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Shaving Dogs and Cats

Posted: Apr 28, 2013

I am an animal lover and am all for making them comfortable in the summer months, but please keep in mind that an animal's coat/fur PROTECTS them from the heat/sun.

By shaving them to the skin, you are just setting them up to get even hotter outdoors and possibly burn their skin. Their coat also protects their internal body from shifts of temperature indoors or out.

A pet groomer is NOT going to tell you this--they make a good chunk of money shaving hair off pets. If you don't believe me, ask your vet---as long as he isn't also a groomer.

;

My cats are indoors only - P

[ In Reply To ..]
Never go outside. I have all long haired cats and try like I may, sometimes they come up with mats. I have 1 big boy who is over 20 lbs and he cannot clean himself good. I have had 3 of the 4 cats shaved down. I always have my home comfy for them and I have throws out on my sofas besides their beds, etc. so I doubt very seriously the occasional shave would hurt at all.

my recommendation - Snow Bunny (the original)

[ In Reply To ..]
Use a beard trimmer. It'll thin out the fur without shaving it off (which you should never do, because it can set the animal up for all sorts of infections).

This is not true for all breeds. - dog gal

[ In Reply To ..]
You should not make such a blanket recommendation. For dogs especially, it is very breed-specific.

Can you explain? - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
I can understand thinning out the hair if there is a matting or hygeine situation, but can you explain why any breed would need to be shaved down to the quick? As the other poster said, their fur also protects them from cuts, hence infections.

People are notorious for doing this to poodles in particular, so they look "cute" and their poofs stick out more.

Right. Ppl have been doing this to poodles for years and - the breed has not died out. Explain. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Of course the breed has not died out - NK

[ In Reply To ..]
since humans are the ones who decided that poodles would look best with human-designed haircuts and cut-off tails. Same with Dobies with their cut-off tails and surgically altered ears, Rotts, etc., etc. Then there are the people who get even short-haired dogs shaved to keep the hair off the furniture. Kinda like cats getting their toes cut off so they won't snag the furniture. The point is that dogs can and do get sunburn with hair shaved down to the skin and lose their "insulation" against the heat with no hair.

Poodles are cut that way for a reason - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Poodles were originally bred to be water retrievers. However, when their fur got wet, it was too heavy and would drag the dog down and drown them. To alleviate this risk, the hind area is shaved to reduce the drag. The fur is kept around the middle and joints to keep the internal organs and joints warm. A topknot is used to keep the fur out of the eyes. There are 2 different ways to cut poodle hair, but both still serve the same function. From a pet owners' view, a poodle does not need to be shorn this way and can just be given a puppy cut. However, show poodles need to be cut this way as it is part of the breed standard now.

Thank you - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't know why people are always messing with their poor animals' natural make-up. As I stated before, I could see if it's a hygiene or otherwise necesssary issue, but just because we think it looks "cuter" a certain way, I think it's mean to put the animal through all that, and all for what? So the pet looks cuter to us?

Show me a cat or dog who just LOVES to be taken to the groomer for a nice shave, and I'll show you... pick something.

If you don't like shedding animals, get a non-shedding one then leave the poor thing alone except for a shampoo and a toenail trim.

But the nonshedding ones are the ones that - should be groomed/shaved

[ In Reply To ..]
If you don't groom yourself or take to groomer for clipping, nonshedding dogs' fur gets matted and nasty. Obviously not necessary to shave down to the skin, but a close clip is all but mandatory for poodle owners and like nonshedders.

early detection - love my wheaten

[ In Reply To ..]
Soft-coated wheaten terriers are prone to PLN (protein-losing nephropathy). Their coats are thick and can grow long enough to sweep the floor. One of the early signs of PLN, even before the yearly screens can pick it up, is black spots on the skin. I always shave mine in the spring before applying a flea and tick product prior to taking her out to play in the woods and creeks. I'm thankful I made that a habit, because this spring my dog developed the black spots 2 weeks after application of the flea product. Had her hair been its usual 8 inches long, I would not have seen it. It was mild kidney damage from the product, but it accentuated the beginnings of underlying PLN that began since last year's test.

My vet has placed her on a protein-sparing diet to minimize effects of further kidney damage and went ahead and did this year's test. I grant you this is an unusual case, but an argument can be made for close clipping/shaving of certain long-haired dogs. I think anyone advocating total non-clipping/shaving of an animal has extreme sympathies and cannot be objective towards total pet care.

You're welcome. - NK

[ In Reply To ..]
Sometimes you just have to give up no matter how good your intentions are. People are going to shave their dogs and cats and get them ridiculous haircuts for all sorts of reasons, sometimes just because the AKC arbitrarily decided what makes a perfect breed. I spend a good portion of my time each day networking abandoned, abused, shelter, rescue dogs and cats, trying to find them homes, and see and hear about horrific things. At least the shaved, sunburned ones have homes. Thanks for trying. :)

Eh - whatever

[ In Reply To ..]
Just put noxema on them. They'll be fine.

Is Noxema non-toxic - For when they lick their skin?-nm

[ In Reply To ..]
xxxxx

AKC - poodle lover

[ In Reply To ..]
You need to do some research on the AKC and why breed standards are important from a humane and ethical standpoint. Your statement alone makes me question your overall knowledge of dogs and various breeds, negating any information you "pass" regarding the care of dogs. I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out the be the type of person who buys dogs from pet stores to "save them,"

possible - NK

[ In Reply To ..]
I've learned in my 71 years that it's possible to have a difference of opinion without questioning another's knowledge, integrity and character. Thankfully, I don't need a stranger on a message board to provide my validation.

yet, here you are... - NM

[ In Reply To ..]
and that demonstrates you need something from an (cough) anonymous posting board...

Have to agree with you. - It's just not dignified!

[ In Reply To ..]
Although I'm sure the dogs aren't terribly traumatized by getting their hair done (LOL), it just looks totally ridiculous to me.

Shaving Dogs and Cats - Vera

[ In Reply To ..]
I have a cream-colored Himalayan and her fur mats up terrible even with brushing. I do a lion cut on her in the late spring and summer and then it grow out in winter. She is an indoor kitty only. She gets frisky when her fur gets shaved and is playful more. I have to call in the next couple of days and take her to the beauty shop as I call it. I do not shave my outdoor cats at all. I tried to shave indoor cat a couple of times and it was a terrible experience, so it is worth the money to me and she looks good when done.

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