Most favored parents agree that matted dog hair looks unsightly , but it might not be vulgar cognition that mats can also cause pain in the ass , discomfort , and even major hide problems for our favourite when they are not care speedily and decent .
fortuitously , a little knowledge goes a tenacious way when it add up to preventing and handling this hairy issue . Here , Ani Corless , founder of the in - domicile dog grooming serviceLuxury Groomer , shares everything you need to bang to keep your pet ’s pelt free of mats .
Matted Dog Hair: What Is It and How Does It Happen?
A mat is a tangle of pelt that has get to the point that it needs right brushing and comb out . “ Most of the time , on a dog , a mat forms in the stylus of a webbing that go all the way down to the skin , ” says Corless . “ It can look fine on top , but down at the cutis the matting needs to be separated and disentangle out , or it will proceed to get more and more tangled and knotty and can become tight to the skin . ”
alas the get-go stages of matted andiron hair can be very deceiving . “ To the possessor , the dog may look all right , but underneath the top pelage , they might not be , ” pronounce Corless .
Some of the biggest factors that contribute to matting include :
The grain of your dog ’s hair . piano fur is more likely to get matted easily , as opposed to dogs with wiry or rough-cut coat .
Lifestyle choices . Anything that causes rubbing or rubs on your frank ’s pelage frequently — like vesture — can get mat .
Water . body of water not only help make matt , but it may also tighten exist mats and make them worse . “ Unless you ’re a professional groomer brushing your dog out good before and after a bathing tub and comb down to their skin , you could just be causing the issue with bath , ” says Corless .
Why Is Matted Dog Hair a Problem?
Besides the esthetic issue , a cad with matted tomentum may suffer from even more severe problems .
fundamentally , “ their skin is n’t respiration , ” says Corless , “ which can cause sores , or immobilise things like fleas and tick . Plus , if you ’re bathing a dog with mats , they might not get properly dried , so mold can grow . ”
Many of these issues cause pain for dogs , as well . For example , some frank that are n’t regularly groom may have mat that grow to cover their eyes or rectal area , which can inhibit their ability to go to the lav properly and can lead toyeast infections . “ In utmost situations , it can even cut off circulation on a limb , top to amputation , ” says Corless . “ So , it ’s not just aesthetic . If you let it get bad enough , it ’s a health issue . ”
How to Get Mats Out of Dog Hair
There are a few things you could attempt to do at home if your dog is suffering from mats , and some do ’s and don’ts to keep in judgement .
Learn Proper Brushing Techniques
When it comes to brushing , “ you’re able to have a groomer show you how to do it , or view videos online on how to do it , as long as you learn videos specific to your breed . ” Avideo that Corless createdduring the pandemic on proper dog groom is a upright place to start .
Get the Right Tools
Corless suggests doing some research to square up the better brush for your specific breed . “ Most need a slicker brushing , as well as a comb , because no matter what brush you get , it ’s only go over the top layer and not getting into that gauze , ” she added .
Find the Right Spot
If you ’re going to undertake to sweep and comb a mat out of your dog ’s pilus , Corless suggests finding a spot , especially for littler hot dog , where you could put them up on something — like a counter or washing auto — to have better access and to keep them from operate away and causing a battle . Just verify they are secure .
Avoid Shaving and Cutting
Nevershave or sheer mats off your dog , as this can be very dangerous and may lead to you unwittingly cut the skin . If you think either shave or newspaper clipping is necessary , it is time to get a professional groomer involved so they can safely withdraw stubborn or expectant mats .
Be Selective With Home Remedies
Although some products — like sprayer detanglers , oils and even cornstarch — might help a little moment , if you ’re not properly trained in how to remove them , then you ’re basically just add more wet to the gym mat , which could make it worse . “ Most of the clock time I say leave that poppycock up to the groomer , unless your dog is only slightly knotted and you ’d like to try a tub with a good conditioner before brush , ” she says .
How to Prevent Mats in Dog Hair
witness a upkeep haircut and grooming schedule that fits with your lifestyle is a good startle to nullify mats , and other than that , Corless suggests working with your groomer to have them march for you the right brushing and combing techniques .
It ’s also important to consider your dog ’s ( and your ) lifestyle , and to determine if you ’ll really be more probable to trim back something out of their life that have mats ( likeswimming ) , or if you may bring them into the groomer as often as they might require to be professionally handle .
If you realistically make love that these things are n’t an option , then Corless suggests just keeping your dog ’s hair’s-breadth as brusk as potential . “ Length of hair lead to mats developing , as well , ” she tell . “ Any snatch of distance mats more quickly . ”
