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What Dog Breeds Should Not be Shaved?

Shaving is a good alternative for owners of some longhaired dog breeds that cannot maintain such easily tangled coats. However, shaving can do more harm than good for many dogs. Alum Rock Animal Hospital of San Jose takes a look at what dogs should never be shaved.

Double-Coated Dogs

Many dog breeds have double coats. They consist of a rough upper layer and a softer underlayer. Although it may seem that shaving these dogs will keep them cool in summer, it won’t. Shaved double-coated dogs may even need a trip to the veterinarian for heatstroke, sunburn, or skin cancer. The double coats act as insulation from cold and heat.

Popular double-coated dog breeds include the border collie, the Siberian husky, the Alaskan husky, the Alaskan Malamute, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Akita, the Keeshond, the Shiba Inu, the Chow Chow, the Pomeranian, the Shih Tzu, the Australian Shepherd, Saint Bernard, the golden retriever, and the most popular dog breed in North America, the Labrador retriever.

Wirehaired Dogs

As their name suggests, wirehaired dogs have rough coats. They were bred for coats like these to protect them from all kinds of hot and cold weather. They do not shed like most dogs, so they need their coats stripped once or twice a year. If you do not know how to do this, then have it done by a pet grooming professional. It will not only look better but makes sure the dog will feel better.

Shaving the coats of wire-hired dogs ruins the coats for good. The coats never grow back looking the same. They often become frizzy and pale. Like with double-coated dogs, wirehaired breeds have coats that act as insulation. Like with double-coated dogs, shaving also makes wirehaired dogs more prone to heatstroke, sunburn, and skin cancer. Breeds include the wirehaired dachshund, the wirehaired German pointer, the border terrier, and the Scottish terrier.

Pet Grooming Tips

Dogs do not sweat through their skin, but by panting and from their paws. If a dog is really hot, trimming the hair around the paw pads helps the dog to sweat. Brushing every day helps keep the coat tangle-free and aerated.

Contact Our Veterinarian for Pet Grooming Services in San Jose 

If you still have questions about shaving your dog that has not been answered here and live in the San Jose area, please contact Alum Rock Hospital at (408) 258-2735 to make an appointment.