July 4th, 2021
There are actually two schools of thought on this subject.
1. The do NOT shave concept.
The insulation properties of a double coat on a dog have been well known for years. The idea being that when a coat is properly taken care of, it insulates the dog from the outside elements. The key here is, to properly take care of the coat. The dog should have the “dead” undercoat properly removed on a regular basis. The problem; many dogs do not see a groomer on a set schedule and although the owner may brush the dog, it is next to impossible to properly remove what is necessary without professional equipment and technique. This leaves the dog with too much hair compacted in the coat to correctly insulate the pet and keep them cool/warm. That being said, if the dog is properly taken care of, the theory of a double coat keeping a dog cool/warm when necessary should hold true.
2. The shave it off proposal.
Shaving the dog down does not come without repercussions. For the first couple of weeks, at least, going in direct sun for extended periods of time can result in sunburn. This is not something that any pet owner would want for their beloved pet. The other potential problem, is the widespread belief that shaving double coated dogs ruins their coat. The coat may not grow back to it's original condition and/or alopecia may result. This has been debated ad nauseum in the grooming industry. Some believe that the hair follicle is damaged from shaving and yields the aforementioned results. Others are of the opinion that the coat will grow back to it's original state given enough time and that any alopecia may be a result of one of numerous medical conditions. Or, simply due to the process being repeated for many years with the dog now being of the age that alopecia would have set in anyway. I have seen for myself, dogs that have thinning hair as they get older. The other notion I want to point out is that I have had clients who have been adamant about the pet's comfort after shaving. They have told me of the visible evidence, mainly less panting and irritability.
That is the info I have up to this point. I would love to speak with a veterinarian specializing in dermatology and pick thier brain
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