hugs and doggie treats to Zoe.

eta - Has Zoe been to the vet recently? Maybe have them check her to see if she has anything that could cause pain when being groomed.

[This message edited by SI Staff at 11:55 AM, January 23rd (Thursday)]

At first I suspected the groomer was hurting her, but when you mentioned

she let me know she was done

it began to sound like something is up with her.

Have you had her examined by the vet recently? Something may be bothering her--an infection or skin condition, something internally. Maybe it's senility--perhaps the vet could prescribe a some kind of medication to keep her calm.

It's so hard when our pets age; they can't tell us what's bothering them.

Yeah I think she had a bad experience at the groomers. My little girl has an elephant memory. she saw a bunny run into a piece of pipe once. I kid you not, she spent every waking moment at the other end of that pipe looking for her bunny for DAYS.

I was wondering about meds, and thinking I just need to interview new groomers.

She had teeth pulled this summer. Maybe she just does not trust me to take her anywhere that smells like animals anymore.

She's so old I hate to do anything upsetting to her. She's my wise old girl. I say she's management. She runs the house. Keeps the cat and the other dog in line, and she sometimes looks at me like, "Now just why did you do that?"

She's the love of my life and my best friend ever. Even when she looks like a hippie.

[This message edited by yewtree at 1:15 PM, January 23rd (Thursday)]

she sometimes looks at me like, "Now just why did you do that?"

She sounds so cute. I would love to see a pic of her down in F&G. No pressure. I just love animals.

I have had several foster dogs this way. I usually get them real relaxed on the floor and scissor them. Make sure to pick up her tail and scissor around her anus. Honesty, you might nee to muzzle her for nails or pay the vet to do them.