mats in the hair!!!

[tigerlily]

hey everyone! i have been a bad mommy, but i have a really really hard time brushing my baby. he had a few mats when i got him, and i tried to work them out, but a some stayed. he hates hates hates to get brushed. he whines and squirms so much, i cant even brush him, especially around legs. i have tried a wire comb and a thin, plastic brush. i tried detangler too, but its like i cant get all the mats deep down. now he has a bunch all over under his soft fur on top. do i have to get him shaved? i really dont want to hurt him and i dont want him to look like a rat!

please, any advice will be great!!

[max's mom]

Hi Tiger Lily.....I bought a detangler tool at PetSmart and it works great....you begin using it on the longest tangle of mat and gently work it down to the part closer to the skin.......It was around $20.00 but has saved me many times.


Hope that helps.


Max and Maggie's Mom

[HeatherW]

I have been having the same problems!!! LOTS of matting and she won't sit still (she runs when she see's her brush) I have worked at a few of her mats of hair but some were too bad and I don't want to shave her so I cut out those chunks (they were mostly underbelly so you can't tell) just a suggestion...plus i would love any advice on what products to use to make her hair pretty so anybody let me know what you use!!

[Stitches29]

Maggie, aka the Maggot is also very squirmy. I place her on her back on my lap. I give her a chew treat (greenie), another brush, or her favorite toy to chew on while I comb her tummy. I use a man's pocket comb to comb her tummy and legs. To me, the slicker brush is too rough for those tender areas. As long as I keep her mouth busy, I'm okay. She is 4 months old, and I work on her hair everyday, to get her use to the groomers.

[txshopper73]

Since Gracie had her pups 7+ weeks ago, her hair has been HORRIBLE! It's really thinned out since so much of it fell out! Just today, I was going to brush her and she had mats on 85% of her body that went down to the skin!!! I almost fell out of my chair. Good thing that they weren't like dreds or anything, but it took time to brush them all out.

Use a detangling spray and start from the ends of the hair and work up to the skin.

Good luck!

[red98vett]

I think lots of puppies have this problem cause the coat is changing -

Cheri went thru a time where she got tangles - I brushed her every day and it still happened - I found using a Detangler such as Johnson's No More Tangles ..for Babies... helps......... but to PREVENT more tangles/matts....Ice on Ice by Chris Christensen Systems REALLY REALLY works

Cheri has not had one matt since I started using a really good shampoo/conditioner and a leave in Spray - Good Luck !

[kiki'smom]

I have been using Johnsons baby shampoo & conditioner for tangles and then I use the spray on detangler before I comb them out. It works great.
sonja

[Hickey007]

Reagan went through a stage where she had tons of tangles as well. I was told that I could shave the underside of her b/c she mainly got them where her front legs met her chest and it really wouldn't show. One thing I found helpful is when I gave her a bath I would leave the conditioner on for a little while and work it into the mats a bit. If they were really bad I would even try combing them out a little bit when the conditioner was still on.

I have recently started using plush puppy products and we have no more mats. However I think like Villette said it could be more of an age thing and now she's just grown out of it (she's 8 months old now).

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

I had the same problem and it does get better as the hair gets longer. Just give it time and keep working on it.