Dog Itchy or Acting Weird After Grooming? What Is Normal and When to Call

Your dog came home looking great and then spent the evening scratching, scooting across the rug, or hiding under the bed. Most of the time this is a normal, short lived reaction to a long, unfamiliar day. Sometimes it is a sign something needs attention. This guide goes through each common reaction, what usually causes it, what helps at home, and when to pick up the phone. It is written so groomers can send it to clients, too.

A note first: this is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog seems unwell, in pain, or the reaction is getting worse, call your vet.

Quick Guide: Common Reactions After a Groom

Itching and Scratching After Grooming

Itching is the reaction groomers hear about most. The usual reasons:

• Freshly exposed skin. A short clip uncovers skin that has been under a coat for weeks. Air, the dog's own collar and the new feel of short hair all make it want to scratch.
• Clipper irritation. Close blades, a blade that ran warm, or going over the same patch several times can leave skin pink and sensitive. It is most common on the belly, the inner thighs, the sanitary area and the neck. Our guide to clipper burn on dogs covers it in detail.
• Mats removed. The skin under a mat has been pulled and starved of air. Once the mat is gone it is often red and itchy for a few days, and sometimes there is a hot spot that was hidden underneath.
• Products. Occasionally a shampoo, conditioner or fragrance spray does not agree with a dog. If the itch is everywhere, not just where the clippers went, products are the likelier cause.

What helps: stop the dog from scratching or licking the same spot raw (a soft cone or a light T shirt works for a day), keep the area clean and dry, and do not put human creams or essential oils on it. If it is not easing within a day or two, or the skin breaks, see your vet.

Scooting After Grooming

Scooting is almost always about the rear end. The sanitary trim clips hair close to sensitive skin, and if the groomer expressed the anal glands, the area can be tender for a day. Either can make a dog drag itself across the carpet that evening. It normally stops within a day or two. If it does not, or you see swelling, redness or blood, the glands may be irritated or infected and need a vet. Our anal gland expression guide explains when groomers express glands and when they leave it to the vet.

Head Shaking After Grooming

Most groomers clean ears as part of a full groom, and some pluck or trim hair from the ear canal on breeds that grow a lot of it. A little water, cleaner or loose hair can stay behind, and the ear flaps may feel different after a trim. A dog that shakes its head a few times that evening is normal. A dog that is still shaking hard the next day, tilts its head, scratches at the ear, or has an ear that smells or looks swollen needs a vet. Constant violent shaking can burst a small blood vessel in the ear flap, which then fills with blood and needs treatment.

Licking Paws After Grooming

Hair between the pads is clipped short so dogs grip floors better and bring in less dirt, and nails are trimmed. Both can leave feet feeling odd for a day. If a nail was trimmed close and bled, the dog may favor that foot briefly. Licking that continues, limping, or swelling between the toes should be checked.

Shivering, Hiding and Acting Weird

A groom is a big day. There is a bath, a loud dryer, clippers buzzing near the face, strangers handling the feet, and a lot of waiting. Plenty of dogs come home tired, clingy or withdrawn, and a dog that lost a lot of coat may simply be cold. A dog that looks completely different may also act oddly for a while; some dogs seem embarrassed after a big haircut, and they settle once the novelty wears off.

Give the dog a warm, quiet place, a light sweater if the house is cool, water, and an early night. What is not normal: refusing food, heavy panting that does not stop, weakness, vomiting, or collapse. Those need a vet the same day.

When to Call the Groomer and When to Call the Vet

Call the vet for anything that looks like an injury or illness: a cut or open sore, bleeding that will not stop, swelling of the face or body, hives, limping, a head tilt, vomiting, collapse, or a dog that is still lethargic the next day.

Call the groomer for everything else, the same day if you can, with a photo. A good groomer wants to know. They can change the blade length, switch to a sensitive skin shampoo, skip the fragrance, leave the glands to your vet, or book shorter appointments for an anxious dog. Telling them means the next groom goes better.

For Groomers: Sending Dogs Home With Aftercare

Most post groom complaints are avoidable with two habits: telling the owner what to expect before they hear it from their dog, and writing down what happened so the next groom is different.

• Warn at pickup. If you shaved out mats, did a close sanitary trim, or expressed glands, say so and say what is normal for the next day or two. An owner who was warned calls with a question; an owner who was not calls with a complaint.
• Send it in writing. A short aftercare note sent home with the dog gets read again at 9 PM, when the scratching starts.
• Note the reaction on the dog's file. Which blade, which shampoo, what went wrong. Next time, whoever grooms the dog sees it.

GroomBoard's grooming report card lets you tick what you did during the groom and attach your own handouts, such as an aftercare sheet, so the owner gets them with the pickup text. Handling notes and voice notes stay on the pet's profile for the next visit. This guide is also a good link to send a client who calls worried. Start your free 7 day trial →