This review is long overdue. I've been reading about recent reviews on "On All 4's" and I decided it was time to share my experience even though I had originally wanted to "let it go" and not mention it. On June 4, 2014 I took my Maltese to this groomer for the second time. I was so happy with the results from the first time that I recommended her to all my friends was super excited to take my puppy back again.
I noticed an excessive amount of hair in the ears so I addressed this concern with Melissa and she said she would take care of it and clean his ears. When I came to pick Snoopy up he was shaking quite a bit and cried everytime I touched his ears. I also noticed redness in both ears and a slight smear of dry blood but I figured it was because his ears were traumatized from the removal of the hairs. The next day I noticed he kept shaking his head and trying to scratch his ears. They were super red and had a yellow liquid discharge. Two days later his ears were all crusty and red and he was still shaking his head and would quiver everytime I tried to touch his ears. I took him to the vet immediately thinking that somehow to got an ear infection during his grooming visit. I was relieved when the Vet assured me after administering an ear swab cytology that Snoopy DID NOT have an ear infection but the discharge was a natural serum that was released from a traumatizing experience with his ears. The Vet also mentioned that his anal glands needed expressing badly. Hmm.. aren't groomer suppose to take care of this as well? Okay fine.. so I didn't request it.. but as a groomer.. wouldn't you check for these things especially since it's included in most grooming packages?
A $45 grooming visit led to a $130 vet visit. I wasn't very happy but I didn't call to complain because I already knew she would deny that it had anything to do with how she handled my puppy and would probably say that he got it on his own. Am I right? Who would admit to causing a puppy so much pain during a grooming visit? So stupid me.. I let it go. Now I'm reading about all these dogs that are having similar painful experiences and it just breaks my heart. Before I forget, I want to mention that he also had a razor burn mark in his inner thigh near his private parts. (Maybe he was moving around too much? I'm not sure. )
I haven't been able to find a groomer that does such an excellent job with the 'styling' of my puppy. She does an INCREDIBLE job with the way my dog looks.. but unfortunately I'm more concerned with the procedure and methods she uses to obtain this look. I can conclude from my own experience and the reviews of others that she is 'rough' with dogs and will do whatever it takes to make them look 'pretty'. Unfortunately for her, the well being of my puppy is much more important.