Shaving?

Widabeck · Post by **Widabeck** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:59 pm

Ok I must admit I never once though about shaving a chow. I've always heard (although from non-chow owners) that you should NEVER shave a chow.

I'm having such a hard time with grooming holly's fur lately and with summer and shedding it just seems worse. She's losing her puppy coat and blowing her winter coat at the same time.

Is shaving a good idea or is it true that the fur will never grow back right?

Layla · Post by **Layla** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:42 pm

I had to trim Millie down after a bad fight and she is doing the same as Holly right now (puppy & winter coats going going gone!) I can honestly say that I think it's made the situation WORSE as the hair growing back is thicker than ever. It's a nightmare! I'm grooming her for 1-1.5 hours most days! Try a furminator or similar rake or a grommer could 'blow' the coat out for you....

cheriekynb · Post by **cheriekynb** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:57 pm

LAYLA, you promised pics of Millie after her "shave".. Did I get to see one and I forgot?? Post it again or send me to it.

YUP, I'm thinking of having Sid "trimmed" too. He's STILL losing puppy fur and I'm pulling out tufts of fur by the handfuls!!

Layla · Post by **Layla** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:08 pm

It doesn't show up that well in my photos to be honest. This is one though, oh and the ones I posted in the gallery of her 1/2 birthday

cheriekynb · Post by **cheriekynb** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:34 pm

I LOVE THOSE EARS!!!

WildThings · Post by **WildThings** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:42 pm

We have shaved Tess once...left the fur at about an inch, but we had not kept up with the spring blow and it tangled so badly that we were afraid it would pull too much to brush out full length. Her coat grew back in just fine, full coat for winter still. Now with that being said...about two years after we found Tess, she got huge mats behind her ears. My dad and younger sister decided they would get them out and shaved them...down to the skin. It took almost 2 years to grow back in completely...we were almost afraid it wouldn't. This winter, the vet had to shave a small section on her leg for an IV and a shave a decent section of her butt because of an *Censored Word* gland problem, again down to the skin. It is growing back, but VERY slowly. My point (and I really do have one

) I would be very hesitant to shave too short...I don't know if all dogs fur would be the same way, but if I was to shave again, I would not go shorter than an inch or two.

Layla · Post by **Layla** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:09 pm

I'd definately agree Wildthings. Where Millie was shaved for her ops was mush slower to grow back & still looks a little different. The trim (down to 1/2") is come back so quickly it's untrue

Salandra · Post by **Salandra** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:18 pm

WildThings wrote:We have shaved Tess once...left the fur at about an inch, but we had not kept up with the spring blow and it tangled so badly that we were afraid it would pull too much to brush out full length. Her coat grew back in just fine, full coat for winter still. Now with that being said...about two years after we found Tess, she got huge mats behind her ears. My dad and younger sister decided they would get them out and shaved them...down to the skin. It took almost 2 years to grow back in completely...we were almost afraid it wouldn't. This winter, the vet had to shave a small section on her leg for an IV and a shave a decent section of her butt because of an *Censored Word* gland problem, again down to the skin. It is growing back, but VERY slowly. My point (and I really do have one ) I would be very hesitant to shave too short...I don't know if all dogs fur would be the same way, but if I was to shave again, I would not go shorter than an inch or two.

Dito here, except it was a *$#(% lady at a PetSmart do-it-yourself grooming room. One lady said she would help me cut the mats out, she went on break and before I knew what was happening, this other ...lady... walked in, BUZZZZed behind both ears, and walked out. I didn't think the hair would ever grow back. It's finally starting to grow, but VERY slowly, and what is coming in is very fine and mats so easily it's really hard to keep up with. I don't know if she will ever have hair behind her ears.

My vet said that when the hair is shaved too close to the skin it damages the hair follicles, and sometimes the hair never grows back. Just something to think about if considering shaving for the summer or whatever.

Widabeck · Post by **Widabeck** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:37 am

Ok the more I read the more I'm thinking it's ok to shave!

This new concept goes against everything I've ever thought about shaving before.

So As long as I keep it over and inch I should be ok?
Because let me tell you it would help SO much with grooming and her chops are getting to tangled and I feel like I can't keep up.

So I need to do the following...
-Find a good groomer
-Keep the mane & tail
-Don't go under and inch

Right?

Layla · Post by **Layla** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:59 pm

I bought pet clippers & did it myself to be honest! Millie she pretty good with grooming & I thought she'd handle it better as I usually groom her.

I left her mane etc as she had very few bite marks there & it hadn't been cut into much at the vets. If you're shaving to get rid of matts etc then you need to think about taking the mane as well. Millie's mane is about as bad as her pantaloons right now!.

Widabeck · Post by **Widabeck** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:08 pm

Shame on me Holly has a flat nylon collar. Her entire neck is a huge matt. I tried to get it out but again I feel like I'm floundering.

Honestly through all this grooming junk I feel like one of those people who buys chows because they are "pretty" and has no clue how to groom them. I've never had to groom a chow going through this stage of blowing the wintercoat and losing puppy fur. My confidence as a good chow owner is definatly coming up short these days.

I'm terrified to shave her but something about getting it short, and sort of "starting over" seems like it would be easier.

sit_by_the_beach · Post by **sit_by_the_beach** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:12 am

One reason I brushed, combed, bathed Mikki last week was to attend woofstock. 200 vendors, many groomers, VEC vets and other vets had booths also. They all suggested that I shave my chow. Reason: We have very, humid summers here in southern Ontario. The humidity gets trapped near the skin and causes hotspots to develop. The vets who suggested shaving were there voluntarily for the two day event. I was told by both groomers and vets that if the climate is warm, hot without much humidity then it's not necessary to shave a chow. Our humidex is as high as 45C-55C during June, Jul and Aug, humidity itself between 70%+100%. By shaving I mean down to an inch and keeping the chow out of the sun to avoid sunburn/stroke.

karin

Widabeck · Post by **Widabeck** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:15 am

I think I might be brave and try it myself.

Layla · Post by **Layla** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:26 pm

PM me if I can be of any more help

Widabeck · Post by **Widabeck** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:31 pm

ok HELP! (I know it's not a pm but so what)

haha I don't even know where to start!

What do a cut first?
What do I leave?
What if I cut too short on accident?
Should I brush her really good first?
Should I just cut the matts from her neck instead of the razor?
Should I bath her after?
How did you know what to do?

Layla · Post by **Layla** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:00 pm

I got a DVD with the clippers that told the best way to do it

We brushed her first, then cut any matts etc with sissors.

Then went in with the clippers, section at a time. If at first the clippers look as though they are not cutting through the fur, use the brush to part the fur & try again. If you're still not getting anywhere, change direction that your cutting. It works well for one person to brush the fur against the direction of growth & the other to follow with the clippers in my experience.

Even if it looks a little uneven at first, a bath & good brush out a couple of days later made Millie look pretty perfect.

It takes a while so you may want to make sure you give her water & potty breaks