Frequently Asked Questions

Shedding questions, sizing decisions, coat type concerns, and more. This page covers what pet and horse owners ask most before and after trying EquiGroomer tools. Browse by animal type or jump to the section that matches where you are in the decision.

Looking for something more specific? Visit the Deshedding FAQ for focused answers on shedding, deshedding tools, and double coats.

Not sure which size EquiGroomer is right for your pet? Answer six quick questions and get a recommendation matched to your pet’s coat type and size. Take the 2-minute quiz →

Misc FAQs

The blade is modeled after a cat’s tongue. It’s covered in tiny, alternating curved teeth with burrs on the ends. Dead hair develops a scaly surface texture as it ages, and the burrs catch those dry, scaly ends and pull the loose hair free. Healthy hair, which is smooth and slippery, slides right past. The teeth are short enough that they never reach the skin, so there’s no scraping, no irritation, and no damage.

The most obvious sign is the hair that comes off. Dead undercoat is typically dry and fluffy compared to the rest of the coat, and you’ll see it collecting on the blade with each stroke. After a few sessions, you’ll also notice the coat lying flatter, looking shinier, and feeling softer to the touch. That’s because regular grooming removes the dull, dry hair and brings up the natural oils in the skin. If very little is coming off, try using slightly more pressure with short, raking strokes. The blade needs some friction to catch the scaly ends of dead hair effectively.

The right size depends on the animal’s size and weight. The 5-inch EquiGroomer is the right choice for cats, small pets, and dogs under 50 lbs. For dogs between 50 and 100 lbs, either size works; it comes down to personal preference and how much surface area you want to cover per stroke. For dogs over 100 lbs, horses, and ponies, the 8-inch EquiGroomer is the better fit. Both tools use the same blade mechanism; the size difference is about coverage and control, not coat type. These are guidelines and size is ultimately personal preference.

If you’re wondering whether shaving might be easier than deshedding, here’s why you should never shave a double-coated dog.

Also see: Can You Use a Horse Deshedding Tool on a Dog?

Yes. The teeth are designed to be short enough that they never reach the skin, so there’s no scraping, irritation, or damage to worry about. If your animal is ticklish or resists being touched in a particular area, follow their lead. For horses, use the 5-inch EquiGroomer on the face and legs for better control in tighter areas.

The core difference is how each tool removes hair and what it does to the hair it shouldn’t be touching. FURminator-type tools have long teeth that dig down into the coat to rake out undercoat. Those teeth can reach the skin and pull at healthy hair in the process, which can damage the coat over time and cause irritation. Our tools have teeth that are very short and curved outward. This design allows it to catch dead hair by the ends rather than pulling from the root. The blade grabs this dead hair and lets the healthy hair pass through completely untouched with no damage, no thinning of the healthy coat, and no skin contact. Because there’s no pulling and no irritation, most animals tolerate it immediately, including animals that have resisted grooming before.

Also see: What Tools Are Best to Deshed a Dog?

At first glance it does look like a standard sawblade but, in fact, it’s been specially designed for us. We’ve altered the teeth to remove the cutting aspect of a sawblade so it will not cut skin or hair. The teeth now only grab the scaly, dry hair and leave the smooth, healthy hair behind leaving your pet’s coat shiny and smooth.

We coat our blades with a hard, lacquer finish that will help prolong the life of the blade so if you’re a pet parent the blade should last many years. Of course, if you’re a dog groomer or have a dog that enjoys a good roll in the mud, it may not last as long. Heavy use or using the EquiGroomer on a very dirty dog acts like sandpaper which will wear the blade’s teeth down over time.

Also see: How Long Does It Take to Deshed a Dog?

 Yes! I use this comb and the deshedding rake together so that one removes the dead hair and one collects them. Additionally, the EquiGroomer can clean surfaces like carpet, so if you brush on a couch or the floor with a carpeted/fabric surface, the EquiGroomer can pick it up! 

Grooming on a wet coat is not recommended for two reasons. First, the blade is hardened steel coated with lacquer to protect it. Repeated exposure to water can cause it to rust over time and shorten the blade’s life. Second, wet hair loses elasticity and becomes more prone to breakage, which is true of any grooming tool, not just this one. Always groom on a dry coat for the best results and the longest blade life.

 It certainly does! Bunnies have very thin skin so the EquiGroomer is the perfect tool for them. The teeth are very short and are designed to grab dead hair without ever touching the skin so it’s safe on both the skin and fur. 

It sure does! It is one of the few shedding tools on the market that’s safe for them. Rabbits have very thin, delicate skin and many of the shedding products on the market have teeth that are too long and can scratch the skin. The EquiGroomer‘s teeth are so short they’ll never reach the skin.

Yes. If you’re not satisfied for any reason, you can return your order within 30 days of delivery for a refund on the product price. Items need to be in original condition to qualify. Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility unless your item arrived damaged or defective. If your order hasn’t shipped yet, we can issue a full refund including shipping. Questions about a return? Email us at sales@equigroomer.com.

FAQs about Dogs

Absolutely not! The EquiGroomer removes the dry, dead undercoat but leaves the guard hairs and topcoat intact. There is no cutting or breaking of those hairs. The blade is designed to remove only the hair that’s already loose and in need of removal.

It works well on Retriever coats for removing the fluffy undercoat. With longer-haired dogs, we recommend running a comb through the coat first to separate and detangle the hair. This lets the EquiGroomer work on the dead undercoat rather than fighting through knots. For very dense, long coats like a Bernese Mountain Dog or Samoyed, the EquiGroomer is most effective on areas with shorter fur, such as the legs and face, and works as part of a broader grooming routine rather than as a standalone tool for the full body.

 The EquiGroomer will help remove the dead undercoat without doing any harm to the long guard hairs. The blade is designed to only remove the scaly, dry hair, but anything smooth and slippery, like the wiry guard hairs, will remain untouched. 

Huskies and Malamutes have different coats. For this breed, the EquiGroomer works well on areas with shorter fur, such as the legs and face. I would suggest the Chris Christensen Coral Brush in conjunction with a metal comb when grooming thick long coated breeds.

The EquiGroomer was originally designed for horses. The teeth on the blade are so short they never contact the skin so there’s no scratching, scraping or irritation to the skin. Your dog will just feel like he’s being brushed. 

Every dog is unique. Some Bull Terriers have a dense coat that works well with the EquiGroomer, but others have a thinner coat. For the single-coated Bull Terriers, we recommend a Zoom Groom. 

We’ve had many groomers tell us how well it works on most dogs that shed whether their coat is long, short, curly or straight. We suggest trying it on your dog, especially since he sheds a lot, and if you’re not completely satisfied, return it with no questions asked.

Also see: How Often Should You Deshed a Double-Coated Dog?

Yes, it will work well on dogs like your Shar Pei as long as you pull the skin smooth as you brush him. It’s perfect for short-coated dogs because it will remove all the loose, dead hair without the brush’s teeth touching their skin.

Absolutely not! In fact, regular use will actually make your dog’s coat shinier and healthier. The brush not only removes the things that dry an animal’s coat like dust, dirt and dander, but regular brushing brings up the natural oils in the dog’s skin so the hair becomes shiny and smooth. 

Size depends on your dog’s weight. For dogs under 50 lbs, including cats, Yorkies, Shih Tzus, Pugs, Dachshunds, and French Bulldogs, the 5-inch EquiGroomer is the right choice. For dogs between 50 and 100 lbs, such as Golden Retrievers, Labs, German Shepherds, and Boxers, either size works, depending on your preference. For dogs over 100 lbs, including Great Danes, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, use the 8-inch. Keep in mind these are guidelines, not rules. Size is ultimately personal preference.

Still not sure which size is best? Take the 2-minute quiz →

Yes, and this is where the EquiGroomer tends to surprise people. The teeth are very short and curved outward. They never contact the skin, so there’s no scraping, scratching, or pulling. The sensation is closer to being petted than brushed. Many owners with nervous or touch-sensitive animals find their pets tolerate the EquiGroomer immediately, even if they’ve resisted other grooming tools. If your pet is particularly anxious, start with light pressure on areas they’re comfortable with and build from there.

No. The teeth on the EquiGroomer are specifically designed to be too short to reach the skin, even on dogs with very little coat. The tool works by catching dead hair at the ends and never digs down to skin level. Your dog will feel the sensation of being brushed, not scratched.

FAQs about Cats

Good question! The EquiGroomer is designed to grab only dry, dead hair by the ends. It does not have to go all the way down to the skin to work. As hair gets old, it gets scaly especially on the driest part, which are the ends. Each tooth on the groomer has a tiny burr on the end which snags these scales and pulls them out. You may find the first few strokes don’t seem to be doing much, but they’re actually working to bring that dead undercoat to the surface. It’s a slower process than it might be with a regular shedding tool; but because it’s so gentle, your cat will actually enjoy the process. They will feel the same sensation as being groomed by another cat’s tongue which means you’ll spend more time grooming and less time struggling to get it done. 

For long-coated cats, we would suggest using the EquiGroomer against the growth of the fur, as opposed to with the growth of the fur. We also suggest using it in conjunction with a slicker brush and metal comb. 

One of the things we tell people is the EquiGroomer is safe to use and works especially well if you use a bit of pressure as you groom. Think of it like raking leaves and use short strokes with some pressure with each stroke. Or better yet, imagine your EquiGroomer is a cat’s tongue. The blade is designed to mimic the feeling a cat would have when grooming themselves.

No. Once a cat gets mats the only way to remove them is to either tease them apart with your fingers or cut them out. However, once they’re removed, you can prevent them from returning with regular grooming to remove the dead undercoat.

Yes. Maine Coons have a long, thick semi-water-resistant coat with a dense undercoat that sheds seasonally. The EquiGroomer works well for removing the dead undercoat without damaging the length or texture of the topcoat. Use it against the direction of hair growth on longer sections of the coat to help the teeth reach through to the dead hair underneath. For a coat as substantial as a Maine Coon’s, regular grooming with the EquiGroomer significantly reduces hairballs and keeps the coat from matting at the roots.

Yes. Ragdolls have a medium-to-long silky coat that lies flat and sheds moderately year-round. The EquiGroomer’s short teeth work through that coat gently, lifting dead hair without pulling or disrupting the coat’s natural softness. Because Ragdoll fur is fine and not prone to matting the way denser coats are, the EquiGroomer is particularly effective.

Yes. Bengals have a short, dense, pelt-like coat with minimal shedding compared to longer-haired breeds, but they do lose dead hair and benefit from regular grooming. The EquiGroomer’s short teeth are well-matched to a Bengal’s coat length. Regular grooming also enhances the natural sheen that Bengal coats are known for by removing dull dead hair and bringing up the skin’s natural oils.

FAQs about Horses

Most horse owners use the 8-inch EquiGroomer for large body areas, including the back, hindquarters, barrel, and neck, where you want to cover ground efficiently during shedding season. The 5-inch EquiGroomer is the better choice for legs, the face, and any sensitive areas where control matters more than coverage. For a full grooming kit, the two work well together: the 8-inch for the bulk of the coat, the 5-inch for detailed work.

Yes. The teeth on the EquiGroomer are short and curved outward, designed so they never contact the skin even on thin-skinned areas. For the face and legs, use the 5-inch EquiGroomer rather than the 8-inch. This version of the tool gives you more control in tighter areas and is easier to maneuver around the contours of the legs and face. Most horses tolerate grooming in sensitive areas well once they’re familiar with the tool, because there’s no skin contact and no pulling.

Year-round. The EquiGroomer removes dead, loose hair whenever it’s present, not just during the heavy spring shed. Regular grooming through summer and fall keeps the coat clean, brings up natural oils, and removes dust and dander that dull the coat over time. During peak shedding season you’ll pull significantly more hair per session, but the tool is safe and effective for routine grooming at any time of year. Many owners use it as their primary grooming tool year-round and notice a consistently healthier, shinier coat as a result.

A traditional shedding blade works by scraping the coat surface with a serrated edge, which removes loose hair but can also pull at healthy hair and cause skin irritation if used with too much pressure. The EquiGroomer works differently: its short, outward-curved teeth catch dead hair by the ends (the dry, scaly part) without the blade ever touching the skin. The result is that only the hair already in the process of shedding gets removed. Healthy hair is smooth and slippery, so it slides right through. It’s a more precise mechanism that’s gentler on the coat and more comfortable for the horse, particularly on sensitive areas.

Also see: What’s the Difference Between a Shedding Blade and a Deshedding Tool?

Yes, with some adjustments. On clipped areas where the coat is very short, use lighter pressure. The EquiGroomer is safe on clipped coats and can help remove the fine dead hair that accumulates even after clipping. On a partially clipped horse, you can move freely between clipped and unclipped areas; just ease off the pressure when transitioning to the shorter sections.

During peak shedding season (typically late winter through spring) you can groom as often as needed. Many owners find grooming several times a week makes a noticeable difference in how much hair their horse drops on their own. Outside of shedding season, once or twice a week is enough for most horses to maintain a clean, healthy coat. The EquiGroomer is safe for frequent use because it only removes hair that’s already loose. It won’t thin or damage the coat with regular grooming.

Yes. For the body, the 8-inch EquiGroomer works well. Ponies grow dense winter coats and shed heavily in spring, and the larger blade covers ground efficiently. For the face, legs, and sensitive areas, use the 5-inch EquiGroomer for better control, the same as you would with a full-sized horse. The blade mechanism is the same regardless of size: it removes dead undercoat without contacting the skin.