Scissors and Pets Don’t Mix
The other night at the emergency hospital I treated a sweet Yorkshire Terrier whose hair had become matted. The person who brought the dog had been trying to remove the mats with scissors. It was hard to see where skin and hair met. As a result, the young woman accidentally cut through the dog’s skin.
It had been a while since I saw a client who felt so guilty. In fact, the last time I saw a client so upset with herself was a few months ago, when I treated a different dog for the same sort of injury.
The wound was not serious, and the dog went home the next morning happily stitched back together. But please remember that scissors are not safe grooming tools for animals.
Even in the hands of professionals, scissors are risky. I once treated a cat who had lost the last half inch of her tail when a groomer accidentally snipped it off. The owner brought the amputated portion of the tail to my office and was was upset that it could not be re-attached.
The best way to deal with mats is to brush your pet regularly before they become unmanageable. If your pet needs its hair trimmed, I recommend the use of clippers. Clippers are available at pet stores and are less likely to cause injury.
If your pet’s hair is hopelessly matted, then you may want to have a trained groomer or veterinarian deal with the situation. Be sure to ask them not to use scissors!
Photo: No, we’re not talking about that kind of mat!
You have questions. 
A co-worker tried to cut matts from under her cats arms and cut the skin off instead! I can’t imagine how either of them felt after that one! I was trying to do something similar before I heard about this and barely nipped the skin on my cat with the tip of the scissors. No blood or skin cut off (He rolls around on the dirt, etc on the patio and matts easily)…and although it wasn’t a disaster, my cat is now afraid on the scissors. You can buy spray on detangler’s for CATS- NOT people! that can aid in brushing and grooming. Professional groomers are costly, but if the matts are bad, remember that it is pulling their skin and hurts them. I also get a “panty shave” or “sanitary shave” for my fat cat who can’t turn around and groom as well as she would like, and she seems to love the shaved rear! Remember cats are neat freaks (unless they are ill) and appreciate your efforts. Anyhow, the hair grows back just like before, so she has hair again during the colder winter months.
I had the unfortunate experience of removing the mats this way one time too many with our Himalayan cat. It was a horrifying discovery to see the gash I had created, nearly an inch long. The trip to the emergency clinic was awful. Because their skin is so delicate, it required anesthesia to repair, and she had to stay over night. She was 15 at the time and in my heart I believe it was the beginning of the end. The guilt remains to this day, long after she has crossed Rainbow Bridge.
wow leave it to the pros or do your research
I’ve spent a lot of timing hanging out at my groomers. He’s generously let me just sit and watch. It has been an eye-opener to see how badly matted people let their pets get.
I agree that regular brushing and prevention is the key. But every so often we miss something! One thing I have used that doesn’t present the dangers of a set of scissors, is a seam-ripper. It’s a simple sewing tool.
It takes patience and a calm pet (i.e. it doesn’t generally work well with cats). If you start “ripping” the matt lengthwise from the bottom, in tiny increments, you can break it apart. But you have to work slowly and you have to have a firm hold on the matt so you aren’t actually tugging it from the skin. Giving the dog something to work on, like a stuffed Kong helps.
My favorite trick for regular grooming — smear peanut butter on the fridge, then brush while the dog is licking it up.
Oh … I can sympathize with this one. I was sitting on the floor with my dog Bear between my legs giving him a trim with SCISSORS when my cat Annie ran by and Bear quickly followed. I stabbed him in the chest with the scissors. It was Sunday and my vet was closed but I am fortunate to have an e-vet within 20 minutes of my home. Hours and tears later we were home with 3 staples in his chest. But it was not over. Bear climbed under the bed and one of the staples got caught on the carpet and tore out. Back we went. Five hours later we came home with a recleaned wound and 4 staples. Needless to say, I no longer use the scissors!
My master is usually used for my white coat first comb, then soft-brush. However, when we do the long journey, some “gunk” keeps up in my coat!
Then master uses small manicure scissors only, if he cuts big piece of mat, I begin to bark aloud!
I completely agree! I stopped using scissors to cut my dogs fur after I almost cut the throat of my yorkie several years ago. I was trying to cut out a matt from around Winston’s neck. I stopped to take a closer look and realized I was about to cut right into his skin. OMG! I stopped and freaked. I had nightmares for months afterwards. Since then I have always taken my dogs to a well trained and well respected independent groomer (no chainstore groomers for me). I learned a big lesson that day.
Yes, my Mom cut the skin on one of her Shih Tzu before learning that she had to use a metal comb to get underneath a mat to prevent any mistakes of this nature. This is only good with a cooperative dog, and only if you have a double-coated dog, live out in the middle of nowhere and GOOD groomers are unavailable.
Clippers are not without issue…I’ve see dogs with “clipper burn.”
Awful sad story, I groom all my 4 dogs, I have 3 Lhaso apso’s and 1 Black lab at home not for this reason, But do take your dog to a Groomer if your NOT experienced. Getting out a mat isnt easy but like many of the postings here, I squrimy dog can make even the simplest of grooming dangerous.
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