Removing Mats From Curly Coated Dogs

Mats in your dog's fur are unsightly to look at and uncomfortable for the animal. As the mat gets more knotted and tangled, it pulls on the dog's skin and causes pain. In addition, the mats reduce air circulation and trap moisture against the dog's skin which can lead to skin infections. Regular grooming and bathing should prevent mats from occurring. Mats tend to be more common in dogs with long, curly or shaggy fur so more grooming may be needed for dogs with these types of coats.

  1. Combing

    • Steel combs, dog brushes and fur rakes remove mats in dog fur effectively but it takes time to comb the tangled mess out of the fur. Combing and brushing removes the dead matted fur without cutting or shaving the fur. This method not only removes the mat but daily brushing can prevent mats from returning. Hold the matted fur at the roots to prevent pulling on the dog's skin. Start at the edge of the mat and use short brush strokes as you work your way towards the center of the tangled mess, removing bits of matted fur as you go.

    Shaving

    • When a mat is too large to comb out or if your dog has many mats in his coat, shaving is sometimes the best method for removing them. Shaving your dog is the fastest and easiest method of removing mats from your dog's fur because you don't have to spend hours combing out each mat. With one swoop of the electric razor or a few strokes of a disposable razor, the hair entangled in the mat will be removed at the root and the mat will fall off. The downside of shaving mats out of your dog's fur is that it will leave temporary bald spots in your dog's fur while the fur grows back.

    Cutting

    • Cutting the entangled fur in the mat is another effective method for removing mats that doesn't involve shaving your dog's fur completely. Use a pair of small grooming scissors or a mat splitter, a type of razor blade used for cutting matted fur, to cut the mat into sections and then brush out each section with a comb, brush or fur rake. This method may create an uneven layer in your dog's coat but it won't be as obvious as shaving your dog's fur. Curly coats hide uneven hair lengths better because the multiple curls in the fur create a naturally uneven length.

    Conditioners

    • Detanglers and conditioners make removing a mat from dog fur easier because the emollients in the conditioner or detangler makes the strands of the fur smooth and silky so they are easier to detangle. This not only makes removing mats easier but it also prevents them from reoccurring. Detanglers and conditioners are often used in combination with brushes and combs since they can't remove mats all on their own. Wash the dog's fur with a gentle baby shampoo to remove any dirt or oil on the fur and then apply the conditioner or detangler before you comb or brush the fur.