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Three Reasons You Shouldn’t Shave Your Pet

Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 12:00pm
Golden retriever wearing red collar











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Just read what the article is about! It says, don't SHAVE your animal! It's of to trim, just think twice about shaving! Educate yourself, and make the informative decision based on the facts!


My Himalayan is 18 and I've had him shaved beginning at the vets' office when he was just a year old. I just had him shaved and must say, it will be the last time even though we live in an area where the temp reaches 100+ in the summer daily. Perhaps his tummy but not the rest of him. I've noticed that he cuddles more in the night so obviously he's cold. Additionally, I think it's hard on them when they are older to go to a groomer so I'm going to start bathing him at home and shaving his tummy myself. We also have a Peke whom we have shaved. I can't imagine not doing this. He gets so ratty looking and his coat is so thick that even brushing him doesn't work. On the other hand, we would never shave our Akita, Golden or Lab. I definitely agree that they need their coats as insulation from both heat and cold. BTW, dogs, to my knowledge. don't sweat. That's why they pant.


best part of this post is need their coats as insulation from both heat and cold. BTW, dogs, to my knowledge

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Dogs do not sweat


I agree, the article says it is OK to trim but not shave their hair off. I certainly as a person would get a second opinion for myself if I or my children were ill, but I would not take medical advice from my hair stylist lets say if I had a lesion or baldness it would be time to see a doctor at some point. I own a Siberian husky. I brush her often with a wire brush and take her out for long walks very early in the AM and at night after I get off. While I am away I have a constant feeder and water bottle. I always fill the water bottle at night and keep in in the freezer until I get ready to leave for the workday. That way she has cold water dripping down from the ice . At the end of our walks when I am off I try to go by the beach and let her drink and drench herself in the boardwalk shower used to wash your feet. My apartment is air conditioned, but when it was not she has a small fan in her favorite areas where she relaxes as well. She also loved ice chips and crushed ice. I keep it at a minimum to prevent her teeth from becoming damaged and never give whole ice cubes. She also takes a cool shower in the tub a couple of days a week during the really hot temperatures as I do. You have to weigh your options and not ignore professional advice. I thought at first to have her shaved down to prevent her from overheating and because of the shedding, but I was enlightened that the coat naturally sheds to keep her cool and the more dense coat will grow in winter to keep her warm, which explains the sudden extreme shedding, but I manage with a good vacuum for the furniture and floors, and I vacuum her beds and lounging pillows everything even the window sills ceiling etch before mopping with a good natural cleaning solution. after the brush and bath/shower not before. I DO NOT EVEN OWN A BROOM ANYMORE THEY ARE USELESS!!! I also have a very large training crate that I utilize so that after she is done with her daily routine she is confined in a easily maintainable comfortable living space where I do not have to constantly worry about hair in everything where before I could barely eat without seeing hair flying everywhere and trying to keep it out of my food. This was another thing I was apprehensive about because I wanted her to roam freely and sleep in the bed and so on, but it turned out that the crate was the best thing that ever happened in our house. She is about 30 pounds now but I purchases a crate for a 90 pound dog where she can play and move comfortably and still interact as she can see and be part of the family as well as not ruin furniture and hard wood floors and rugs while I am at work. I do not have to worry about chewing on wires and bad behaviors and my house is still clean when I get in while she is still in a good mood and in comfort. When buying a crate consider that your dog may be still growing and make a wise choice to get crate that will accommodate that growth.




I think the words need defining. Shaved is what a show poodle wears in the ring, trim is removing excess hair. Shaving can cause razor burn, skin damage and sun burns. Trimming makes the coat more wearable. When you go to get your hair done, do you want a shave head or a trim? Don't blame the groomer if you use the wrong words!


It seems a lot of people are confusing shaving and trimming. I get my sheltie trimmed but never ever shaved. Yes, she sleeps on the ceramic tile but she does that year-round and, yes, she's a little slow moving when she gets up but she's older and already has arthritic problems. When she sleeps on the carpet it's the same result. She reacts to long periods of inactivity the same as anyone with arthritis would. She gets her paws and private areas groomed and her nails clipped, that's enough.



