This dog came to us last weekend in terrible shape. One would think a dog looking this terrible was old, having lived a life on the streets. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. This dog appears to be fairly young, not older than two, and based on his weight and other health factors, it seems that someone was feeding him regularly. Commonly, we see poodle mixes whose basic grooming needs are not taken care of. Many people think that grooming is just about how a dog looks, but in fact it has a significant impact on the dog’s health. When a dogs grooming is neglected, mats begin to build up and can often inhibit a dog’s ability to move and function well. Lack of grooming can also be a breeding ground for fleas, ear mites and yeast growth.
Our groomer set to work immediately on this dog and quickly discovered that he favored his front right leg, for what she suspected was a broken bone. When mats get so tight in a dog’s fur, they can often snap the bone. Upon further examination, our vets concluded that his favoring of the leg appeared to be from an old fracture that had not healed properly. Despite the old injury, this dog is active and sweet and does very well with people. As you can see in his after photos, this guy is quite handsome and sweet. Please remember to groom your pets properly to keep them healthy and happy.
