Do deshedding tools like the FURminator damage a dog's coat?

They can if misused. High-trust grooming communities (r/doggrooming, r/labrador) repeatedly warn that deshedding edges are easy to overuse, can cause brush burn and skin irritation, and are often sold for the wrong coat type. The consensus is to use light pressure, avoid repeating the same spot, and match the tool to a double-coated breed rather than a single-coated one.