I’ve posted in the past about Garrett, my purebred Siberian Husky, puppy mill rescue that has cushing’s and degenerative myelopathy.

His coat is awful which is a reflection of what’s going on internally for him. He’s lost all his guard hairs and is left with this thick, bristly wool and patchy tufts. It seems no amount of furminating or rake brushing is able to separate or bring together what’s left. I hesitate to call it hair because I’ve just never seen or felt anything like it.

I’ve always been of the mind that you would never shave a husky – insulation in winter and cooling system in summer. However, he hasn’t really shed in the last couple of years and his coat just seems to be getting worse. My vet felt he may benefit from a shave due to the extreme heat this summer and his inability to properly regulate himself, however, there’s no guarantee as to what’s going to regrow for the winter. I would be curious as to what your thoughts might be. Shave or leave him be?

Two years ago, losing his guard hairs
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/IMG_0481.jpg

Last September – tail has lost its brush, just bristles
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/Harper2009.jpg

This Saturday – basically no tail hairs left
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/Garrett035.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/Garrett033.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/Garrett032.jpg

http://www.sibrescue.com/tip-shave.html

this is what I found on the internet

Lenka

Thats a hard call.
I read the article and the arguments that seemed valid in your case is the cancer/sun protection and the bug issue.
His coat is already shot, and if its not shedding properly then that isn't good.

I wonder what the groomers on here think?

Melissa, Sonya, Meridith? Connie?
Guys???!!!! yoooohooooooo.

I have a couple customers that I shave against my better judgement. The person I took over the kennel from had people convinced their dog's would shed less etc with a shave. I have talked MOST of them out of it. Those left are boarders too and so rely on me to groom for them. A couple have gone away after my 'really shouldn't do it' speech only to come back when another groomer butchered/burned or just destroyed their dog's trust. So I have a handful of, "I really hate to shave" dogs from GSDXlab that gets taken down to 1/4", lab that goes down to nothing, labxchow and a couple goldens that go down to an inch.

All that said, I would say it is possible it would help,it is also possible it would go very wrong. I am not intimately familiar with your dog's maladys and I have no guess how or if his coat would come back. Generally in a healthy dog the undercoat thins out each time and sometimes it gets nasty and patchy.

To me you have a couple options....
Total professional groom with brush out, furminator out...blow out and get as much of that thinned naturally as possible.

Shave down like a pig or walrus ( I have a morbidly obese lab that looks like a manatee when she is done) with a 10 blade and future use of sunblock and insect repellent.

Take it down to 3/4 or an inch and combine with a good brush out and blow out (I mean with a high velocity blow dryer that loosens and removes a lot of shedding hair without the roughness of brushing) with a close shave of his tummy.

That would be my choice if it were me.
If you take him down all the way I hope he likes to wear coats.

Poor guy, the regular husky coat is an amazing thing, Is that fluff soft and downy or is it coarse?

Have you taken him to a good groomer, I wonder if they could clip him and really clean and blow out the fuzzy stuff. Without having to do a full shave?

you live up north so I would be prepared to buy a coat for him if it doesn't grow back properly.

I know nothing about cushings, but can/does he take fish oil and E?

With DM and cushings his coat will not grow back correctly. I know this from personal experience HOWEVER in this case I'd probably go for it with a #5 FC blade lion trim up to the withers (so he won't look completely stupid) if they can get through it (it's possible his hair is too thick). It will make him more comfortable, it will keep the fuzz from webbing so badly, and it will keep him cleaner. Odds are you'll have to have him reshaved about every 8-12 weeks until the end.

I'd also try to find a groomer who runs their own shop vs a big box groomer. First off the big box groomer tend to not handle older dogs as well as I expect and usually don't have the skill to handle dogs who have never had this done before without getting overly physical. Better yet CJ would be to get the clippers and the blades and do it yourself. It'd save you money in the long haul. I'd be happy to consult.

Wow guys, took the pups for a swim and came back to all this great information. Let me see if I can address some of your observations and excellent advise.

 Quote: Sonya Gilmore

All that said, I would say it is possible it would help,it is also possible it would go very wrong. I am not intimately familiar with your dog's maladys and I have no guess how or if his coat would come back. Generally in a healthy dog the undercoat thins out each time and sometimes it gets nasty and patchy.

The skin under this coat has turned a kind of a charcoal gray/black. When they shave his leg for the blood work we get a first hand look at it. It’s starting to show through some of the patchier areas as well. The vet said it’s very common for the pigment to change color and she sees very few case that are this healthy this long.

Other than this coat thing and the wobbly movement – (his nickname is “Rock’n’roll&rdquo, he’s extremely healthy. The last six months we’ve really noticed a decline though, this coat thing being the worst.

 Quote: Sonya Gilmore

Shave down like a pig or walrus ( I have a morbidly obese lab that looks like a manatee when she is done) with a 10 blade and future use of sunblock and insect repellent.

The reference to walrus or pig is interesting. He does have a pot belly from the distended/enlarged organs due to the cushing’s. Although he looks quite overweight because of it, he hasn’t gained an ounce. This thick fuzz is also very deep and wooly.

You sound like an excellent groomer Sonya, one I would definately pay to take care of my boy.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

Poor guy, the regular husky coat is an amazing thing, Is that fluff soft and downy or is it coarse?
Have you taken him to a good groomer, I wonder if they could clip him and really clean and blow out the fuzzy stuff. Without having to do a full shave?

you live up north so I would be prepared to buy a coat for him if it doesn't grow back properly.

I know nothing about cushings, but can/does he take fish oil and E?

Yeah, as a young guy his coat was beautiful and he had an amazing tail. This stuff he is left with is all course and bristly, even the tufts. The only soft spot still is his head.

And yes, he gets 4 large pumps of Grizzly salmon oil and one of the Kirkland Vitamin E tablets (400 iu) every day. He also gets Vitamin C, MSM, Recovery and liver every day.

And I could buy a coat.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

I'd probably go for it with a #5 FC blade lion trim up to the withers (so he won't look completely stupid) if they can get through it (it's possible his hair is too thick).

It will make him more comfortable, it will keep the fuzz from webbing so badly, and it will keep him cleaner. Odds are you'll have to have him reshaved about every 8-12 weeks until the end.

Melissa, what an incredible offer. This lion’s cut sounds perfect and that’s exactly what I want to do – make him more comfortable. Do you think it’s something a novice could do? The extent of my grooming is brushing and toenails. He has very sensitive feet and generally doesn’t like the brush anywhere near his back end – never has. He will allow it but is visibly stressed. I fear he would be a nightmare for any groomer not to mention the effect it would have on him.

Yeah. It's totally a doable haircut for a beginner. Let me know if you're up to it and I can make you a list of the stuff you'll need.

Oh my, of course, this involves shopping. Can I send my hubby? Just kidding, for Garrett I will do it.

You know, if you really feel we can do this and you're willing, I'm game. We have a long weekend coming up and I'll cancel the company if need be.

The longest this should take is 2 hrs. So I wouldn't cancel company. Just find a morning block and get ready to clip. A helper to feed treats is a nice idea.

Check your pms later tonight. I'll have a list for you.