matted dog

Most people have every intention of taking care of their dog’s coat. Unfortunately, busy schedules and life events can get in the way. When this occurs, your longhaired friend can become matted. A matted coat is painful and can hide skin problems and parasites.

A matted coat is different than tangles. Tangles can typically be worked out with your fingers or a comb. They do not hinder your ability to view your dog’s skin. When your dog’s coat is matted you cannot see their skin. The fur develops a mat-like quality that covers some or all of the body. A severely matted coat can stretch from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose. Dogs in this condition will often have feces and urine stuck in their fur.

A Matted Coat Can Hide Skin Issues and Parasites

Since mats prevent you from viewing your dog’s skin, they can hide serious issues. Fleas and ticks are common under a matted coat, as are sores from the constant skin pulling that occurs as a result of having a severely matted coat. Moisture can become trapped under mats, causing fungal and other skin infections. This is uncomfortable and can cause your dog to smell. Treatment of these conditions cannot take place until the mats are removed.

Attempting to comb or brush mats causes extreme pain. Using scissors to remove mats is not a viable option either. You can easily cut your dog’s delicate skin when cutting mats. Bathing a dog with mats causes the mats to become tighter, increasing the amount of pain your dog endures.

At Claws N Paws Day Spa, we will not cause your dog unnecessary pain or distress. This is why we will only shave a matted pet. Shaving removes the mats quickly and safely. This relieves your dog of pain and enables you to treat any underlying skin problems or parasites. We will not bathe matted pets until all mats have been removed.

We are already booking holiday appointments. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment today!

Matted Hair is Dangerous for your Pet

When an animal’s coat is not properly cared for it can become matted. When the mats are bad enough they can become like a coat that surrounds the pet’s entire body. At this point the matted coat must be shaved off, typically in one big piece. Matted hair can be extremely dangerous to the health of your pet. Let’s discuss why:

Matted hair traps moisture, insects, fleas and bacteria. Often time’s sores develop under the mats.
When a dog has severely matted ears, the tightness of the mats can cause the delicate blood vessels in the tips of the ears to burst. This causes blood to pool under the hair on the tips of the ears. These hematomas can be extremely painful for your pet. When the matted hair around the tips of the ears is shaved, they will typically bleed. This is caused by the mats and is not the fault of the groomerPets that are severely matted must be shaved very close to the skin. This increases the chance of irritation of the skin and injury to your pet.
When an animal’s coat is matted down to the skin, every time they scratch their nails catch the mats and tears at the skin. This can quickly lead to rips in the skin. These rips usually require stitches and antibiotics after the pet has been shaved down by a professional groomer.
The eyes, ears, mouth, paw pads and sanitary areas are extremely prone to serious, life-threatening infections when a pet’s coat is matted.
Aside from the physical effects of matted fur, the animal’s behavior can change as a result of the constant pain and discomfort. Dogs can get snappy and bite without provocation and cats might disappear into their occasional hiding spots for days on end.
In order to avoid mats and the health problems associated with them, you must take the time necessary to properly care for your pet’s coat. Use a metal comb and/or a slicker brush several times a week and have your long-haired dog or cat professionally groomed every five to eight weeks.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been offering professional pet grooming services in Fountain Valley, California since 2001. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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