“How do I shave my dog’s bum?” is a very good question, especially if you can’t see the rear end anymore. Learning to shave a dog’s bum is helpful especially when its cute furry butt gets matted.
KEY POINTS:
- Grooming clipper blade: A number 10 blade is the appropriate clipper blade for shaving around the anus.
- Restraint: Ensure there is another person to safely restrain your dog for the bum shave.
- Technique: When shaving, always aim the clipper blade away from the anus.
- Follow-up: Always wipe the area with a dog-friendly cleansing wipe. Never wipe with alcohol.
CAUTION: Some dogs have sensitive skin and will develop skin irritation with a bum shave. In these cases, the bum hair will need to be trimmed carefully with scissors. Therefore, rather have your vet or groomer help you with this.
NOTE: For educational purposes, graphic images of a dog’s rectal area are shown to illustrate shaving techniques.
Step 1: The APPROPRIATE clipper blade for BUM shaves:
Use a number 10 blade on the dog grooming clippers. Most dog grooming clippers come with a # 10 blade. This leaves the hair as short as 1/16 of an inch long. Therefore, it leaves the area almost bald.
CAUTION: NEVER use a number 40 blade to shave the sanitary area or anus. This blade should only be used by vets or professional groomers. This blade is often used to prepare patients for surgery. Therefore, a # 40 blade can easily cut into the skin and lead to irritation.
Step 2: Start with a CLEAN clipper blade
The rectal area or “butt hole” is a very sensitive and delicate area. Therefore, always start with a clean clipper blade. Always spray a clipper blade with a disinfecting spray appropriate for clipper blades.
CAUTION: NEVER use alcohol to disinfect the blade. This can burn or irritate your dog’s anus.
Step 3: Restraint and locating the anus
Have someone safely restrain your pet while you shave the sanitary area. Ideally, your dog should be restrained in a standing position. Have the person restrain with one arm under the abdomen and another arm under the neck. This will help stop your dog from spinning around as you shave the rectal area.
Once your dog is safely restrained, you can lift the tail to locate the anus.
Step 4: Proper shaving technique : NEVER shave over the anus
To avoid accidently cutting the skin of the anus, aim the clipper blade away from the anus. Always start from the rim of the anus and shave outwards away from the anus.
CAUTION: NEVER shave OVER the dog’s anus. Otherwise, the blade can accidently cut the delicate skin of the anus and lead to irritation or infection.
As an example, the photos below show a comparison of the wrong and right way to direct the grooming clipper blade from the dog’s anus.
PRO TIP: As you shave your dog’s rectal area, periodically check the temperature of the blade. Normally, it takes a few seconds to shave the anus. However, if there is a lot of matting around the anus, you may take longer to shave around the anus. Therefore, check the temperature of the blade every 2 to 3 minutes against the wrist of your hand to ensure the blade is not overheated.
CAUTION: If the clipper blade overheats, this can lead to a clipper burn on your dog’s anus. Therefore, always periodically check the temperature of the clipper blade BEFORE continuing to shave the bum. Alternatively, a cooling spray can be used to cool the blade down if it is taking a longer time to shave out any mats around the anal area.
Step 5: Shave under the base of the tail (optional)
Some dogs have tails that fall over the anus. This can cause poop to stick to the bum and tail. As a result, this may cause further matting and tangles around the anus.
PRO TIP: Using the #10 blade, shave about one inch away from the rim of the anus and up the base of the tail. This prevents hair from matting around this area and prevents poo from sticking to the tail.
Step 6: Wipe the shaved bum with a mild cleanser
To help wipe away any hair, debris or remaining dirt – use only a dog-friendly mild cleansing wipe.
Step 7: Disinfect the clipper blade after use
Remember to disinfect the number 10 clipper blade after shaving your dog’s bum.
PRO TIP: Use a tooth brush to brush out any debris in-between the teeth of the clipper blade. Then spray to disinfect the clipper blade. Remember to only use a disinfectant specifically for clipper blades.
Final thoughts on how to shave a Dog’s Bum :
- When it comes to learning how to shave a dog’s bum, safety is key.
- Always have someone help restrain your dog while you shave the anal area.
- Disinfect the grooming blade before and after the bum shave.
- Remember to only use a #10 clipper blade for shaving around the anus.
- Always aim the clipper away from the anus and always start at the rim of the anus and shave outward.
- If in doubt, have your vet or groomer shave this area. Many offer to shave your dog’s bum and sanitary area as a stand-alone service.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
– By Nikita King, Certified Pet Groomer