Saintgirl, I am sorry I havnt seen your post before. First I want to say, that I do not concider myself knowing best
well when I talk to hubby I do, but thats another story
I only speak from everything I have read, what I learnt when I trained to be a groomer and the experience I got from 10 years of grooming. But all dogs are different. And yours prove it doesnt it lol.... No I have never seen anything like it. The only thing I can think of it when they shave a dog for surgery they use a #40 blade, which is a sugical blade, shaves real real close to the skin, a blad you'd never use for a regular shaving. That for some reason the skin on the belly which is very sensetive for some reason had a reaction and the fur didnt grow back. Also since it is an area where its been done surgery, well hehe if you have ever had a c-sec. you know that funny things happen to the skin around the area where the cut is done. That may be a reason too, but I really dont know, I am only coming up with different ideas to why now. But answer is no I have never seen a dog with those problems, granted never shaved a belly with #40 either. If they have run a thyroid test, and that came back normal, Id probably just thinking that, it is one of those things that hardly ever happen, but can. The only thing I would make sure of, is if she is in the sun a lot, with "belly up" that she doesnt get sun burned. I am sooooooo glad I did not have such a case as a groomer, man ohhh man that would not have been good
Jerry - As I said in my earlier post, the shave or not to shave question has and I believe always will be a issue where people are on different sides, some say shave/clip others say dont. Even vets are on different sides here. I have had several vets throughout the years, and when I groomed for the human Soc. I met several vets there. I have met the ones who say "dont shave" too. Most of them agree with it thgout. Since I always want to know "why" I want a vet to explain to me why they have the opinion they have (both sides) that is how you learn a lot I think. And I dont want to second guess a vet, Okay not true
I want them to be able to explain for me why they want or dont want to do a certain thing. Most of them have a hard time arguing with the fact that most to all longhaired dogs are bred and meant to live in a cool climat. That the belly is the most sensetive place on a dog, so if they think shaving a belly is okay, why not the rest of the dog, where the skin isnt nearly as sensetive. Well just different questions I like to ask.
I am not saying it is wrong to shave the belly only, but the way I think, the way the dogs were intended to live if we think about that, and then take into concideration where they live now and how not at all they are bred for that climat. Well I am a bit passionat here lol...... Just that this is a discussion I have about 20 times every spring/summer and after having seen houndreds of dogs feeling so much better with a shorter hair cut, it is a topic close to my heart.
The good thing about these posts - if you think I am talking BS you just shut me down and dont have to listen
Marit