Cutting Mats Off Dog

Never cut into a mat with a pair of scissors as it is likely you could cut the dog s skin if the dog were to suddenly move.

Cutting mats off dog.

Next split the mat up as much as possible using a mat splitter or your fingers then gently work it out using a slicker brush. By watching a professional groomer shave a dog you can learn some tricks and even feel more confident. Some dogs are more prone to mats such as the poodle bichon frise cocker spaniel and any dog with a long coat or who is a heavy shedder verplank says. Using scissors to cut through the mat can increase the risk of injuring your pet.

Depending on how thick the mat is you will need to cut it out so you don t cause unnecessary stress or pain to your dog. Every six to eight weeks is recommended. Get the right tools. The backs of their ears butts tummy area and under the arms and legs.

If the mat is really close to the skin it s safer to shave it out or have a professional work on it. A dog s hair shafts are barbed much like a briar bush with some more barbed than others. This is because the hair mats often lie close to the dog s skin. She does not like having the groomer brush out her matted hair but as you will see in this video she barely notices i am working.

Be careful when using this tool because it has sharp tines on it you want to alleviate your dog s pain from mats not put her in worse pain by cutting or scratching her with the rake. Regular visits to a professional groomer is a must to stave off matted dog hair. A very large mat can be removed by first placing the scissor blade nearest the skin and cutting the mat in half as you cut outwards towards the ends of the hair. Maintaining a healthy coat can prevent mats from forming so it s critical to remove excessive hair through regular brushing and grooming.

So how do you get matted hair off a dog without cutting it. If that happens you ll need to go to the veterinarian for treatment and medication to prevent infection which can be costly plus your dog will be much less willing to be handled the next time. If the mat rake isn t cutting it so to speak try using a mat. You use a wet brush to get the top coat and then a rake tool to get out the deep matted hair.

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. The more barbs in the hair shaft the more likely to mat says verplank. Mats can form anywhere on a dog or cat s coat but especially where their hair is extra long. Mats begin at the base and not at the top of the hair.

Cutting matted hair in pooches is not like any other grooming activity. For cutting matted hair it is better to use dog clippers than a pair of scissors. In this video i will show you an example of how i painlessly remove matted fur from our goldendoodle lexie.