Guide · Safety and calm grooming
Grooming red flags: when to see a vet
Skin, coat, ear, nail, heat and stress warning signs you may find while grooming, which ones mean stop, and when to call a vet or a professional groomer.
Short answer
Stop grooming and contact your veterinarian if you find bald or thinning patches, red, irritated or crusted skin, or a sudden, dramatic increase in shedding.[1] The same goes for an ear that is red, itchy, smelly, discharging or sore to the touch.[2] Heavy panting and drooling, trouble breathing, weakness, confusion or collapse are signs of heatstroke and need a vet immediately.[3] Large mats and a pet that panics are jobs for a vet or professional groomer, not more effort at home.
This page does not diagnose anything. It collects the signs that veterinary and professional-grooming sources say should be checked, so you know when to stop.
Quick reference
| What you find while grooming | What to do |
|---|---|
| Bald spots, thinning fur or patchy hair loss | Contact your vet[1][4] |
| Red, irritated or crusted skin | Contact your vet[1] |
| A sudden, dramatic increase in shedding | Contact your vet[1] |
| Ear redness, itching, head shaking, discharge or more wax than usual, an odor, or discomfort when the ear is touched | Leave the ear alone and contact your vet; stop at once if your dog seems to be in pain[2] |
| Excessive panting and drooling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures or collapse | Emergency: get veterinary care immediately[3] |
| A cat that is lethargic, refuses food for more than a day or two, or retches repeatedly without bringing anything up | Have a vet examine the cat without delay[5] |
| Large or widespread mats, especially on a cat | Do not cut them; book a vet or groomer[6] |
| Trembling, growling, snapping or panic during grooming | Stop the session and ask your vet for help[7] |
Skin and coat
Brushing is when you are most likely to spot a problem. AAHA advises brushing all the way to the skin, parting the hair to reach the undercoat,[1] so look at the skin while you are there.
AAHA says to contact a veterinarian for bald spots or thinning fur, patchy hair loss, red, irritated or crusted skin, or a sudden, dramatic increase in shedding.[1] AKC agrees that bald patches, inflamed skin or sudden hair loss should be evaluated by a vet.[4] Until your vet has looked, leave the area alone rather than brushing or clipping over it.
Shedding on its own is not a red flag. AAHA notes that many dogs and cats blow their coat in spring and fall, and that indoor pets may shed more consistently all year.[1] The warning sign is a sudden, dramatic change.
Slow regrowth after a close clip
A veterinary dermatology handbook from the University of Minnesota says hair clipped close to the skin generally regrows within 3 to 4 months, and that failure to regrow in that time is abnormal, a condition called post-clipping alopecia. In some dogs, complete regrowth takes 12 to 24 months. It is noted more often in plush-coated breeds, the cause is unknown, and treatment is usually not needed.[8] If a clipped area has not regrown within that 3 to 4 month window, mention it to your vet.
Ears
Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center lists the warning signs of an ear problem: redness, itching, head shaking, discharge or increased wax, odor, and discomfort when the ear is touched. If your dog seems to be in pain, stop and consult a veterinarian.[2] Don't try to clean your way past these signs; let your vet look first. For routine care of healthy ears, see how to clean dog ears safely.
Heat: baths, dryers and flat-faced dogs
Cornell says brachycephalic breeds, such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Boxers, cannot pant as efficiently and are at higher risk in hot or humid weather. It advises extra precaution for dogs that are overweight, elderly, or have heart or breathing problems, and for dogs with thick or dark coats.[3] Cornell is writing about summer weather, not grooming. We apply the same caution to warm bathrooms and heated dryers.
AKC advises avoiding heat when drying a dog, because it might burn the skin.[9]
Nails and paws
- A cut quick. The quick carries the blood vessels and nerves that supply the nail, and cutting into it causes bleeding and pain.[10][11] VCA advises a small amount of styptic powder on the end of the nail, or flour or cornstarch if you have none.[12] Washington State University notes that without styptic powder, bleeding may take about 5 minutes to stop.[10] None of these sources sets a time after which to call the vet. If the bleeding will not stop, or anything else worries you, call.
- Overgrown dewclaws. VCA says dewclaws do not touch the ground, often become overgrown and can curve into the paw pad.[12] If one already has, let your vet deal with it.
- Matted hair between the toes. AKC notes that this hair can mat easily and may need a careful trim from a professional.[13]
For the full first-aid routine, see what to do if you cut the quick.
Mats
Mats sit close to the skin. VCA's advice for cats is never to cut a mat off with scissors, because it is easy to cut the skin, even without seeing it, and to see a vet or groomer if the mats are large or widespread, the cat won't tolerate removal, or you are afraid of hurting it. Vets can sedate a cat so the mats come out without pain.[6] VCA gives dog owners the same rule: clippers, never scissors, and professional care for severe tangles.[14]
For a badly matted double coat, AKC says matted hair removal is handled by professional groomers, and its groomer standards ask groomers to decide whether shaving is necessary, explain the downsides and get written permission first.[15][16] See cat mats: what not to do.
Fear and stress
VCA lists trembling, excessive drooling, panting, growling or snapping as signs of serious distress. Its advice is to pause, and it notes that dogs with an existing fear of nail care often need personalized professional help, sometimes with medicine prescribed by a vet or a light sedative.[7] See how to groom an anxious dog.
Jobs to leave to a professional
| Job | Who should do it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling tartar off teeth | A veterinarian, with the pet anesthetized | AAHA says groomers and others should never scale a pet's teeth, and that non-anesthetic scaling is cosmetic and can cause pain, fear, bleeding and infection[17] |
| Removing large or widespread mats | A vet or groomer | Easy to cut the skin unseen; vets can sedate[6] |
| Shaving a badly matted double coat | A professional groomer | AKC says matted hair removal is handled by professional groomers[15] |
| Plucking hair inside the ear | Avoid it; ask your vet if ear hair seems to be a problem | AKC's groomer standards say to avoid plucking internal ear hair[16] |
| Nail trims on a dog that panics | A veterinarian | A vet can use a light sedative to trim nails without a struggle[7] |
Next
Questions
My dog's shedding suddenly got much worse. Is that normal?
Heavier shedding in spring and fall is normal for many dogs and cats, but AAHA says a sudden, dramatic increase in shedding is a reason to contact your veterinarian.[1]
I found a bald patch while brushing. What should I do?
Treat it as a vet question, not a grooming one. AAHA and AKC both say bald patches, thinning fur or sudden hair loss should be checked by a veterinarian. Leave the area alone until then.[1][4]
How long should a cut quick bleed before I call the vet?
Our sources give no set time. Apply styptic powder, or flour or cornstarch if you have none; WSU notes bleeding may take about 5 minutes to stop without styptic powder. If it will not stop, or you are worried, call your vet.[12][10]
Should I clean an ear that smells or looks red?
Have your vet check it first. Cornell lists redness, itching, head shaking, discharge or increased wax, odor and discomfort when the ear is touched as warning signs, and says to stop and consult a veterinarian if your dog seems to be in pain.[2]
Is it safe to scrape tartar off my dog's teeth at home?
No. AAHA says scaling should be done only by trained veterinary staff on an anesthetized pet, and that non-anesthetic scaling is cosmetic and can cause pain, fear, bleeding and infection.[17]