Why you should not shave your dog in summer

No, you should not shave your dog in summer. Although it seems logical to think that removing its hair will provide relief, removing its coat exposes the skin to severe sunburn, hinders its natural thermoregulation and makes it easier for external parasites to get in. In this article we explain in detail why its coat is its best shield against high temperatures and what safe alternatives exist to help it stay cool in a healthy way. Do you have questions about your pet's dermatological care? Ask us at 942 51 00 66.

📌 4 crucial reasons why you should not shave your dog:

• ☀️ Total sun protection: Its hair acts as a natural insulator against UV rays; without it, the skin is left unprotected and burns directly.

• 🌡️ Body thermoregulation: The coat creates an air pocket that prevents ambient heat from penetrating its body, regulating its temperature.

• 🦟 Barrier against parasites and insects: The dense coat hinders bites from disease-carrying mosquitoes, fleas and ticks.

• 🔬 Prevention of skin problems: It prevents the onset of post-clipping alopecia (damaged follicles), chronic bald patches and severe dermatitis.

Why should I NOT shave my dog in summer?

Shaving a dog's hair is counterproductive for its health, and the risk multiplies during the summer months. This is because the coat not only performs a thermoregulatory function (for both cold and heat), but also protects your canine from many other environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays, rain, external microorganisms, ground elements capable of causing scrapes, and insect bites.

By removing all the hair from its body you are exposing the skin —an extremely delicate organ that serves as the body's shield— to all these direct dangers. The most serious clinical consequences for its health include:

• Sunburn: Dogs, just like humans, suffer sunburn on the skin. Their coat works as a protective layer against it; removing it leaves the epidermis completely unprotected and increases the risk of heatstroke or serious skin conditions.

• Loss of body temperature control: Although your intention in wanting to shave your dog may be to make it feel cooler, the effect will be exactly the opposite. Left without its protective layer, the animal will directly absorb solar radiation into its skin, experiencing an extreme rise in body heat.

• Diseases and damage caused by external organisms: A huge variety of conditions in dogs are transmitted through parasite bites (such as fleas, ticks and mosquitoes). Without the coat as a physical barrier, the path to the skin and the bloodstream is direct and much easier for them.

• Alopecia and bald patches: Post-clipping alopecia occurs because the hair follicle enters a phase of atrophy or the hair grows very weakly. When the coat is cut down to the skin, both layers try to grow at the same time, obstructing and weakening each other in the process, which can cause permanent bald patches.

“Fur protects more than we think. Before shaving your dog in summer, let us advise you: often it isn't the best idea.”

Did you know your dog can have two coat layers?

You may not have noticed, but your canine can have a double coat in which the follicles growing in each are completely different from one another:

• The top coat (guard hair): It is made up of thicker, longer hairs. Its main function is to protect the dog from climatic factors, such as sun rays and rain, and it effectively hinders parasites from reaching the skin.

• The undercoat (inner layer or underfur): It is composed of thinner, shorter, woollier follicles. Its function is to serve as a thermal blanket against the cold. These follicles are very numerous and are the ones the dog sheds massively during the coat shedding when the seasons change.

What alternative do I have if I want my dog to be cooler?

The professional solution to relieve your pet's heat without compromising its health is not shaving, but canine de-shedding. This specialized canine grooming technique consists of meticulously removing the dead hair and the excess inner undercoat (the fine underfur that does keep it warm), using specific tools such as the undercoat rake or de-shedding rakes, without altering or cutting the outer top coat.

By performing a proper de-shedding, we free the skin so it can oxygenate adequately and we allow the dog's natural air pocket to work at 100%, keeping it truly cool and protected during the summer months.

In addition to professional de-shedding, there are other simple guidelines at home that will greatly help keep your dog cool: brushing it regularly to remove loose hair that blocks the skin's ventilation and keeping it well groomed. By carrying out this care, your canine will be able to get through the summer with much more comfort, freshness and safety.

Keep your dog's health in check all year round with our vets at Clínica Veterinaria SOMO

At Clínica Veterinaria Somo we look after your pet's dermatological health and overall wellbeing during the summer months. If you notice that your dog suffers excessively in high temperatures, shows bald patches or growth problems after a bad cut, or you need advice on its coat type and external deworming, our medical team is fully at your disposal.

Call us at 942 51 00 66 to book your appointment or visit us directly at our reference veterinary centre located at Calle Isla de Mouro 7, Somo, Cantabria.

Frequently asked questions about shaving your dog in summer

Why should I not shave my dog in summer?

Because its coat not only regulates temperature against both cold and heat, but also protects the skin from ultraviolet rays, rain, microorganisms, ground scrapes and insect bites. Shaving it exposes the skin to sunburn, heatstroke, parasite-borne diseases and post-clipping alopecia.

What alternative is there if I want my dog to be cooler?

The professional solution is not shaving but canine de-shedding: a technique that removes dead hair and excess undercoat without altering the outer top coat. This lets the skin oxygenate and the dog's natural air pocket work at 100%, keeping it cool and protected.

Why can a bad clip leave my dog with bald patches?

Post-clipping alopecia occurs because the hair follicle enters a phase of atrophy or the hair grows very weakly. When the coat is cut down to the skin, both layers try to grow at once, obstructing and weakening each other, which can cause permanent bald patches.