What Causes Matted Hair On Dogs

Matting is dense or tangled clumps of hair in a pet s coat.

What causes matted hair on dogs.

When the dog sheds the dead shedding fur can become tangled in the live coat. Small mats or knots are easy to remove if the dog is brushed daily or several times a week. Dogs also get matting tangles and knots from a lack of being regularly groomed. If your itchy dog scratches herself often or bites at hot spots the fur becomes wet dirty and tangled.

The condition is caused by tangled knots or mats which cause discomfort and even lead to health risks. Causes of matted hair in dogs. Tangling occurs when long haired dogs are not brushed on a regular basis much like a human s long hair would tangle after a few days of no combing or brushing. Matting often occurs in areas of friction.

Pet hair that is severely tangled and becomes matted pulls tightly against your pet s skin. Mats are more prevalent in long haired dogs and cats especially during shedding season. My dog was licking her paw all the time. A severely matted dog is not a happy dog.

After close inspection i saw a tangled mass of matted hair that was hard and was bothering her. Dogs who like to swim are more prone to getting mats because the moisture causes their hair to curl and it dries wrapped around itself. When this happens the dog bites at its skin or tries to scratch causing the mat to grow in size and the hair to get even more tangled. Matted hair in the paw can cause foot problems.

Under the collar behind the ears in the armpits or on the lower legs are the most common areas. Occasionally the area may appear as a lump or swelling which is also referred to as a warble the other common name for a cuterebra cyst. Mats can also result from dogs scratching themselves and getting. What causes matted hair in dogs.

If the dog has long fur the owner may notice an area of matted hair that appears to irritate the pet causing excessive grooming at the site. What causes matted hair in dogs. This condition in turn causes pain similar to someone pulling your hair. I got my dogs first aid kit out and found the blunt nosed scissors.

Matted hair is a painful condition most commonly seen in dogs and cats with long coats. Many dogs who are bathed but not thoroughly brushed and dried also develop matting. Needles to say this biting can discolor the hair and cause skin infections. The extra fur needs to be adequately extracted via a brush or else matting will occur.

Earlier this month the dodo told the story of a amaze bobb a dog with an extreme case of matted hair.