You might ask whether you ought to shave your dog during the summer when the temperature starts to skyrocket. Dogs are encased in fur, so it stands to reason that most of us would think that their thick coats would keep them very warm in the summer. These long coats, nevertheless, can actually keep dogs cooler in the heat. Did you know that no right Read the full article to learn more.
When shaving the dog this summer, read the following information:
1 - Dogs with Two Coats
When shaving the dog this summer, read the following information:
1 - Dogs with Two Coats
Double-coated canines have a soft inner coat with hair that is near their skin and acts as insulation, keeping them comfortable in hot and cold conditions. A dog will lose a lot of its undercoat in the summer, but what is left will help trap air among the two coat layers, enabling the dog to control their body temperature and fend off the heat. The longer hair on a dog's outer coat, also known as its guard hair, is what gives it color. Dogs' outer coats don't shed as much.
Dogs with double coats include Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Border Collies, English Springer Spaniels, Siberian Huskies, and Golden Retrievers. In warm weather, they lose their undercoats, but their outer coat is still on to shield against sunburn and bug stings.
The coat on your dog actually serves as insulation. In addition to removing the dog's protective layer of fur and making it more susceptible to heat stroke, shaving the dog's coat can also lead to incorrect hair development and the potential for follicle damage. A dog's fur covering lowers his chances of skin cancer and protects him from sunburn.
Additional long-term harm can result from shaving two coats. The undercoat's hair will regrow more quickly after being shaved to the skin, and occasionally it will supplant the more gradual guard hairs. This can change a dog's coat's texture and color, making it look uneven and unappealing.
2 - Dogs with a Single Coat
Greyhounds, Dalmatians, Afghan Hounds, Dalmatians, Boxers,and Poodles are examples of dogs who only have one type of coat. All breeds have evenly spaced hairs; none have a soft undercoat. Their hair can be extremely short or very long, wiry, silky, or curly.
Some single-coated dog breeds could benefit from having their coats periodically clipped by a skilled groomer to avoid matting and keep them cool. The coats shouldn't be shaved all the way to the skin, though. To prevent skin cancer, sunburn, and bug bites, it is advisable to leave no less than an inch of hair on the head. These dogs must maintain at least an inch of hair for both warmth and protection since they lack an undercoat, which provides additional insulation.
How can dogs cool off in the summertime safely?
Shaving truly has little to no effect on how quickly dogs cool off compared to how we do. Dogs mostly use panting to control their body temperature. Additionally, they rely on vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels, to keep cool, particularly on their face and ears. The hot blood is brought closer to the skin's surface whenever the blood vessels dilate.
Similar to human sweat glands, dogs possess merocrine sweat glands. These, however, are exclusively found in the paw pads of dogs, and they work to cool the animal down when it becomes overheated.
Regularly brush your dog's coat. This gets rid of dead hair, stops matting, and improves airflow in their coat.
To keep your dog clean and pest-free, give them regular chilly baths.
The cooling sweat glands on your dog's feet allow them to sweat to cool themselves, so keeping their paws free of extra fur can aid in this process.
In order to improve cooling, groomers advise keeping a dog's legs and tummy free of overly long hair.
Ensure that your dog is always able to access cold water and shade, that it only goes for walks and exercises during the coolest portions of the day, and that it is never left alone in a car, not even for a short period of time.
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