Dog fur often becomes tangled and knotted around itself without frequent brushing, this causes matting to form. 

Mats occur frequently in many dog breeds with curly, fine, or double coats.

In extreme cases, the dog's coat will become what groomers call "pelted" — when matting is very tight to the skin, preventing proper airflow.

Matting and pelting prevent proper temperature regulation, cause skin irritation, hide parasites like fleas or other nasties, and cause extreme discomfort and pain for the dog.

Mats are mostly preventable! Let's look at why your dog's coat is forming mats and things you can do to keep them at bay. We'll also talk about what your options are if your dog's coat is already matted.

Why Does Your Dog's Fur Get Matted?

Mats form when dog fur becomes tangled and wraps around itself, forming tightly wound clumps of the loose dead fur and live fur. If not brushed out, they continue to trap more fur, becoming closer and closer to the dog's skin. Mats tend to frequently form in areas where there is lots of friction — think around the neck area where the collar sits, behind the ears (where we lovingly scratch them), under their chin, their armpits, their belly’s, and back legs. Even in their feet and in between their toes! Dogs who like to swim are also more prone to matting. While any dog can get matted, some breeds and coat types are more likely to mat than others. How to prevent matting: Regularly brush your dogs coat. It’s the number one thing you can do to prevent matting. How often you should brush your dog depends on their coat type . Breeds that have long, curly, or fine coats should get brushed more often, even daily at times, while other coat types might only need once a week. One of the most common mistakes when brushing a dogs fur is only brushing the top layer. This can actually make matting worse by pushing the matted fur closer down into the skin . You can avoid this by using the correct brush type for your dogs fur. Using a brus hing de-tangling spray can also make brushing easier . Remove your dogs harness or collar when not in use. Make regular appointments with your groomer!
If you want to keep your dogs coat long, these maintenance grooms are essential. Paired with daily brushing to prevent matting. Regular maintenance grooming visits, and at home brushing, will mean that your pup will have a much better time at their spa day at FurEver Zen. 

Your dog is matted, what now?

Unless the Mat is small and loose, brushing isn’t your best option. Not only can it be painful and uncomfortable, but it can create a negative brushing experience . Please do not try to attempt cutting out any mating on your own at home. Using scissors instead of clippers can cause bad injuries.let your groomer handle it . Hair grows back! Inmost cases, depending on severity of matting, the best case is to shave and start fresh. Matting can hide previously existing skin conditions. It can also trap fungus, and bacteria. It can cause restriction to blood flow leading to hematomas, and can lead to a lot of discomfort. Matting can severely negatively impact a dogs well being.