Delle

What’s the fastest way to start an online argument? Ask if a double coated dog should be shaved; cue thermal image of a dog in a lion cut. This is one of the most controversial topics there is in the grooming and veterinary industry each year; whether or not shaving your dog keeps them cooler in the heat (never whether or not to grow them longer for the winter; but the same science applies!) This is a persistent dispute with mostly mixed anecdotes and unfortunately little scientific information to be found. It is imperative that dog owners and pet professionals have an understanding of an animal’s homeostatic temperature mechanism of thermoregulation and the skin and coat before you decide whether or not to proceed with shaving your dog. Only then can you make an informed decision for the individual animal in your care. It comes down to just that, an individual choice based on the animal’s condition.