A Tangled Matted Mess

Dogs come with either fur or hair. Fur tends to shed more than hair, but hair can grow much longer and requires more grooming. Whether your dog has fur or hair, it can become a tangled, matted mess…and this can also be true for cats.

While there are many reasons for hair and fur to become matted, there are reasons beyond aesthetics to help your pet stay detangled. Understanding this only requires us to think for a moment about how the same condition would impact our own lives.

PAIN (IN THE “PITS”)

Imagine you had hair or fur all over your body. How would a long, tangled coat impact your movement? When our pets aren’t well groomed, these balled-up bunches of tangled hair start to impact their movement. This is most noticeable when your pet has tangled or matted hair in the armpit area.

A quick note here: Dogs and cats don’t technically have armpits. PetMD helps us with the technical terms, “Axillary: In the ‘armpit’ of the dog, or where the front legs meet the chest. Inguinal: On the underside of the dog where the rear legs meet the abdomen (groin).”

When your pet’s pit fur becomes tangled, it can cause pain when they attempt to move. The movement pulls at these hairs and creates pain just like it would for us. These places on our pets are some of the most tender places on their bodies. Preventing this pain through proper grooming is one responsibility pet owners have.

BODY TEMP

Tangled and matted hair usually comes with unchecked growth (letting their coat grow longer). And just like us, wearing a long coat has seasonal implications. During the winter months, letting their coats grow longer for warmth makes sense. But during the warmer months, a long coat can be uncomfortable (when it comes to body temperature).

In the winter, we want to make sure and inspect the longer coats for any tangled or matted areas. Often, it’s not just a matter of length, but a matter of thickness. Thinning out these areas can help prevent tangles.

In the summer, having them groomed shorter can help regulate their body temp, but it doesn’t necessarily eliminate tangles and mattes altogether. A good groomer will know this and help our furry friends not only with length but with thickness. They can also recommend good products that won’t irritate the skin.

PET DANDER

Pet dander is probably the greatest source of allergens associated with pets. Pet dander increases when your cat or dog licks parts of their body. When their coat starts to tangle or mat, you’ll notice dogs especially begin to lick that area. Why?

Often, tangles and mats create skin irritation. Self-soothing for pets is often done through licking. This significantly impacts the pet dander in your home and any allergic reactions your family may experience.

This may seem like an overwhelming problem when it comes to the constant care of your comfy companions. Don’t allow this to become a sore spot in your relationship. Contributor to PetMD, Dr. Liff says this, “Often pets will not tolerate a lengthy procedure, so an experienced groomer may be able to complete the task more quickly without stressing out the pet.”

Stressing a pet or a pet owner detracts from the joy we have with these amazing friends. Finding solutions that free you up for fun is the key. Here’s the key: Don’t let your relationship become a tangled mess.

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