One of the basic needs of your beloved pet is grooming. Your pet’s skin and coat must consistently be healthy. Some pet moms and dads prefer well-groomed fur that is styled for comfort. Others love letting their pet’s fur grow, especially during the cold months.
Matting may occur to any pet at any time of the year. Even cats grooming themselves may have matting episodes, indicating a much deeper issue. Dogs can get matted fur for factors like scratching and biting. Let’s look at how this problem forms and the concerns it can result in.
Matting in Dogs
Dogs with thick, curly, or fine hair are most likely to get into this trouble. Mats tend to form in locations where there often is friction. If their coats aren’t combed enough to loosen up the hair that has been shed, these hairs get trapped and wound themselves onto live hair. The longer this does not get treated, the more matting will happen.
Matting in Cats
Cats are known for their good grooming habits. Why does matting happen in cats? There may be circumstances when cats have issues with their mouths or flexibility. They do not just tend to lose this habit; however, there may be underlying factors you need to discover. Do not worry, however. Not all matting concerns are major. Depending on the pet’s breed, some may simply be from too much hair growth.
What Develops When There Is Matting
When too much hair has matted and not been treated right away, this can threaten your pet.
Parasite Invasion
Suppose you are not able to see through the fur or are not able to thoroughly clean your pets. In that case, your pets are at risk of getting parasite infestation. To help prevent parasites, check this link.
Limited Movement
Hair can get heavy, and the tangling can get so complex. Legs may connect to adjacent areas or strangle extremities. In some cases, matting might even affect breathing.
Wounds and Infections
The chaotic mess of fur might cause not only parasite invasion but can also hide other foreign bodies. Trapped inside the mass of hair might be twigs, leaves, and feces. Such will bring irritation to the pets that can trigger them to lick, bite, or tug on their fur. These can rip skin, and wounds can get contaminated by bacteria. To help treat wounds, click here.
What to Do With Matted Fur
When you see that matting is bad, do not cut them out with scissors. The poor animal may jerk and get injured. If possible, it is best to work on these mats slowly with the correct brushes. If you feel this triggers too much stress, anxiety, and even trauma in your pets, bring them to professional groomers instantly.
A lot of veterinarian hospitals offer specialized services to pets with matting problems. The veterinary hospital is the best choice because urgent vet care can be given after de-matting.
How to Prevent Mats
Regular bathing followed by carefully brushing and blow-drying can work wonders for your pets. If any moisture remains, this can weigh down the hair and begin matting again. At the first sign of matting, brush carefully to loosen this before the problem occurs again.
Speak with your vet regularly to ensure that your pets are okay from the inside. Early detection of discomfort, illness, or flexibility concerns can reduce the chances of unusual scratching or inability to groom.
The Takeaway
A healthy pet is healthy inside out. Don’t allow matted fur to threaten the lives of your pet. Remember that good grooming is important for their long and happy lives.
