Dog Clinic
Dog Clinic.net
A source of certified dog doctors and clinics
Home › FAQ - Ask The Vet › How to care

Shaving Golden Retriever every summer to cool in summertime - Is it harmful to shave him?

My family and I live in Houston. In the summertime, the temperature easily can reach 100+ degrees every now and then. Our Golden Retriever is about 6 years old, but unfortunately he is not allowed inside most of the time. There is a hot tub that he gets in sometimes, but my question is-We shave him every summer thinking this may cool him, is this reasoning correct? Is it harmful to shave him? After the last shave his back was red for a few days; is this sunburn or razor burn (we use dog clippers)? The biggest positive about clipping him is that he is easier to keep clean.

Ideally, you would bring your dog indoors with your family so that he could live as part of a social group, as nature intended for this species, and as a companion to human beings, as humans intended for this species. But if he must be an outdoor dog, my suggestion is to leave his coat alone, other than to trim exceptionally long furnishings. His hair actually will help insulate him and keep him cooler, regulating his body temperature and protecting him from sunburn. The redness you've noticed could be either from shaving him too closely, from the sun, or both. Be sure to provide him with shade, plenty of water and shelter; you even might get him his own wading pool to help him stay cool and stay out of the hot tub. Tend to his grooming very regularly, going over him inch by inch looking for ticks, and use a flea and tick preventive. Regular grooming should help keep him mat-free and easier to maintain, as well as give him lots of extra touch and TLC, which outdoor dogs absolutely require on a daily basis.


People who viewed 'Shaving Golden Retriever every summer to cool in summertime - Is it harmful to shave him?' also found interest in following articles . . .

Category: