What's The Big Deal About Matted Coats?
If you are a dog owner you may not be aware, but matts are a serious problem and can be detrimental to your dogs' well being. A dogs coat in a matted condition is usually ignored or neglected by their owners, often unintentionally. Many owners do not understand how wretched this condition makes their dog feel and the problems it can cause. New dog/puppy owners may not be aware of how much time and care is required to properly maintain their chosen breeds coat.
A dog may chew and scratch at themselves and suffer greatly if the matts are not removed. Matts can become so tight they can tear the skin and cut blood circulation off to areas that are affected. Matting can also restrict the dogs’ movement in severe cases. Some dog owners think that because the dog is chewing and scratching there must be a flea or skin problem.... but not always. Many problems can result from, or be aggravated by, the presence of matts. There can often be problems underneath the matting on the skin including sores, infections, cuts and even maggots can result from poor coat maintenance.
Why did my dog’s coat become matted?
Quite simply because the coat has not been properly cared for. Many dog owners do not take the time to maintain their dogs coat. It may be that they don't understand or have not been advised how to properly comb and brush their dog. Combing and brushing needs to be done on a regular basis and the dog should be taught from puppyhood to accept grooming as part of his/her daily routine. Dogs cannot brush and comb themselves, so home care of the coat is a large part of the responsibility one accepts when owning a companion animal.
Matting is painful!
Imagine how your head would feel if your hair was matted. Imagine trying to brush those matts out. Now imagine how you would feel if the matting was in sensitive areas of your body, and note that a dogs skin is thinner than human skin. Matts mostly occur in the groin area, the armpits, behind the ears and around tails. In all of those areas the matts will pull at the skin when the dog moves or is picked up and will therefore be painful. If the matts are not brushed out before they become too tight to remove safely, they will eventually become an extreme health hazard to your dog. In the worst case, the matts can tear the skin. Wetting the dog will make the matts become tighter and pull even harder on the skin. The only humane way to remove matts at this stage is to have the coat clipped off entirely with a close blade and even then the dog will be at risk of having his/her skin cut with the clippers as matts are usually so close to the skin. NEVER attempt to remove matts with scissors as the skin can be easily cut unintentionally. Fleas and ticks can hide under matted coats making them almost impossible to detect and subsequently treat. If the matts cover the genital areas, urine and faeces may get stuck under the matts, pressed against the skin, causing further irritation and possible infection and rotting of the coat and skin.
How can I keep my dog mat free?
You will need a slicker brush and a metal comb, these are the basic tools that you will need for daily coat care. On most breeds, it is recommended to start at the bottom of the feet and pushing the coat up with one hand using the slicker brush to brush the coat below with your other hand. The slicker should be used to pull down a small bit of hair at a time, brushing all the way to the skin but being careful not to put too much pressure on the brush as you work as this could scratch or cut the skin. Work your way up using this method. Once you have gone over the entire coat you can then run a metal comb through the coat to find any tangles and knots you have missed. Make sure that you can part the coat to the skin with the comb. Many people spend plenty of time brushing their dog with a brush unsuitable for the job, only to find that they have merely been brushing over the top. The coat they thought was well brushed, is in fact solidly matted near the skin.
I Found A Matt! Now is when you use a little elbow grease and A LOT of care. Matts are usually in delicate areas which means it will hurt a lot if you pull it. You must hold the matt in one hand near to the skin, dampen it with a de-matting spray, and work the matt out a few hairs at a time to break it up. If you have not trained your dog to be handled for brushing and combing then you'll have quite a job on your hands and will probably need the help of another person to hold the dog.
Why not just take the dog to a Groomer? Yes, you can take your dog to a groomer to have it properly groomed, but do not expect dematting to be a regular part of your dogs grooming. Do not be surprised if your groomer will not dematt. If the matting is extensive, the only option will be to clip the entire coat with a close blade. Remember, it is not the groomer's fault your dog has fallen into this condition.
REMEMBER - DAILY COAT CARE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DOG’S OWNER.
You will find in the long run, proper coat maintenance will cost you less and your dog will be much healthier and happier.
A dog may chew and scratch at themselves and suffer greatly if the matts are not removed. Matts can become so tight they can tear the skin and cut blood circulation off to areas that are affected. Matting can also restrict the dogs’ movement in severe cases. Some dog owners think that because the dog is chewing and scratching there must be a flea or skin problem.... but not always. Many problems can result from, or be aggravated by, the presence of matts. There can often be problems underneath the matting on the skin including sores, infections, cuts and even maggots can result from poor coat maintenance.
Why did my dog’s coat become matted?
Quite simply because the coat has not been properly cared for. Many dog owners do not take the time to maintain their dogs coat. It may be that they don't understand or have not been advised how to properly comb and brush their dog. Combing and brushing needs to be done on a regular basis and the dog should be taught from puppyhood to accept grooming as part of his/her daily routine. Dogs cannot brush and comb themselves, so home care of the coat is a large part of the responsibility one accepts when owning a companion animal.
Matting is painful!
Imagine how your head would feel if your hair was matted. Imagine trying to brush those matts out. Now imagine how you would feel if the matting was in sensitive areas of your body, and note that a dogs skin is thinner than human skin. Matts mostly occur in the groin area, the armpits, behind the ears and around tails. In all of those areas the matts will pull at the skin when the dog moves or is picked up and will therefore be painful. If the matts are not brushed out before they become too tight to remove safely, they will eventually become an extreme health hazard to your dog. In the worst case, the matts can tear the skin. Wetting the dog will make the matts become tighter and pull even harder on the skin. The only humane way to remove matts at this stage is to have the coat clipped off entirely with a close blade and even then the dog will be at risk of having his/her skin cut with the clippers as matts are usually so close to the skin. NEVER attempt to remove matts with scissors as the skin can be easily cut unintentionally. Fleas and ticks can hide under matted coats making them almost impossible to detect and subsequently treat. If the matts cover the genital areas, urine and faeces may get stuck under the matts, pressed against the skin, causing further irritation and possible infection and rotting of the coat and skin.
How can I keep my dog mat free?
You will need a slicker brush and a metal comb, these are the basic tools that you will need for daily coat care. On most breeds, it is recommended to start at the bottom of the feet and pushing the coat up with one hand using the slicker brush to brush the coat below with your other hand. The slicker should be used to pull down a small bit of hair at a time, brushing all the way to the skin but being careful not to put too much pressure on the brush as you work as this could scratch or cut the skin. Work your way up using this method. Once you have gone over the entire coat you can then run a metal comb through the coat to find any tangles and knots you have missed. Make sure that you can part the coat to the skin with the comb. Many people spend plenty of time brushing their dog with a brush unsuitable for the job, only to find that they have merely been brushing over the top. The coat they thought was well brushed, is in fact solidly matted near the skin.
I Found A Matt! Now is when you use a little elbow grease and A LOT of care. Matts are usually in delicate areas which means it will hurt a lot if you pull it. You must hold the matt in one hand near to the skin, dampen it with a de-matting spray, and work the matt out a few hairs at a time to break it up. If you have not trained your dog to be handled for brushing and combing then you'll have quite a job on your hands and will probably need the help of another person to hold the dog.
Why not just take the dog to a Groomer? Yes, you can take your dog to a groomer to have it properly groomed, but do not expect dematting to be a regular part of your dogs grooming. Do not be surprised if your groomer will not dematt. If the matting is extensive, the only option will be to clip the entire coat with a close blade. Remember, it is not the groomer's fault your dog has fallen into this condition.
REMEMBER - DAILY COAT CARE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DOG’S OWNER.
You will find in the long run, proper coat maintenance will cost you less and your dog will be much healthier and happier.