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To cut or not to cut!
by JAN PALMER
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
I would like your opinion or whether cutting the hair is a good idea for summer. Does it make the dog cooler to have short hair? I have had comflicting reports on this. I live in Australia and we have rather warm summers and I am considering having my l year olds hair cut for summer, but only if it will keep her cooler.
Jan & Cleo
DISCUSSION:
Hi Jan.....after last year's killer summer in Sydney we were thinking the same thing, but I heard that it is actually easier for them to regulate their body temperature if you leave the hair long, although I'm not too sure that I agree with that! Rastus was always very relieved to have a haircut but he was quite elderly. Cleo is about the same age as the Beasties and they tolerated last summer OK..... spent a lot of time lying on the bathroom floor though! We are putting in insulation this summer and hope that will cool things down a bit, but if they look like the heat is distressing them I will clip them straight away.
Deanna (Moose & Squirrel)
Hi Jan, I honestly don't know whether the cut made Phoebe cooler or not, but she sure seemed to feel better. Some will say that the nature of the Maltese hair has no insulating value - others will say that because of the silky texture that it insulates like silk. All I know is that between the tangles and the heat I gave in and cut her hair and she has been just as happy as can be. I left the topknot long so as not to completely loose the Maltese look. The short hair also makes it easier during sweater weather for the winter.
Leslie R
It will not keep her cooler to have her hair cut. In fact the long coat helps protect a dog from the heat. Maltese do not have undercoat so the coat in general does not protect them from cold. I live in Miami, Fl. where it is hot and humid most of the time and can grow beautiful coats as long as they are kept clean and not allowed to stay wet. In fact in working dogs the coat also protects from heat so they should not be cut either.
Mary Lou
Jan :) I have read that the Maltese hair helps keep them cool in hot weather. I checked my furbabies during the summer & it is true, their silk was always cool to the touch. Chiclet has a very thick cottony coat but even her hair seems to keep her cool. I guess it depends on your habits, like if she spends a lot of time outside, or how cool you run your A/C, etc. Perhaps you can better decide by watching her as the weather gets warmer. Good luck! :)
BeeGee
Hi Guys, Thanks for your input to date. I think I will leave it and wait and see how she tolerates the warmer weather. Although I am tempted, if necessary to trim her myself, I have seen such disastrous results from the few Malts I have seen cut, they initally seem to look as if they have lost a battle with a lawnmower. It seems most groomers dont have any idea except to shave it all off.
Jan & Cleo
Jan Palmer
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Please bear in mind when reading topics pertaining to health issues, that most of these questions were answered by helpful Maltese owners with no formal education in veterinary medicine. When in doubt seek a professionals advise.