Matted fur is frequently seen in obese pets. If a cat, in particular, is too obese to properly groom herself, she will end up with mats in hard-to-reach areas like across the lower back. While the effect of mild hair mats is usually minimal, matting can lead to pain and skin infections—similar to hot spots. Severe matting can cause discomfort or even damage to the underlying skin or joints, depending on the location. Liff says. Liff suggests starting with a dry pet, since dry hair is often easier to shave.
According to Dr. Liff, the best way to remove mats is with clippers. Take heed to keep the clipper blades from getting too hot. Clippers can also cause irritation to the skin, so you should contact your veterinarian if you see any of these:.
De-matting sprays are helpful as well. Cats will get sick from licking these products off their coat when they groom themselves. A shorter haircut is only recommended for dogs with single-layer coats — double-coated breeds or breed mixes Siberian Huskies, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Corgis, etc. Many dog owners think their double-coated breed will be cooler in the heat if they shave their coat, but shaving their outer coat down actually has the opposite effect! Shaving a dog's coat exposes their skin and puts them at increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Their outer coat is important for both temperature regulation and sun protection. Instead of shaving, a good brushing to get rid of any loose undercoat fur is the best way to help your double-coated dog stay cool.
Pro Tip: Do NOT shave a dog with a double-coat unless you have been directed to do so by your veterinarian. If you've found a mat or area of matting while brushing your dog, there are a few things you can do depending on the severity of the mat. You can try to pick at the mat with a comb or slicker brush, but this can be very painful for your dog.
If you've ever had someone try to brush out a knot of hair on your head, you know what I'm talking about! Unless the mat is very small and loose, brushing isn't your best option. Not only can it be very uncomfortable and painful for your pup, but it can create a negative brushing experience that will sour any future attempts at brushing. Pro Tip: For brushing sessions with your pup, use a Licking Mat smeared with peanut butter or wet dog food that they can work on while being brushed out.
Not only will this help with the extra wiggly dogs, but it also helps build a positive association with brushing time. If you're thinking about cutting out the mat with scissors at home — put the scissors down! Do not use scissors to cut out mats unless you are properly trained, have the proper grooming scissors, feel comfortable doing so, and have a good blood-clotting powder handy.
Using scissors instead of clippers to trim out any matting often results in injury to your dog. You never want to pull the mat up from the skin and then cut underneath, as their extended skin can get snipped off as well. Instead of scissors, use grooming clippers to shave out the mat. My favorite clipper to use for mat trimming and paw pad maintenance is the cordless Bravura Lithium clipper from Wahl picture below. The battery lasts quite a long time, its 5-in-1 blade allows for different trimming lengths, and not having to worry about a cord makes at-home trimming quick and easy.
Don't pull or raise the skin as you trim out the matting. To help prevent obvious shaved spots in their coat, hold the end of the mat firmly with your fingers and work at the mat with the clippers from the base outwards and peel it off in layers with the blade. This technique only works for isolated mats, such as mats behind the ears — if your dog has more widespread matting over their body, it's best to see your groomer for a full-body trim rather than try to remove them at home.
In the case of severe matting, your best bet might be to set up an appointment with your veterinarian for a sedated clipping. This can spare your pooch some serious discomfort, distress, and emotional trauma, as well as make the process safer for everyone involved. Quality professional groomers do not want to shave your dog shorter than requested or what's necessary. Matting often makes their job quite difficult as it determines the length they can cut the dog's coat, as they must clip underneath the mats.
If there is pelting present, this means the haircut will be quite short. This can be upsetting for pet owners when they pick up their dog from the grooming shop expecting a longer haircut, but oftentimes the groomer doesn't have any other option. There are some things you can do to avoid this frustration. We love your dogs just as much as you do and this is why we do what we do. We are passionate dog lovers who have made a career choice of spending time with dogs and doing what we love.
We only want the best for your dogs. When your dog is matted, we believe in doing what is best for your dog. In many cases, this means shaving the mats out of your dog. We are working on areas of your dog where skin is thin, likely already irritated and sometimes their hair is being pulled because of tight mats. Removing a heavily matted coat includes risks of nicks, cuts or abrasions due to warts, moles and skin folds trapped and hidden within the matted hair. Therefore, shaving a matted dog must be done slowly with utmost care.
Cutting the mats out — Never cut the mats out of your dog's fur with scissors. It's very easy to catch your dogs' skin in the mats and unintentionally create a large wound on your dog. Please do not ask us to just "cut out the mats" when your dog is matted. This is dangerous, and we will only remove mats with clippers for the safety of your dog. Brushing - Many owners who brush their dogs regularly may feel the thick layer of pelted matting under the layer of brushed fur and mistake this for the skin.
Your groomer must be able to get a comb all the way down to the skin and through the coat. When the fur is pelted to the skin, it needs to be removed. If you are unable to get a comb through the hair to the skin, chances are we may not be able to either. If your dog has severe pelting, this is not something we can brush out. The matting must be shaved out. Your dog's ears — The skin on your dog's ears is very sensitive and thin.
If your dogs' ears become matted, the mats can cause delicate blood vessels in the ears to rupture, causing hematomas in the ears. Hematomas can be very painful for your dog and must be treated by your veterinarian.
This is why it's best to not attempt to demat severely matted ears, but instead, shaving the ears is the safest option. We often uncover these hematomas and recommend a vet visit. Realistic Expectations — We know the pain that mats cause, and our first priority is to ensure your dog's comfort and safety. Shaving out mats with clippers is the safest way to remove a severe mat. This will leave a bare patch in your dogs fur. If your dog only has one or two small areas where mats are severe, we may be able to shave those areas and keep the length on the remaining part of his body.
However, if your dogs' legs are matted and the body is not, he may look a little silly with shaved legs. Therefore, many times it's best to start all over. Prevention is the best way to deal with a mat -Avoid getting them! Diet - A strong healthy coat relies on proper nutrition to stay in peak condition. Most commercial diets are unbalanced with fatty acids. In addition, it prevents an overload of Omega 6 which can result in further skin inflammation, allergies or skin issues.
Choosing the right brush — The type of brush or comb you use will make a big difference. Brushes and combs have different sizes, lengths, spacing, and bristles.
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