Things didn’t go well when you tried a new groomer out. The cut is too short, and your dog looks ridiculous. What’s worse, now the pooch is acting depressed. It can be difficult to know exactly what happened; did the groomer annoy your pet, or are they freaking out over a bad haircut. However, I can assist you in figuring out why your dog is acting strangely after a shave and help you and your pet get some of that confusion sorted out.
Your dog cannot develop clinical depression after visiting the groomer, according to the law. However, they can become very clearly upset and embarrassed. With all that hair gone, Fido might feel less like himself, which could result in some strange behavior.
There is no scientific evidence to support dog depression, regardless of whether grooming caused depressed behavior or not. That doesn’t mean your dog can’t experience depression. However, there are no studies demonstrating significant alterations in the brain’s chemistry in canines exhibiting symptoms of what we would call depression. Doggy depression is currently unproven because clinical depression is characterized by changes in brain chemicals.
Anyone who is familiar with dogs will confirm that they do exhibit signs of depression. However, in the absence of supporting evidence, the technical term “clinical depression” is inapplicable. Having said that, we’ll still state the obvious.
Depression or upset in dogs is common after grooming. The signs and symptoms are frequently comparable to those of clinically depressed humans. Here’s what you should watch for.
Unfortunately, all of these symptoms could also be signs of other dog health issues. Make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as your pet exhibits unusual behavior to ensure that they are not ill. The issue is not going to go away by blaming post-grooming depression for it. Only a veterinarian can tell for certain.
You might have removed a lot of hair from your head in the past. For the majority of us, the sensation can be lovely, light, and very pleasant. However, some people may find the new sensation unpleasant and distracting, such as those with autism spectrum disorders. Your dog may have the same issue.
Everyone, including your dog, is affected when they feel like there is something wrong for several hours or days. Grooming can cause this reaction. Your pooch may show their upset with ‘depressed’ actions.
A small amount of a stress reliever is sometimes the best way to assist a stressed-out pet. No, I don’t mean scheduling a massage for them at the neighborhood “pampered pup” spa. Try giving them a Thundershirt Classic Dog Anxiety Jacket. A Thundershirt can swaddle them and hug their body, making them feel safe and loved until the fur grows back. Despite how odd it may sound, Thundershirts have a track record with canine anxiety. To find out more, click here.
Although it is debatable, your dog can suffer from embarrassment after going to the groomer. It’s interesting to consider that dogs may not perceive themselves as we do as a species. Even though they are not self-aware enough to pass the mirror test, their feelings remain the same.
You might be surprised to learn that your dog’s behavior isn’t always related to how they feel about getting a haircut. Canines are sensitive to human moods. If you complained angrily and suggested there was a problem with your dog after your new groomer removed more hair than you had asked for, they are aware of it.
Fido would also notice if you had fido’s hair done and then laughed or cringed at the results. Although I’m sure you didn’t mean to embarrass your dog, his behavior after receiving mockery or scorn from his alpha (which is you) may be attributable to you.
So, How Do Dogs Feel After Grooming?
Although each dog is unique, after a grooming session, dogs may likely feel a little worn out, sad, or even appear depressed. However, in some instances, particularly those where the grooming appointment was overdue, the dogs may appear vivacious and content to have their hair cut and paws freshly clipped.
But the majority of experienced dog groomers and regular dog owners will likely agree that dogs simply detest going to the groomer. It’s common for dogs to display certain behavioral issues while getting groomed, such as biting, barking, scratching, and desperately trying to escape the groomer’s grasp. But don’t worry, groomers are used to this.
Grooming sessions can cause dogs to feel submissive, and fearful. And occasionally the session might cause them some minor discomfort. They are generally uncomfortable, which causes them to feel bad after the session and anxious before the process begins.
Reason #2 – They Are Responding To You
Let’s be honest: did you or anyone else laugh at your freshly cut dog when you saw them? Do you even like the haircut? Were you annoyed by how much it cost or how long it took you to complete?
Your dog has no vanity about themselves. Dogs cannot recognize themselves in mirrors and have no understanding of their outward appearance.
They cannot possibly feel self-conscious about their appearance. A dog cannot possibly feel embarrassed at all, to be perfectly honest.
They may, nonetheless, experience social rejection, which would make them sad and appear depressed.
Dogs are also very intelligent animals, and many of them have the ability to sense when they are being teased. Alternatively, if they are around someone who is feeling bad
If your dog gets a bad haircut from the groomer, don’t laugh at them because you know how closely you and your dog are connected.
Dogs can sense the energy and mood of those around them, so if you’re acting dissatisfied with the way they’re being groomed, they probably will, too.
Think about the physical nature of dog grooming. You spend a lot of time lifting, prodding, rubbing, and prodding your dog while holding them in odd positions.
It’s not at all surprising that a dog might feel somewhat helpless after receiving grooming because there is no dignity in any of it.
After all, nothing can reveal where you stand in a relationship like having your privates cut off against your will.
Your dog must be physically under your control in order to be groomed, which may make them feel powerless and forced to submit in the relationship.
These emotions may appear in ways that are easily mistaken for signs of depression, such as excessive lying down, avoiding eye contact, using low vocalizations, and generally seeming down.
They might also act irate and lash out at you, family members, or pets in the home in an effort to reclaim their position at the top of the food chain.
In any case, it’s easy to comprehend how a dog might feel a little robbed of their strength and dignity after spending a few hours on the grooming table.
It is simple to link everything mentioned above to a mistake that occurred.
The dog was injured, felt threatened or put down, or was somehow made to feel bad by their owner.
All of those have fairly obvious causes, but you might overlook the possibility that your dog may simply feel very differently after grooming than they did before.
And they may not really like the change!
In order to give my dog more insulation when it’s cold outside, I let her hair grow out during the winter. I shorten it every spring when it gets warm for her summer cut.
Even if it’s 80 degrees outside when I do this, my dog always acts like she’s shivering after getting her summer haircut.
Imagine having a thick, complete coat covering every part of your body before it all vanished overnight.
When a dog gets a dramatic haircut, they might suddenly become extremely sensitive to all drafts and touches. Alternatively, they might now have a few hairs where none previously, poking or tickling them.
Depending on how matted the dog was, they might even have sores on their body that are now beginning to heal.
They might hear better if you pricked their ears too now!
All of this is to say that your dog will feel more dramatically different the more dramatic a groom you give them.
And after getting groomed, your dog may experience some discomfort or growing pains due to feeling very different.
The most frequent causes of a dog acting downhearted, lethargic, or otherwise unwell after grooming are pain or discomfort.
This greatly depends on the experience your dog had while being groomed.
Check your dog’s skin all over. It’s possible that the scissors or clippers they used to cut their hair left them with a knick somewhere on their body. When giving your dog a haircut, pay close attention to the area around their hips and under their arms as these are vulnerable to injury.
Also keep in mind that your dog might experience uncomfortable razor burn as a result of a short haircut. Imagine how painful a razor burn would be all over your body; that would be enough to make me feel down.
Check in their ears for rawness, redness, or moisture. Even if you or your groomer used a numbing powder, it’s still possible that your dog is experiencing discomfort around their sensitive ears after having the hair from their ears plucked.
Given that an infection takes at least a day to manifest, your dog may have acquired an infection as a result of bath water getting into his ears. Your dog may have developed an ear infection if they appeared fine following grooming but later displayed symptoms of depression or irritability. Examine the dog’s ears to see if they are itchy around the ear or if other dogs are showing more interest in them.
Your dog’s nails may become painfully chipped or cracked as a result of nail trimming.
And if your dog has black toenails, it’s all too simple to clip their nails a little too short.
The key takeaway from this is that you must physically and thoroughly check your dog for any indications of an external injury. The most likely explanation for why your dog behaves strangely after grooming is this.
Remember, though, that not all physical injuries are external.
If you did your dog’s grooming, you are probably aware of any incident that could have been severe enough to result in an internal injury.
However, if you took your dog to a groomer, it’s possible that they caused an internal injury that you wouldn’t be able to see from an external examination.
It’s possible that your dog aspirated some water while taking a bath and now has water in their lungs.
Or they could have fallen off of the grooming table. The abrupt stop could have caused neck or back injuries if they were restrained by their collar.
They might have suffered injuries from the fall if they weren’t restrained by the table, especially if you have a small dog.
Your dog’s groomer absolutely ought to have informed you if anything similar happened while your dog was in their care, but it’s possible that they did not for whatever reason. Therefore, if your dog appears to be in perfect condition on the outside but is still acting down, it’s time to call your groomer and have them check.
Do Dogs Feel Better After Grooming
This depends on your situation. Your dog can leave the groomers feeling like a million bucks, even if there are a few mats or it has been a while.
On the other hand, if it’s a little chilly when your dog gets groomed, you might find yourself with a very grumpy dog.
FAQ
Does grooming cause stress to dogs?
Touching and massaging sensitive areas – Grooming can be a stressful experience for many dogs because it involves touching their paws, groin, rear, belly, and ears, among other delicate body parts.
How do I relieve my dogs stress from grooming?
- Groom Them Young. Puppies are more tolerant of novelty and easier to please.
- Practice dog grooming at home. Familiarise your dog with the sound of grooming tools .
- Reward Them With The Best Dog Treats. …
- Exercise. …
- Muzzle Training. …
- Stress-Free Ride to the Groomer’s.
Do dogs act weird after grooming?
Your dog is probably depressed because they experience fear, submissiveness, or pain following the grooming procedure. Additionally, they might be reacting to any unfavorable emotions felt by those around them, or they might simply not like feeling different now that they have been trained.
Do dogs feel good after being groomed?
Due to the numerous health advantages and improved general cleanliness that come with grooming, dogs are happier afterward. Additionally, grooming offers a chance for social interaction with other dogs and groomers. Although some dogs may feel down after getting groomed, this quickly passes, and they genuinely appreciate the advantages.