Be aware that some rakes can cut away your dog s fur rather than comb it out this is a good temporary solution but often results in hair growing back unevenly which is especially problematic for styled breeds dematting combs are just the thing for those tough thick knots.
Getting mats out of dog fur.
Mats usually start with a small knot but this can quickly turn in to a large clump.
If not brushed out they continue to trap more fur becoming closer and closer to the dog s skin.
Needles to say this biting can discolor the hair and cause skin.
When this happens the dog bites at its skin or tries to scratch causing the mat to grow in size and the hair to get even more tangled.
Mats not only make the coat look disheveled they actually add to a dog s distress and cause skin irritation.
Problems with matted dogs.
To brush mats out of dog hair spray your dog s coat thoroughly with a detangler and work through the fur with a slicker brush.
Mats form when dog fur becomes tangled and wraps around itself forming tightly wound clumps of the loose dead fur and live fur.
Mats can also result from dogs scratching themselves and getting their fur wet in rain or snow.
When you locate a mat hold it at the base and slowly ease the knotted fur apart with your fingers.
You can also try sprinkling stubborn mats with cornstarch and working through them with a dematting comb.
Mats often occur in areas of friction such as under the collar behind the ears in the armpits or on the lower legs where the legs rub together or where the dog comes into contact with grass.
Causes of matted hair in dogs.