Comic #5 - Quarantine Cut
Written by Cristina Byrne | Illustration by Sarah JL Mapes
Many DIY projects are happening during quarantine to keep us entertained since we are now spending more time at home. This time has allowed learning new skills and polishing up on old ones, but it's essential to also realize that there are some we shouldn’t do on our own.
One particularly popular DIY is taking the scissors into our own hands to try to take control of our unruly manes.
Consequently, this is usually followed by a social media post to make the point that hair professionals and groomers exist for a reason.
Whether it's shaggy locks, overgrown bangs, buzz cuts, random bald spots, colored hair, or that your natural hair color has been revealed, it's evident some of us require a regular visit to a hair professional, including our pets.
One Coronavirus search trend on Google is, "Why is grooming essential for pets?" Which has spiked more than 1,650% last week.
Pet owners are questioning their pets' unkempt and disheveled fur and wondering about the harm in cutting mats out of their fur and the safety in cutting their own pet's nails.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pet grooming has been considered a “non-essential business.” However, many groomers across the nation disagree because of potential health issues that can arise if individual dogs are not regularly groomed”
— Jasmine Marie, Human-Animal Bond in Colorado Program Coordinator and Dog Trainer
Some pets (just as us humans) require a lot more hair maintenance than others. A good groomer doesn’t just cut for beauty; they look for signs of trouble beneath the furry surface.
For example, breeds such as Huskies, Golden Retrievers, and Australian Shepherds, even Labrador Retrievers and some French Bulldogs, have "a double coat."
"Dogs with a double coat have two layers; a dense undercoat with short hairs and a topcoat with long coarse hair called guard hairs. Twice a year, double-coated dogs will "blow their coat." In the spring, they "blow" (shed) their thick winter coat in preparation for their summer coat. In the fall, the same will happen, and they will "blow" (shed) their summer coat and grow back their thick winter coat."
"One of the biggest mistakes people make is to shave double coated dogs for the summer, thinking it will keep them cooler. Double coats act as insulation to protect our dogs from the heat. It is part of our dog's natural cooling system. It protects skin from bugs and sunburn. Not to mention, if you shave a double-coated dog, it may ruin their coat. It may NEVER grow back the same!" According to Jasmine Marie, Human-Animal Bond in Colorado Program Coordinator and Dog Trainer
Not only is grooming important for dogs but also for cats. Cats, especially breeds with long and medium-length hair, are also prone to health issues caused by matting as well.
Grooming your pets isn't just for show; it's a responsibility all owners should take seriously to keep their pets healthy, clean, and protected from what could be a very hairy situation.
So be careful where you take the clippers too and "don't catch your hair on fire!" When will the quarantine hair end?
We hope sometime soon.
