Really upset about the condition my Mom's dog was in...

I am so sorry...that had to be tough. How old is your Mom? Maybe it's just too much for her and if the little dog knows her heart's not in it she might fight a little harder? I dunno...I think the GC's are very generous...if your Mom is a senior citizen maybe a nearby shop offers a discount or gift program? If there's a grooming school some student might even donate groom's?

I don't know...you are so sweet to help the little dog tho...poor thing.

I know you feel terrible for your Mom's dog and you did all you could and explained again what she needed.  Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and realize that there is just so much you can do.  I have one idea and that is to maybe send her  little reminder cards in the mail once a month.  And if you can get some gift certificates you could enclose those. 

Tough situation.  Do you have an groomers on wheels near you?  We have a few around here.  Maybe you could pay for or help pay for one of them to make scheduled visits at your mom's home.

 I'm so sorry, that must have been really difficult to deal with.  It does seem to me that if you keep the dog in a short puppy cut, you mom should be able to at least brush her, or does she fight your mom on stuff like that? 

If you're willing to do the gift certificate thing, and your mom will stick to taking her on a schedule, I think that might be the best you can do and still get the dog the grooming she needs.  You're better than me, my anger would have had me yelling, which of course, would have solved nothing. 

 My mom's dog turned 15, this year. He's a slightly fluffy Corgi mix, and due to the longness of his body, age, and an old injury, he's pretty arthritic. Mom gives him regular vet care. He gets his thyroid meds and Metacam, every day. He has regular bloodwork and weigh ins. He's losing his sight to cataracts, and even with all the love and help he gets, he is pretty sore. He no longer allows her to brush him. If he isn't groomed, at least once a month, his undercoat packs and mats, and he needs to be shaved down.

Sometimes, they're crankier. It's understandable, when you think about what they're dealing with (often loss of sight/hearing, and some sort of ache or pain for almost all of them, at that age). Brushing is harder. It's hard to deal with for the people, because you don't want to think that your beloved pet is getting older. I know Mom is certainly in a sort of denial that Toby is anything but perfect  (he's even started to wet the floor on occasion). I just remind her, occasionally, to try to run a comb through him. Fortunately, I can just steal him away and groom him, for her. She can't do it, anymore, because of an injury she got last year. Lifting him is too much, for her. It's too bad you aren't closer to your mom, but calling a mobile groomer in her area is a really good idea. If they take credit cards, you'd be able to pay over the phone, and they'll go right to the house and groom Nikki. 

I like the mobile groomer and credit card idea.  Surely there's something in the area?  Is she reluctant to handle her for some reason like being handicapped herself or fear of being scratched?  Is this dog a lap dog typically or a floor ornament?  I just can't imagine Zhi getting to that state - she sleeps on my pillow and it even drives me nuts when she starts growing out her beard a little. 

The first thing I did when I got Lulu in the house was to comb her down and cut out a few felted places on her flanks.  The next night I tackled the more serious job of the area underneath her, on the back of her legs, and under her tail, where there was extensive matting due to her lying down all the time, I believe (I couldn't groom Lu outside because she'd cry and try to get back to her flock - it never occurred to me that she'd accept it if I just took her inside - d'oh!).  Maintaining stuff like this is a big job, I know, even on a little dog.

 The Mom's not a senior citizen and it's not a fear of being scratched or anything.  To be honest I think it's just not wanting to do it herself.  I love my Mom to pieces (despite this gripe we are actually very very close) but I know she's also the type whose good at getting others to do things for her.    I really do like the mobile groomer's idea and I will see if there are any in around where she lives and the cost.  I really do have to watch my own budget myself, but I if it's not unreasonable I wouldn't mind splurging for a mobile groomers - if too much then there is at least 2 groomers within 5 miles to where she lives! 

Thanks everyone for letting me vent!  I think I also hated the fact that *I* felt guilty over Nikki's coat and skin, that I hadn't had time to groom her.  After all I only live out of state, work a lot of hours, and am generally pretty busy on the weekends lately....

 Maybe, if your mom and Nikki really like the mobile groomer, your mom will start making her own appts? Around here, mobile groomers are pretty reasonably priced.  I hope that works out, for them. It would make things super easy.

jennie_c_d - I hope it works out.  I'll be looking a bit later today to see what the options are.  This way Nikki will get the grooming she needs, I won't feel guilty, and it will be super convenient for my Mom.  I just cannot be relied upon anymore to be the sole groomer.  Besides my clippers are in bad need of repair or replacement (blades in need of sharpening) - so you can imagine how much fun that is to groom a seriously matted dog with clippers that are old and haven't been well maintained in the last few years (I never used them in the groom shop where I worked, I used work ones - these ones have only been for Nikki and one or two other dogs, so they got light use but they are about 11 years old original parts, and original blades!). 

 Eww, no fun at all! I volunteered at the shelter, once, without bringing any equipment. It was sort of like what you describe, except rustier, LOL. I'm pretty sure that isn't much fun for the dogs, either.

My mom has to rely on someone else to do it, now, but she didn't before her accident, and I was still expected to groom him, for her. I'm a groomer, it's what I do!  *shakes head*  He's a royal pain in the rear, too. I groomed him, this morning, and the little, fat boy snapped at me over his feet.  Oh, well. I try, hard, not to feel bad that he doesn't get groomed as much as he could. It's not easy to groom him, and he hates it. I do it when it HAS to be done.