Dealing with Coat Funk 

Have you ever shaved a dog’s coat off and when it grows back in again it has only grown back in certain areas? There are reasons for this….

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All dogs can be divided into two groups:

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1. Hair-bearing dogs, such as the Poodle, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Lhasa Apso and Yorkie, which need to have their hair cut on a regular basis. These breeds of dog CAN be shaved.
2. Fur-bearing or double-coated dogs, such as the Alaskan Malamute, Keeshond, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Pomeranian, Chow, Labrador and Golden Retriever. These dogs’ hair grows to one length only and remains that length. They typically shed much more than hair-bearing dogs. These breeds generally should NOT be shaved.

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Why shouldn’t you shave fur-bearing dogs?

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There are a myriad of skin diseases under the category of Coat Funk that are either caused by, or triggered by, a shave-down and include The Black Skin Disease, Alopecia X, Sebaceous Adenitis and Post-Shaving or Post-Clipping Alopecia. Particularly high risk is the Spitz breeds.

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What happens with Coat Funk?

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Coat Funk causes the guard coat in affected dogs to become dry and brittle, eventually breaking and falling out (or, after it is shaved off… doesn’t grow back!). The exposed woolly undercoat can become dry and matted and may eventually come out, leaving the skin bare in places. Bare skin tends to turn black, though it does not seem to itch or bother the dog.
How can you tell which dogs are likely to be affected?
YOU CAN’T!

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How do you deal with the customer who wants their dog shaved off in the summer?

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It’s VERY important that you…

1. warn them of the risks
2. and explain that fur-bearing dogs will shed to accommodate the heat

….afraid there’s not much else you can do!