Hair Knots & Grooming on Pets

Long-haired cats and dogs often end up with hair knots. The best way to avoid these knots is through regular grooming, but sometimes even the best-groomed pet will develop a stubborn knot.

  1. Significance

    • Hair knots can indicate that an animal needs to be groomed more frequently. They can also be a product of a dirty environment or infrequent bathing.

    Effects

    • If hair knots are not removed, they can cause skin irritation. If an animal pulls at them, they can even lead to an infection.

    Prevention/Solution

    • To remove hair knots, start by working through them with your fingers to avoid pulling out hair. You can spray it with de-tangler and work on it with a comb, then finally trim any parts that cannot be untangled.

    Misconceptions

    • It is commonly thought that conditioning will help you comb out a mat or hair knot. However, if you have not worked most of the knot out before you apply shampoo and conditioner, the treatment will likely exacerbate the problem.

    Considerations

    • If your pet has regularly occurring hair knots, then you may need to revisit how often they are bathed and groomed. A shorter haircut is often better for an active animal, particularly if you can only bathe and groom every two or three weeks.