shear or not?

Patches · #1 07/04/07, 10:07 AM

I'm posting here because I am sure you folks have Great Pyrenees dogs. Hoss is 3 years old and has developed a hot spot on his hip. I'm sure that's what it is as he had one last year also. Should I shave him? I have never done it before, he lives outside in the yard, and it is hovering around 90 here now with high humidity. I have heard that you should and that you shouldn't, so I wondered what you all think. He is very, very, woolie and I think he would feel better. We keep a tank of water in the yard for him, but he doesn't like laying down in it, will just stand in it sometimes. He is very uncomfortable, but I hear once that the hair also works to keep him cooler too, so I don't want to shear if I shouldn't. Thanks for any help you can give me. Marilyn

firefly81 · #2 07/04/07, 10:13 AM

we shaved my leonberger this year and he feels great, i know a leonberger isnt the same as a gp but there hair is just alike. we are going to shave him every year

Alice In TX/MO · #3 07/04/07, 10:50 AM

We used to have a Shepherd/Chow cross that we shaved in the summers. After she got over being embarrassed, she loved the cool feeling!

Son also has a fuzzy lab cross that they shave. Same results.

prairiecomforts · #4 07/04/07, 02:57 PM

I would shave him. Years ago the neighbors across from us had GP and they always shaved in the summer. I have also heard of people who spin who use the fur to sping with. I have no idea what they make from it - but I am guessing that it would be more craft related than anything.

Jim S. · #5 07/05/07, 02:42 PM

I don't shear but others I know do. This "hot spot" -- is it a red/pink irritated area? That could be as easy as an allergic reaction to flea spit. I have a German Sheperd who gets that all over her belly. One Benadryl knockoff pill a day, in the food to make it easy. Nuff said.

I do use ivermectin pour-on on all my dogs. Never had a problem. Once a month, right on the shoulder blade area as a spot-on. Seems to work really well. We had them all tested for heartworm and they were on Heartguard, til I realized I can do the same thing out of my goat wormer bottle.

My GP gets lots of ticks from running the woods with the goats. They fall off with the pour-on treatment, but I also pick them off as I find them at feeding time. Most of them like her inner ears because --- there's no hair there! So I think the long hair acts as a sort of tick guard. Just speculation.

Jim S. · #6 07/05/07, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairiecomforts

I would shave him. Years ago the neighbors across from us had GP and they always shaved in the summer. I have also heard of people who spin who use the fur to sping with. I have no idea what they make from it - but I am guessing that it would be more craft related than anything.

They make a ton of fur; just combing them will get you a chihauhau worth...but they'd better get a good bath before you take that fur to spin with. Whew, doggy smell! Heheheh...