Understanding clipper burn – vital knowledge for every groomer.
We need to do everything we can to avoid the risks of clipper burn but also be aware that it can happen. We need to be able to explain what clipper ben is to customers (before they read alarmist nonsense on the web!) and help them to treat any skin irritation that their dogs might experience. Here is a quick summary of what you need to know:
Clipper burn is the same thing as the “razor burn” men sometimes get from shaving and it isn’t always caused by hot clipper blades. It is a skin irritation which will itch a lot, and the dog will scratch and/or lick it, causing a moist surface which irritates more . . . this will very quickly break the skin and cause open, infected sores. However, this will normally happen after the dog has left your salon and you or the customer will be none the wiser until the dog has made the skin very sore!
The common areas to watch out for are:
Throat, cheeks, feet and tail on a poodle
Under eyes on a shihtzu (scissors are in this area but cutting the hair close here can sometimes cause a reaction)
Here are a few practical steps you can take:
If the dog has a pale skin (white, cream or apricot) or has not been clipped for some time it would be a prime candidate for “clipper burn”. In these cases it would be advisable to use a longer blade or make sure you clip gently with the lay of the coat.
Don’t clip over the same area again and again. If you have had difficulty in clipping an area (for example, where the coat may have been tightly matted) explain to the customer what could possibly happen and advise them to keep an eye on the dog to prevent it from scratching at the area(s) you have clipped. The customer will now be aware of the possible oncoming reaction and will hopefully bring the dog to you sooner next time!
How to Treat Clipper Burn on a Dog?
Clipper burn is a painful and sadly common condition on dogs, causing them to scratch and itch. Symptoms of clipper burn include red markings or lines on a dog’s skin, which usually appear in sensitive places such as the stomach or groin.
Burning can occur for various causes, including blades that are too hot or too dull to cut effectively. If your dog suffers clipper burns, therapies are available to alleviate the discomfort. You can follow the following steps for clipper burn treatment.
Maintain the dryness of the area. Generally speaking, irritations heal the fastest when you keep them dry and expose them to air. A moist or damp place can lead to more infection or irritation resulting in further complications.
According to the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, you should poke a hole in a vitamin E capsule and carefully rub the capsule’s contents on the specific area. When it comes to natural skin remedies, vitamin E is one of the best.
You should apply it at least once a day until the irritation resolves. You should use lanolin and aloe vera gel daily until the burn heals. Both are natural remedies for clipper burn.
To soothe and aid in the healing of the burn, apply an over-the-counter steroid cream or ointment to the area in question. Use the creams daily until the burn heals.
Bathe your dog in a shampoo that contains oatmeal to soothe inflamed skin, such as the ones available at pet stores. Using warm or cool water, thoroughly rinse away any remaining shampoo. According to the instructions on the bottle, determine how long you should let the shampoo soak and how frequently it is safe to use it.
Purchase items specifically for soothing clipper burn on dogs and apply them to the specific regions following the product’s guidelines. You can find these lotions and gels in pet supply stores. For grooming and shampoo goods, you can find them in the grooming or shampoo sections.
Groomer gave my dog a REALLY BAD razor burn!
Clipper irritation is also commonly known as clipper sensitivity and clipper burn – but what is it?
Clipper irritation is an irritation to the top layer of skin. While it’s not necessarily a severe injury that can occur during pet grooming, it will be itchy and uncomfortable to the pet. This discomfort causes the dog to scratch and/or lick the area. The skin gets moist. If left unchecked or untreated, the scratching and licking can cause an open wound very quickly.
Unfortunately, clipper irritation is not always detectable right after it happens. This means that unknown to both the groomer and the pet owner, the dog may be going home with skin irritation. The condition goes unnoticed until the pet begins to aggravate the area. In its early stages, the skin might moisten or turn a light pink. Other times, the signs may not be visible, but the dog can certainly feel the discomfort.
Depending on the severity of the irritation, the skin might be light pink, or in severe cases, bright red or even bloody. The skin tingles uncomfortably. The natural reaction is that a dog will lick and scratch at the site. The sharp edges of recently clipped toenails can make matters worse – and if the pet starts scratching at his face, you can have a real problem on your hands. A mild case of clipper irritation can instantly turn into a severe one with a couple bats of the back foot with freshly trimmed toenails.
Clipper irritation is one of the more common injuries in grooming salons. It doesn’t just happen to inexperienced or new groomers. I’ve seen it in the competition ring and Grooming Certifiers have reported it at certification test sites.
From a business standpoint, what happens when a pet has been affected by clipper irritation? Simple. Owners will not return to your place of business if it becomes a common problem.
I was just reviewing a Learn2GroomDogs.com video. Well into the video, the Training Partner changed clippers and started clipping a Poodle’s face. She did not tell the audience what blade she was using but I could tell it was closer than the one she had used previously. I was guessing it was #10 or #15 blade length. Weeks after filming was completed, I shot off an email asking the Training Partner what blade length she had chosen to use. I wanted to have our video editor type it on the screen for our members because I knew it was going to be a question. I wanted to make sure I had the correct length.
In my experience, the shorter the blade length, the greater the risk for injury. For most pet dogs, a #10 or #15 blade is considered a safe length to start with if it is used correctly. Some stylists can go shorter and not have any issues. On pets that are extremely sensitive, even longer blades such as a #9 or a #7F are safer alternatives.
For over 15 years, I’ve watched this very talented Training Partner groom dogs. I have NEVER seen any clipper related issues with her work. She almost always uses a #30 blade on all her close work. So how can she get away with using a clipper on a #30 blade setting safely while others could not?
It forced me to think a little deeper – deeper than I go into in my book, Notes From the Grooming Table. In the book, I talk primarily about five key elements.
Those five areas cover the basics of running a clipper effectively. However, there’s a little bit more to know if you want to consistently avoid any type of skin irritation, sensitivity, or clipper burn. To do that, we need to focus on how much pressure is being applied, the sensitivity of the pet’s skin, and the heat of the blade.
Proper pressure is the most critical component of clipping for both quality and safety. Press too lightly, and you won’t get the area clipped smoothly. Press too hard, and you’re sure to cause skin irritation. So, what is the proper balance between the two?
On slightly longer blades, a tiny bit more pressure can be applied without incident than on super close blades. It will take you a few more passes to get a smooth, even cut. But for the inexperienced or new groomer that is still learning, a #10 blade is a good moderate blade to begin with.
As clipper technique improves, some stylists move to a shorter blade. Why? It offers a slightly cleaner look and takes a little less time. With super close cutting blades, such as #30 or #40, you can go even faster.
Be warned – if you opt to go with a very short blade, you need to be extremely careful. Your clipper technique must be absolutely spot on. Many experienced stylists with fabulous clipper technique can use #30 or even #40 blade lengths to quickly and easily get the quality of trimming they are looking for without sacrificing the well-being of the pet.
Choosing a blade length for close clipper work is not something to take lightly. You need to identify how proficient you are with your clipper technique. You can then choose the best option that does not jeopardize the safety of the pet. The last thing any of us want is to cause discomfort or injury to a pet.
Just like people, every dog is a little bit different. A person with a very fair complexion will typically have more sensitive skin. Folks with a deeper skin tone have less delicate skin. Puppies and younger dogs have more delicate skin than adult dogs. Smaller dogs are more sensitive than larger dogs. Fine coated pets are prone to more issues with clipping than heavier coated pets.
If a dog has dark pigment around its eyes and nose area, chances are the skin is a little bit tougher than those with light pigment. It’s very common on dogs with light pigment around their eyes and pink or light brown noses to have hypersensitive skin. Sometimes coat color and density levels will come into play, as well. Thicker coated pets are typically much less sensitive than those with baby fine fur. Also, small, light-colored dogs (white, buff, apricot, red – even some chocolate) can be more prone to sensitivity.
The skin can be conditioned. This is a common practice with dogs who are destined for the show ring. This is a critical step, especially with dogs that have close clipper work done on a routine basis. Prospective show dogs are started out with close clipper work at a very young age. It is repeated on a regular basis each month during the early stages of the grooming process. Not only does a condition the skin, it also teaches the puppy to enjoy the entire grooming process.
With pet dogs that have not gone through this conditioning process, we need to be more careful. With all dogs, the shorter the blade length, the more cautious you need to be. With supersensitive skin types, you need to be even more diligent about gentle and proper clipper technique.
With most metal clipper blades, the longer and faster they run, the warmer they get. Each clipper will be a little different. To be safe, you need to regularly check how warm the blade is getting once they have started running.
To check the heat of a blade, simply touch it to your forearm as though you were testing the formula in a baby’s bottle. You can also touch it to your cheek. Either way, if it is heating up too quickly or is uncomfortable to the touch, ice the blade down with a blade coolant or switch out to a fresh, cool blade.
Whenever a dog is suspected to be prone to clipper irritation, clipper sensitivity, or clipper burn, I encourage stylists to be proactive in heading it off. Remember, in many cases, you will NOT know if a pet has been affected by it until AFTER they leave the salon. There are many different things you can do but these are the top four in my book.
When I was working with a new client, my initial blade of choice was always a #10 blade for close clipper work. I feel it is a moderate length blade that is relatively safe. In my new client consultations, I discuss this if we are dealing with any breed requiring close clipping, especially in the head area. Depending on how their pet reacted to this moderate length blade, we could make adjustments in future appointments if they had any issues or concerns.
How do you decide which blade you should use? Always err on the side of caution. I would rather sacrifice a little bit of quality by going with the slightly longer blade then dealing with clipper irritation.
Remember, you can always go shorter down the road as your techniques improve and you learn how to work with different skin types. Your primary concern should always be the safety and health of your pet clients.
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