It is a well-known fact within the animal
medical community and experienced grooming salons that do shave downs of the
fur-bearing dogs may lead to alopecia (hair loss) and skin disease. There are
a myriad of skin diseases, under the category of "Coat Funk", that
are either caused by or triggered by the shave down groom of the fur-bearing
dog.
Although some have referred to "Coat
Funk" only as the absence or destruction of guard coat., "Coat
Funk" refers to a myriad of diseases such as The Black Skin Disease,
Alopecia X, Sebaceous Adentis and Post Shaving or Post Clipping Alopecia to
mention just a few.
Examples of "Coat Funk"
  
The mechanism for causing or triggering
"Coat Funk", after-shave downs in the fur-bearing dogs, is unknown
to medical researchers. It is simply known that there is a high incidence of
"Coat Funk" as a result of shave downs. Furthermore, shave downs of
fur-bearing dogs should ONLY be done for medical reasons. Cosmetic choices
for fur-bearing dog shave downs, such as a pet owner'd desire to reduce
shedding or make the pet more comfortable in the summer heat, are
unacceptable reasons for the pet to have its hair shaved. If a dog is shaved
down for cosmetic purposes and develops "Coat Funk", it is assumed
that the groomer iatrogenic ally caused the disease and it held legally
responsible for the resulting skin and hair coat disease.
The determination of whether you as a
groomer will perform a shave down on a fur-bearing dog is to directed only by
the vet. Since all shave downs are to be performed for medical purposes,
simply ask the pet owner to bring in a written notice from their veterinarian
requesting the shave down for their pet. Your shave down groom then becomes
an extension of veterinary treatment and the veterinarian becomes legally
responsible if "Coat Funk" occurs as a result. Some veterinarians
may feel that it is medically important that the dog may become overheated or
that excessive shedding is medically not in the best interest of that
fur-bearing pet. Have the veterinarian esssentially write the order to
perform the shave down for thos cosmetic purposes and let the vet be
accountable if "Coat Funk" occurs after you the groomer do
the shave down.
Groomers are rapidly evolving into a highly
respected profession by the general public. Groomers are not just stylists,
but they are also considered to be on the margin of the animal health care
industry.
So, lack of knowledge of services performed
ont he skin and hair coat of the pet by the groomer that may have a negative
health effect is inexcusable.
Performing grooming services on a pet,
knowing that it can be potentially injurious to the pet, such as a shave down
of fur-bearing dogs only for cosmetic purposes, is even more egregious and
open to litigation.
So, when one of your better customers
(clients) request 'The Shave Down", educate the pet owner of the
potential negative effects on the skin and hair coat post shave down and,
instead offer regular bathing and brush outs of the pet or refer them to a
veterinarian for the the pet medical recommendation in writing for the
groomer shave down.
In addition to the written direction from
the veterinarian, have the pet owner sign a waiver exempting you from skin
and hair coat damage post shave down.
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