Many many months ago, I posted about finding a professional groomer to strip my wire-coated terrier - and a lengthy debate about "clipper-happy" groomers ensued!

I found a groomer who gave my dog a "mini-strip" 6 months ago (to accustom her to the procedure), followed by a bath - from reading the sensible advice on this forum, I questioned the wisdom of bathing a dog with shampoo after being stripped, but in the groomers opinion it would not be a problem (stripped hair is dead hair, therefore the pores would not be open....??).  Anyway, on that occasion, my dog hadn't had a really major strip, so she was fine.  In any case, the groomer knows her job, right?

I've just had her fully stripped again, and again she had a full bath straight afterwards.  Within 24 hrs she went down with a very high temperature.  I had to take her to the emergency vet for anti-inflams and antibiotics, she was so unwell, and the bill was about £100.

A couple of days after she had recovered - she was very poorly but bounced back fast, typical terrier - I found hundreds of lumps and scabs covering her neck, shoulders, and flanks. 

Is it a reasonable conclusion that it was the bath - or more significantly, the shampoo - which cause this infection?  Or was it being stripped full stop - can I never have her stripped again, do I have to resort to having her clipped and ruin her coat?

And in the meantime, what do I do about the scabs and scurf now coming off her, bringing clumps of hair with it?  I've been gently combing out the matts and scabs so she feels less itchy, although it hasn't been bothering her particularly.  I'm worried she's going to end up with bald patches, it will grow back won't it? :(

I think it must be the type of shampoo, I've stripped all types of terriers, crossbreeds, and never had a problem, I bath them once stripped, and when dry go over them again for any stray hairs, I have never had any complaints, or problems with the dogs skin.

Really?  Thats interesting to know, thank you....I wonder if it was the shampoo, she used a different one this time (to the one she used last time), as my dog smelled a bit foxy, so she used one which was good for "de-greasing".

Maybe it had an astringent effect but it was too much for her skin following the strip? 

What d'you think about the scabs, should I leave well alone and let nature sort it out on its own?  I guess the hair will drop out anyway?

Keep doing her yourself Susie - you do a better job!  Unfortunately lots of 'groomers' are good talkers. :(

I've never bathed a course coated dog - it softens the coat and removes too much of the oils that makes it waterproof.  "Good for degreasing" says it all eh?  That's why terrier people chalk the coats, which cleans while leaving the hair coarse.

I'd wait and see what happens to the scabs.  If any look infected then it's off to the Vet, but if they dry and fall off 'normally' then I'd let nature take its course. :)

As a new groomer myself, I'm quite shocked to read this! 
Question for the experienced groomers, is it possible that the hand strip was done incorrectly going on the appearance of scabs and sore skin, or could that just be down to the shampoo used straight after the strip? 

Thanks WestCoast - I was going to PM you about it actually, as we spoke about it before didn't we! 

I like the groomer, she is a nice woman and perfectly professional.  Perhaps she has never used that shampoo on a dog following a strip before?  If its a detangler and degreaser, it must be a powerful detergent?  I might ask her for the name and then have a look at the ingredients..........

I don't really want to upset her and put her on the defensive.  If bathing is normal after stripping, and she's done it a million times without a problem, she couldn't have known that this would happen.  I'll put it down to just one of those things.....

In the meantime, I won't start bathing the dog again, I'll just keep doing a bit of combing to tease the scabs out of the coat (they are detached from the skin and are not infected).

I really wanted the stripping to be done by a professional, but as my husband has banned me from taking the dog back to her, I guess I will be doing that myself too!  I wish I had a decent table with two arms to attach her to, she's a fidget.

Tessies Tracey, I assume that as my dog was reasonably happy throughout the strip (other than around her ticklish bits of course), that it was being done correctly.  I am convinced it was the shampoo and a specific ingredient on her skin, which would have been sensitive after stripping.

I had read that bathing after stripping was a bad idea..........

I like the groomer, she is a nice woman and perfectly professional.
Unfortunately, that doesn't always mean the same as knowledgable. :(

I might ask her for the name and then have a look at the ingredients..........
You still won't know what's caused the problem.....  I only ever used a base concentrate shampoo - no perfume, no colour etc and never had any reactions in 16 years.  But then I never bathed a dog that I'd hand stripped. :(

she's done it a million times without a problem, she couldn't have known that this would happen.
Not if everyone didn't want to upset her and just didn't come back.  She needs to be told what's happened after she's had your dog in her parlour. :)  And her visit may or maybe have been connected with her high temperature etc.  But again if you tell the groomer, maybe she will know that one of the other dogs was poorly or perhaps she was lax with her disinfecting?  Without constructive feedback, we can't learn. :) :)

I wish I had a decent table with two arms to attach her to, she's a fidget.
For a small dog, any table between your cr*tch and waist height will be workable for you but the higher the better.  You then need 2 hooks in the wall, about 12" above the dog's shoulder height, one above the should and the other above the croup.
With 1/2" fabric leads (simple ones with just a single ring at one end) you can put one lead around the dogs neck as normal and tie to the first hook with a quick release slip knot.  With the other, put the ring on the hook, take the lead under the dog's tummy and tie on the back hook with the same knot as the front.  With a piece of rubber backed carpet to stand on, the dog will be safe and secure and you will have 2 hands to work with.  This can be the top of a chest freezer, a work bench in the garage, or even a kitchen unit in the kitchen if it's the right height for you.  You can always hang a wooden spoon on the hooks when you're not grooming! :)

I had read that bathing after stripping was a bad idea..........
Terrier people who handstrip regularly will agree with you. :)  What groomers are taught at local colleges may well be different.

one above the should and the other above the croup.

Sorry, this should of course say "shoulder"! :(