Dog Owner Alleges Groomer Injured Pet and Used Superglue to Repair Nipple

Tegan Williams claims her dog Honey was injured during grooming, with a nipple cut and superglued. After a costly emergency vet visit, the groomer reimbursed fees but offered no apology. An investigation is ongoing.

Incident Overview

A woman has reported that her dog's nipple was accidentally cut and subsequently superglued back together by a pet groomer.

Tegan Williams, aged 20, brought her two-year-old toy poodle and bichon frisé cross named Honey to Scruffy 2 Fluffy groomers located in Bargoed, Caerphilly county, on 15 June. This was Honey's fourth grooming appointment at the establishment.

Later that same day, Tegan noticed multiple injuries on Honey's body. She claims that an emergency veterinary visit, which cost £385, revealed that "some sort of superglue" had been applied to a wounded nipple.

"She's still shaking to this day now,"

Tegan said.

Details of Grooming Appointment

Paul Smith, owner of Scruffy 2 Fluffy, described the incident as "an accident" and stated that he took immediate and appropriate action upon learning of it.

Tegan confirmed that Honey was a "regular client" at the groomers, having had three prior grooming sessions without any issues.

"That was her fourth groom since she was a puppy. There's never been any issues at all,"

she explained.

The grooming service included collection and return of Honey from Tegan's home in Fochriw. Upon returning Honey, Paul informed Tegan that the dog was "very matted," which Tegan found unusual since she had brushed Honey that morning and does so daily.

At the time of Honey's return, Tegan had workmen in her house, which Honey did not like. Consequently, Honey was secured in the kitchen and was not inspected thoroughly until later.

"When they left, I brought her back out to be in the living room as she normally is, and I noticed that she had blood in her right eye.

As I examined more of her body, I noticed that she had a cut on the back of her right leg."

Tegan Williams Two pictures side by side. On the left is a close-up shot of a dog's eye, which is red. On the right is a close up of a dog's tummy with a small wound on one nipple. — Tegan says Honey had blood in her eye, a cut to her leg, and a "really hard" patch on her tummy

Upon further examination of Honey's abdomen, Tegan observed that one nipple was "really hard" and that Honey was "quite sensitive" when touched in that area.

Emergency Veterinary Care

Tegan contacted an out-of-hours veterinary service and was advised to take Honey to Swansea for an emergency appointment, which incurred a cost of approximately £385. This expense was drawn from funds Tegan had saved for rent and her daughter's upcoming third birthday.

"I was so upset, I was panicking, I was scared."

Tegan Williams Tegan, with bobbed bleach blonde hair and dark glasses. Her shoulders are just visible, she wears an orange jacket. — Tegan Williams says she was panicking and scared when she saw Honey's injuries

As a mother of two young children, Tegan explained that she had to inform her son and daughter, both under five years old, that Honey was "going to the doggy hospital" in a manner that would not frighten them.

The veterinarian prescribed eye drops for Honey's right eye, which was believed to have been injured by a blow or trauma. The cut on the leg was considered minor and expected to heal naturally.

However, the vet also informed Tegan that Honey's nipple had been wounded and superglued, advising that Honey would need to return for further examination once the glue began to come off to assess the full extent of the injury.

"They didn't really want to touch the wound, only because it was superglued on so much that, if they had a look, she would be really sore."

Tegan expressed concern about a possible infection due to "leaking" from the wound.

"A week later, she's still really nervous. I felt guilty, because I chose for her to go to this particular groomer,"

she said.

Response from Groomers and Authorities

Following the veterinary visit, Tegan contacted Scruffy 2 Fluffy. While the groomers reimbursed her for the veterinary fees, Tegan stated they did not offer an apology or explanation.

She also reported the incident to Trading Standards at Caerphilly council. The council confirmed it was "aware of the allegations and currently investigating them" but declined to comment further due to the ongoing investigation.

Paul Smith, owner of Scruffy 2 Fluffy, explained that he rents out grooming tables to individual groomers and only became aware of the injuries after Tegan's complaint. He apologized to Tegan and her partner.

"The issue was brought up to me the next day and I immediately acted,"

he said, adding that he informed the groomer involved that they were "not welcome back here."

"I paid for the vet straight away without question, because I don't feel that they should have been in that position."

Paul noted that the grooming industry in the UK is unregulated but expected groomers using his premises to have their own insurance. He mentioned that the groomer was "too embarrassed to mention" the incident.