Veterinarians recognize chronically matted hair and strangulating hair mats in dogs as a medical finding in animal neglect.
If the matting is severe and close to the skin, airflow becomes constricted and the skin can dry and fester. This leads to painful sores and infections. Dander and dead skin carried in mats also leave dogs prone to infection. This can happen even if they only receive a very small knick or scrape.
Groomers can't just cut out the mats either since hat will be quite risky for your dog. They will only remove mats safely with clippers. While shaving out mats will remove a large amount of fur, clippers are the safest way to shave out tangled fur.
If you're really struggling to remove your pup's mats, take him to the groomer. While it may cost you some money, it will save both you and your dog a lot of anguish. If you find your dog is developing mats, increase the frequency of grooming appointments to help keep them at bay.
These matted dogs require professional grooming skills to remove the coat safely. Removing these coats also require a lot more time than the average grooming. It is only fair that a groomer charge an extra fee for removing this kind of coat.
Matted hair is really bad for your dog and can cause some serious issues. So, why do most groomers recommend shaving all the hair off when it can just be brushed out? By shaving all their hair off, we're removing any uncomfortable, painful matts and giving you a fresh canvas to work with.
The dematting process involves taking small sections of hair at a time and working to release the mats utilizing dematting tools and products and then brushing. If the matting on your dog is severe, the safest and most humane way to remove the mats would be to clip his hair short.
DON'T brush damp fur
Because brushing your dog when his hair is wet can be quite painful, while also creating more tangles and knots. That's why you should always brush dogs before you bathe them and then just let it all dry naturally afterward.
As cute as our furry friends are, their fur can get in the way. Some dogs with longer fur are at a risk of developing matted hair. This is when fur sticks together and knots, creating pain and tension on your dog's skin. The sensation of matting is uncomfortable for your dog but is not life-threatening.
Even when done by a professional, mat removal can be very uncomfortable for the dog, and you don't want your dog associating that the groomer means a painful brush out or full shave every visit.
Matting is especially prevalent in long-hair dogs during seasonal shedding if the excessive hairs are not removed. Regular and frequent grooming is absolutely necessary to not only prevent matts, but to keep your pet's coat and skin healthy. Severe matting can be extremely painful to your dog during brushing.
Before washing, spray your hair with water, then apply an oil or conditioner of your choosing to help loosen up the knots. Let the product sit for about 30 minutes. Separate your hair into sections (Dellinger recommends creating about 10) and start slowly finger-combing hair, detangling ends and working upward.
Don't bathe your dog, as the mats will soak up water and become even tighter. Try using cornstarch to help loosen the fur. Rub it directly into the matted area.
Removing loose hair is a great way to lessen or prevent hair matting. Bathe your dog regularly, but only once you can get a comb through his fur or hair. Bathing a matted dog will make the situation worse. Conditioner alone does not magically remove matting.
Use leave-in conditioner to brush mats out.
Fill a spray bottle with 1/2 conditioner—preferably dog conditioner, but even human conditioner will work in a pinch and 1/2 water, so that it's diluted. spray liberally on and around the mats and matted area. Gently brush the matted area, drawing mats away from the skin.
If your dog has long hair and sensitive skin, your options for keeping her coat tangle-free and soft are limited. Make an all natural coat detangler at home using coconut oil and fresh rosemary. This wonderful concoction will make her coat soft, shiny and keep it smelling wonderful.
It involves manually plucking out the dead hair from the dog's coat using either your fingers or a specialised stripping tool. Stripping can help to maintain the natural texture and color of the dog's coat and stimulate healthy hair growth. It can also help to reduce shedding and prevent matting.
The quick answer is: It will take an average of 1 hour to groom your dog. If he has a short and low-maintenance coat you may be done in as little as 20 minutes. If you own a breed with a more difficult coat or a large breed, it may take up to 2 hours to groom your dog.
Dogs such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies and any dog that seasonally sheds huge clumps of fur (part of its undercoat) should never be shaved. It is a misconception that shaving will help keep a dog cool on hot days.
Unhealthy coat's appearance: A dog with an unhealthy coat will have dry and brittle hair with lots of loose hair in the coat. The coat itself may also be greasy or have a dusty appearance and include bald spots and an unpleasant oily smell.
Use olive oil on matted hair
Loosen your dog's matted hair by rubbing a little olive oil into the knot. Then gently comb through the matted area with a wire brush until the brush teeth glide smoothly through his coat.
In severe cases, matting may impede regular air circulation to skin, cut off air supply to extremities, damage, bruise and discolour skin, open up sores and rips, become a breeding ground for fleas and parasites and be very smelly.
You can also use detangling spray or oil (coconut, jojoba, argan, or a similar oil) instead, to help hydrate and loosen your hair. Work the product through your hair, being sure to saturate the matted area with an ample coating. Make sure to dry your hair off a bit so that it's not dripping.