…a little more info on Matted Hair

What is matting?

Matting is a condition that can affect the hair of certain breeds of dogs.  Matting is undercoat that has clumped together from sweat, repeated scratching, biting, or lack of regular brushing and grooming.  Matted hair may be sparse, affecting small areas like the ears or rump, or may cover larger areas.

Why is matting bad?

An analogy can be made by comparing matted hair to a baby diaper.  The matted hair lies next to the skin and soaks up moisture much like a diaper.  The problem is, you can change a diaper but not the dogs matted hair. The matted hair becomes tighter and starts to web out similar to a spider web. When the matted hair becomes a dense clump, air cannot reach the skin, and the skin can become irritated and cause lesions where it’s invisible to the owner. 

What to do for a matted dog?

1.      The best solution is prevention.  If your dog is prone to mats, a weekly or sometimes daily brushing will definitely help. 

2.    Another great solution is to think about grooming your pet into a shorter more manageable cut.

3.    Once the matted hair exists, the choices become fewer.  If the matting is somewhat loose, it may be possible to brush through and remove them.  The problem is that removing the matted hair is definitely stressful to the dog and it can also be extremely painful!  No one knows what lies below those thick dense mats. The skin could be infected, and sores, skin tags, moles, and other skin conditions could exist underneath.  Far too many pets are cut every day by owners who are trying to help, but unknowingly clip the pet’s skin.  Older dogs sometimes have paper-like skin that is vulnerable to tearing very easily when being brushed.   This is why it is highly recommended to have a professional groomer or vet evaluate the situation and follow the proper course of action.  Groomers have special tools to help with the dematting process.

**This is also why groomers will not accept liability for any injuries to the pet during this stressful and risky process.

If the matting is severe, or the pet is stressed from the brushing and pulling, shaving the pet down , or clipping to a much shorter style is by far the most humane thing to do. The hair will grow back and your pet will thank you!  If your groomer cannot perform this task, please visit your vet.