When it comes to keeping your matted pup healthy and comfortable, grooming is one thing that’s challenging yet essential. After all, those clumps of tangled fur can lead to skin infections, restricted movement, and severe discomfort if left unattended.
But how to groom a matted dog by yourself at home?
This is one question pet parents often ask me, and I am sure you’re curious about it too.
Read on, as I’ve explained matted dog grooming steps that you can follow. Also, I’ve shared my tips as a mobile pet groomer in Memphis, TN, to safely groom your matted pup.
What is matting in dogs?
Before I get into the details of how to groom a dog with matted fur, it is essential you know the root cause of matting.
For starters, matting occurs when your dog’s fur becomes tangled and knotted and forms dense clumps. And this is particularly common in long-haired breeds or those with curly coats.
There are several reasons why your dog could be matted, including:
- Lack of regular grooming: Infrequent brushing can cause loose and dead hair to intertwine and form mats.
- Friction: Those areas where there is constant movement, such as under the collar, behind the ears, armpits, and groin, can become matted more often due to friction.
- Moisture: Wet fur can easily become tangled, more so if it’s not properly dried and brushed.
- Level of activity: Active dogs that play outdoors can collect debris in their fur, which can lead to tangles and mats. This is especially true for pups enrolled in a dog boarding or daycare where activity levels are high.
Now, matting can cause various issues, including skin irritation, restricted blood flow, and hiding parasites like fleas or ticks. Worse: Severe matting can even affect your dog’s movement and overall well-being.
How to groom a matted dog?
Now that you know what causes matting in dogs, let me answer your biggest question, i.e, how to groom a dog with matted hair?
To begin with, matted dog grooming calls for everything from the right tools to a gentle touch and lots of patience. That’s because you don’t want to make the mats worse or end up hurting your furry friend.
So, you can start off by assessing the severity of the matting and then choose the right grooming method.
For instance, go about detangling the mats with a comb, trim them with scissors, or shave the coat entirely, depending on the situation.
All in all, here’s how to groom a matted dog from start to finish:
Assess the severity of matting
The first thing you want to do when grooming a matted dog is assess the severity of the mats. This will help you determine the right tools and techniques to use for grooming.
You see, it’s the extent of the matting that will decide how much time, effort, and patience you need to put in.
I’ve detailed the key stages of matting and explained how you can handle them below.
1. Minor matting
Minor matting involves small tangles or mats that are not too tightly bound to your dog’s skin.
These mats often form at the ends of the fur or in less sensitive areas like the legs or tail. And they are relatively easy to handle as you can remove them with a gentle slicker brush, comb, or even your fingers.
In fact, if the mats are loose enough, you’ll also be able to untangle them with a detangling spray or conditioner.
2. Moderate matting
Moderate matting involves larger tangles that are closer to the skin but still manageable if you use the right approach. These are tighter mats that might require more time and effort, and are, thus, challenging to remove.
For mats like these, a dematting comb is your best tool. That’s because these combs have teeth designed to break up more substantial mats without causing pain to your pup.
Also, it might take several passes with the comb and a detangling spray before you fully loosen the mat.
3. Severe matting
Severe matting occurs when mats are extensive and tightly bound to the skin. Moreover, these mats can cover large portions of your dog’s coat, particularly in areas such as the underbelly, armpits, or behind the ears.
And unlike minor and moderate mating that are not as painful, severe matting can be painful for your dog. That’s because the mats pull tightly on the skin, which restricts blood flow and causes discomfort.
Get the right tools
Once you’ve assessed how severe the matting is, you can get the right grooming tools and equipment. These tools are essential for an effective and safe grooming session and include:
- Slicker brush: For removing loose hair and small tangles.
- Dematting comb or rake: To tackle tougher mats with minimal discomfort.
- Detangling spray: To loosen mats and make the fur easier to work with.
- Grooming clippers (sharp and suitable for your dog’s coat type): To shave severe mats.
- Blunt-tipped scissors: For cutting out stubborn mats. Also, the blunt tip helps prevent accidental cuts.
- Styptic powder: To stop minor bleeding in case of small nicks or cuts.
Groom your matted dog
With the right tools at your disposal, you can finally start grooming your matted dog.
You see, the answer to how to groom a matted dog is rather straightforward and involves four simple steps. However, as you follow these steps, you’ll need to be patient, gentle, and attentive.
Overall, here are the steps for a safe and effective matted dog grooming:
1. Prepare for grooming
Before you even begin grooming, I suggest you take your pup to a quiet area free from distraction and make sure they’re calm and relaxed. This is important to prevent your dog from being stressed or anxious during the process.
Think of it as a home dog allergy test where you need your pup to be as relaxed as possible as you run a swab test on them.
Thereafter, you can gather your grooming tools such as brushes, combs, detangling spray, and clippers all in one place.
Also, this is the time when you’ll examine the coat thoroughly and figure out how much grooming is required.
2. Detangle minor mats
If your pup has minor tangles or mats, you can apply a detangling spray to start with. This spray will loosen the knots and make it easier for you to comb through without causing pain.
Now, as you work through the tangles, be gentle and do the following:
- Apply detangling spray: Lightly mist the matted areas to soften the fur and make it easier to work with.
- Hold the mat at the base: Gently hold the fur closest to the skin to minimize pulling and discomfort.
- Use a slicker brush: Starting from the ends of the fur, gently brush towards the base, gradually working out the tangles.
3. Remove moderate and severe mats
It is not uncommon to encounter larger and more stubborn mats during matted dog grooming. And if you come across these, a dematting comb is the best thing you can use.
You see, these combs are designed to break up thick mats without pulling at the skin. And here’s how you can use these and other accessories to remove mats:
- Comb through the mats: A dematting comb is quite effective for larger mats. All you’ve got to do is insert the comb into the mat and gently sweep back and forth to break it up.
- Cut out stubborn mats: If a mat is too tight or close to the skin, you can use blunt-tipped scissors to cut it out. And as you do so, place a comb between the mat and the skin to prevent accidental cuts.
- Shave severe mats: When mats are extensive and cannot be safely removed with combs or scissors, shaving might be necessary. Here, you can use grooming clippers with a suitable blade length and work slowly to avoid nicking the skin.
4. Bath and dry your pup
Lastly, you can give your pup a little shower and dry them up. This will help clean and condition their fur after grooming.
But before you do this, be sure to remove all mats as water can cause the tangles to tighten. Also, use a gentle shampoo to maintain your dog’s coat and skin health.
And once your dog is dry, brush through their fur again to ensure there are no remaining tangles or mats.
When to hire a professional for matted dog grooming?
Even though you know how to groom a matted dog by yourself, there are times when you’ll still need a professional groomer.
For instance, if your dog’s matting falls into the severe category or if you feel that you are unable to safely remove the mats, it’s time you sought professional help.
All in all, you should be prepared to foot the cost of mobile dog grooming or traditional grooming, if:
- Mats are too tight to be combed out without causing discomfort.
- Your dog shows signs of pain, such as flinching, growling, or trying to escape during grooming.
- The matting has led to skin issues like sores, redness, or infections.
- You’re unsure how to safely remove the mats without injuring your dog.
FAQs about how to groom a matted dog
Should you bathe your matted dog before grooming?
No. Bathing a matted dog before detangling can tighten the mats and make them harder to remove. So, you should detangle first and then bathe them.
Can you use human conditioner on your dog’s matted fur?
No. Human hair products can be too harsh for a dog’s sensitive skin. I suggest you use a dog-safe conditioner instead.
How often should you brush your dog to prevent matting?
It depends on the breed.
For instance, while long-haired and curly-haired breeds should be brushed daily, short-haired dogs might only need brushing a few times a week.
What should you do if your dog gets anxious during grooming?
You can take breaks, use positive reinforcement (treats and praise), and groom in a calm, quiet space.
And if anxiety persists, you can hire a professional dog groomer instead. These professionals undergo training and certification programs to become a dog groomer and know the techniques to calm your pup for a grooming session.
Can shaving a matted dog damage their coat?
For some double-coated breeds, shaving can alter hair regrowth and affect insulation. So, my advice is you consult a professional before shaving a double-coated dog.
Final words
By now, you know in great detail how to groom a matted dog based on the severity of matting, all while keeping your pup calm and relaxed.
Got more questions or have a pup with severe mats?
You can get in touch with us and schedule a professional grooming session!
At Dawg Team Apparel USA, we are more than just a dog apparel store. We are seasoned pet groomers with decades of experience serving Memphis and beyond.
And we’ve got your pup’s grooming needs covered on a budget.
