Along with being very uncomfortable, there are serious health concerns that are associated with matting.
The first of these dangers is what we call “tearing." What happens is the hair on the top of the neck, for example, links together with the hair on the bottom of the neck. Every time the dog turns their head, it pulls on the skin, causing it to tear. This is also common in the armpits and the underbelly area where movement is frequent and the hair is linked together.
When your dog’s ears become heavily matted, the sensitive skin on the ear tips can become constricted and the delicate blood vessels inside the skin can rupture, causing blood to pool inside the tips of the ears. These “hematomas” can be quite painful, and, when your pooch shakes her head, can bust open sending blood flying around the room. Hematomas require veterinary care to heal properly and not become infected. To help prevent swelling, cut a long sock or pantyhose and slip it over their head, preventing their ears from flapping when they shake their head.
Matted hair can trap fleas and ticks, bacteria, moisture, and foreign matter against your dog’s skin. Skin sores can develop underneath the mats, become infected, and, in some neglected cases, affect skin and muscle tissue to the point where it sloughs away completely. The tightness of them can also cause bruising and redness.
Most people ask, do you have to go that short? The answer is yes! In order to get the matting off, we have to get under it. It is all connected at this point and there is no way to brush it out.
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BRUSHING
In order to keep a fluffy coat, these types of dogs require a technique called “line brushing” at least 2-3 times a week.
Don’t want to do that much work? That’s fine! Just make sure to bring them in every 4 weeks to keep them brushed out and in a shorter clip. Fluffy dogs should come every 4-6 weeks regardless to keep them bathed and fully brushed out.
Here is a very helpful video on how to Line Brush at home. We recommend watching the whole thing, as there are very helpful tips and tricks throughout the entire video.
