Summertime is a time when our dogs tend to shed; hair gets everywhere and there are annoying little clumps left all over the carpet. But, is shaving a dog’s thick coat the answer?
Shaving a thick coated ‘fur-bearing’ dog can result in hair loss and other skin diseases. Fur-bearing dogs’ coats grow to a predetermined length. These breeds include: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Shetland Sheepdogs, German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, Keeshonds, Siberian Huskies, Chows and Pomeranians.
These dense coats are designed to breathe and protect from extreme heat and cold. When a dog’s undercoat is shaved it will not help him keep cool. In fact, shaving can cause irreversible damage to coats in fur-bearing dogs. The coat will rarely grow back the same. Shave downs of the fur-bearing dogs may lead to alopecia (hair loss) and a myriad of skin diseases, including skin cancer.
There are now so many products on the market to maintain a dog’s coat and reduce shedding. Groomers and veterinarians would happily share some of their product knowledge and grooming tips based on your dog’s coat length and texture.
Remember, outer guard hair protects your dog’s skin. Coats should not be shaved unless a medical condition requires it or the coat is so matted there’s no other choice.
Save your money on shaving and invest in a proper grooming brush and some top notch products recommended by your groomer….Oh, and maybe good vacuum cleaner to pickup those annoying little clumps on the carpet!
* TheAKCwebsite, www.akc.org lists all breeds of Fur-bearing dogs.
Information for this article was provided by Lisa Drake Pet Esthetician and Master Groomer of epi-pet.com and Aidan Gannon of www.gannongrooming.com.
Photo by inetgiant.com
