How to Care for a Badly Matted Dog

Any dog with a long coat has a risk of matted fur. Mats in fur can build up gradually, and if you don't groom your dog at least once a week, you might find that your dog has developed them. Sometimes the mats can be dealt with; other times, you'll have to shave the entire dog and let new fur grow in. Sometimes shelter dogs' entire coats are matted. Caring for badly matted dogs takes time, but is necessary.

Things You'll Need

  • Brush
  • Dog clippers
  • Hair scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Evaluate the extent of the matting. Take a dog brush, or your hands, and carefully go over your dog's entire coat. Take note of where the matting is worst. According to DIY Dog Grooming, the areas most prone to matting on dogs are under the front shoulders, the ears, the belly, the paws and the tail. Don't try to brush out mats even if they're small -- this can hurt your dog and make it afraid of grooming.

    • 2

      Use scissors to cut off individual mats. Cut as close to the skin as possible without hurting the dog. Only use scissors on mats that you can easily remove with two or three strokes -- you should use clippers for extensive matting.

    • 3

      Using the shortest blade you have, take your dog clippers and shave off the matted fur. Don't try to use human clippers for this step, as the motor will not be strong enough and you'll be left frustrated. If you've never clipped a dog before or the matting goes down to the skin, you might want to take the dog to a professional.

    • 4

      Brush the remaining fur well to ensure that you have removed all the mats. If you had to shave an extensive area, you might want to go ahead and shave the rest of the dog so that the fur grows back in evenly.

    • 5

      Treat the dog's skin. Often, a badly matted dog will have red, raw skin underneath. This is from the matted hair pulling against the skin. Give your dog a bath with lots of shampoo and cool water, then treat the skin with aloe vera cream or apple cider vinegar. These will help cool down the skin and stop the redness.