To shave or not to shave?

Every year as we move towards the arrival of warmer weather, groomers get lots of calls for spring/summer shaves on breeds that aren’t normally shaved such as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Pomeranians, Shelties, German Shepherds, and other double-coated breeds.  Owners are under the impression that by shaving the dog, they will help keep the dog cooler.

Mother Nature designed the double coat and it is an excellent device to enable dogs to regulate their temperature. A double coat is a coat that is comprised of longer, stiffer guard hairs with a shorter, softer undercoat.  During the colder months, the undercoat will come in thicker to act as insulation and keep the body warmer.  As the temperature warms, the dog sheds the soft undercoat and allows air to circulate at the skin level, keeping the dog cooler. The guard hairs protect the skin from sunburn and other environmental issues. Shaving your double-coated dog can actually make them more susceptible to heat stroke because their natural cooling system no longer functions properly. It also makes them more susceptible to sunburn and you may have to purchase sunscreen to protect your dog.

Shaving a double-coat can also irreparably damage the coat and it may never grow back to the original state.  The dog may look patchy, with bald spots, thick spots, and areas where there are guard hairs and areas where the guard hairs won’t grow anymore.  This results in the dog also losing the ability to regulate his/her temperature in both the colder months and the summer months.

A second reason owners want to shave their dogs is to reduce the amount of shed.  Shaving your dog will not make any difference in the amount of shedding your dog does.  Yes, the hair may be shorter, but there will be just as much coming out.  The best way to reduce the amount of hair in your house is to bring your dog in for regular grooming which will keep shed to a minimum.   It will also remove any dead coat, excess coat, and dander which will help you keep your floors and furniture cleaner.

Single-coated breeds that are kept trimmed should carry a minimum of 1 inch of coat year round.  It’s enough to keep them warm in the winter and cool in summer by allowing their innate temperature regulation to work while protecting them from sunburn in the summer.

If you have any questions on this topic, please don’t hesitate to call or email us.

Taking Care of Teeth - Oral Hygiene

When was the last time you took a good look inside your dog’s mouth?  If you are like most dog owners, it’s been awhile or you never have.  Time to take a look. Oral hygiene problems affect up to 80% of dogs! From gingivitis to serious periodontal disease resulting in tooth loss, these problems are affecting the health of your dog, potentially shortening the already too short time we have with them.

Why do dogs have such a high rate of dental problems?  They don’t brush their teeth 2-3 times a day like we brush ours. This allows for the build-up of plaque and tartar which then leads to overgrowth of bacteria and from there, the problems snowball.  The toxins from periodontal disease can be absorbed into the blood stream, potentially causing kidney, liver, cardiac, and even brain damage.

Having your dog’s teeth cleaned by a veterinarian is a costly endeavor. For routine cleanings, prices in the Portland area will range from about $300-$800.  Add in radiographs and potentially some extractions, you can easily double those amounts.  Dogs also have to be fully anesthetized to have dental procedures.  Anesthesia is very safe and gets safer all the time, but there is always risk involved in any anesthetic. 

So what can you do about it?  There are several options.  You can brush your dog’s teeth at least once daily.  But you have to do it every day, studies have shown that even every other day is not effective in reducing gingivitis.  You can buy dental treats which can be helpful if you have a dog who will actually chew on them rather than eat them as fast as they can.  There are supplements you can add to their food or water which have varying degrees of success.

Or, you can forget about it at home and let us do it with your dog’s regular groom!  Our oral hygiene program will gently remove plaque or tartar build up and leave your dog’s teeth clean and breath smelling great.  We use no sedation or anesthesia, our process is so gentle that the vast majority of dogs don’t have any issues.  By using our service, we can drastically reduce the need for a full dental cleaning at your veterinarian.  And so far, we are getting rave reviews from the vets who care for our clients! The cost savings are substantial as well.

So the next time you are in, ask us about adding this service to your dog’s groom.  (We also offer our Oral Hygiene as a stand-alone service.)  Call or email today for more information!