Cut to close

[sherrie west]

Well,I guess I get the prize for worst mom.....I have let one of my doodles Scrappy get very matted....my DH wanted to to "try" and cut some out on the top of the front legs. Well.......He got so close that poor Scrappy has some places that looks like a skinned chicken! He must have licked on a spot last night because this A.M. There is a spot about the size of a quarter that is raw. Looks like blood on the surface. I feel so BAD! Is the anything I should put on it to help it heal? I am scared to death to finish cutting him. He is very matted all over. He is more wavy than curley,thick and sorta wooly,but soft..... Please help Scrappy survive this Mom....thanks!

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Be very careful if you are using scissors on the mats on his legs - the legs have veins and tendons very close to the surface and it is too easy to think you are cutting a mat and to get too close.

 

If you don't have a lot of experience with trimming close when there are mats it might be best to have him professionally groomed this time and then make sure you are brushing him so he doesn't get matted and will be easier for you to groom.

 

You are not a bad doodle mom at all - you care enough to ask for help!

[sherrie west]

Actually DH clippers with a #40! Sort of scared me..I just held my breath. He cut our other doodle,Shaggy and did just fund.
Thanks for the advise....I really do appreciate it.

[Cheri & Bonny]

Join the club...we've all made mistakes.  I shaved the hair on Bonny's butt too close earlier this year and she looked like a baboon for the next week. Then the hair grew back in pink just to keep the effect going for the next several months and it's just now getting long enough to trim off.

 

I bought some Hot Spot Spray made by Vet's Best that's made with tea tree oil, chamomile and aloe vera and it worked pretty well to keep her from licking it further.

[sherrie west]

Thanks I guess misery loves company. Haha...

[Linda and "Toby"]

Aw, ... been there, done that! Fortunately, it will grow back in nicely. Anytime I have to cut out mats, I stick a (cheap plastic) comb in the fur between Toby's skin and the mat, just as a precaution. Sometimes, when he's in a wiggly/uncooperative mood, I use a pair of nail scissors that are rounded on the tips (for babies) instead of sharp scissors so I don't nick him anywhere with the tip if he moves suddenly. A pair of thinning shears (for people) works great too at keeping the cut "natural" looking versus a blunt cut.

Good to know about the Hot Spot spray, Cheri! 

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Sherrie, try not to be so hard on yourself it happens.  Try to keep Scrappy from licking it so it does not get infected.  Using a hot spot spray will help.  If it is itchy causing him to chew on it too childrens benedry will help.  I would check with the vet first before using it though.

[Michael Gurley]

Once, I cut a mat out of Sunny's ear and I cut it so badly that the little sprout of fur stuck straight up for a month! She looked permanently confused.

 

Good to know about the hot spot spray!!