Does your vet insist on shaving a band around the leg for surgeries?

[Donna P.]

Last year my beardie needed to have her teeth cleaned and when we picked her up she had a 2 inch band shaved around her front leg for the catheter. When we took Bayley in at 6 months to get her spayed, I asked if they could please not shave her leg. My vet said that it was absolutely necessary, and that the hair would grow back. I told her my beardies hair had not grown back in over a year, but she just gave me a look that said "You silly woman". We've been using the same vet for 15 years, and have had many proceedures, and prior to the teeth cleaning, had never had a leg shaved.

It has been 2 months since Bayley was spayed, and unless I cut all the hair off her front legs, she's going to have a band around her left leg for a long long time. Have any of you had this issue with your vets? If not, I want to have some good arguments the next time I have to have a dog anesthetized.

[Katie and Sophie]

They shaved Soph's leg for her spay, but not my Weimaraner Jade's, i'm sure because her hair is so short to begin with.  Soph's did grow back pretty quickly though!  I waited until the shaved part was a little longer then cut all of her hair down and blended it in with the shaved area with thinning shears.  Her hair will grow back in no time!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

When Cubbie and Ollie get their legs shaved on Friday, I will just tell everyone that they are in a doodle gang and that is so other members of that gang can recognize them.  lol   They will be a silly site when we go out on our walks. 

[Donna P.]

That's great. I'll have to remember that next time I'm asked. By the way, I love your photos. The pups are TOO cute.

 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

thank you

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The vet we use and the vet surgeon did not shave a band around our dogs' legs for surgery.  Our Springer did have the hip and leg shaved and while it did grow back, the square where he had a pain patch took over a year (and Springers have short fur)