really bad mats close to the skin!
 

My baby has extremely bad mats very close to her skin around her two hind legs. Should I take her to the groomers and ask them to shave it off? Do you think I could have just her legs and underside shaved or would I have to have all of her shaved? If the mats are close to her skin is there any way you could still just trim it out? Sorry so many questions!

I normally wouldn't say shave down a yorkie - but if the matts are that bad...in my opinion...yes. It would be pretty painful to get them out if they're close to the skin and really bad.....Sometimes it's better to go ahead and her hair and start fresh and try to keep up with grooming so this doesn't happen again.

Wearing clothes can really cause matts....When my girls wear clothes I use a finishing spray on them before I dress them to cut down on the tangles

My Bubba got really matted bad this summer, when for the first time in more than a decade we got invaded by fleas. I ended up cutting out the mats, as they were really under the deepest layer of his hair - and that was in Sept. and it is just really starting to grow again. So be careful if you do shave, it may take time to grow again.

I'm actually sorry I cut his hair, because since then he has gotten a couple bad mats and I have used a great detangler spray (that is also a deodorizer, conditioner) The spray is called Buddy Wash from Cloud Star www.cloudstar.com

This stuff is great - all natural with herbs and oils. It's amazing how easy the dogs are to brush out with just a couple squirts of this - it also works great to freshen the dogs up between baths (it smells great too - it has lavendar & mint)

The problem with your situation, is you are describing trying to detangle hair at one of the most tender spots on your baby. I know this is an area, I really watch, because my groomer told me once she really had to work on tangles under the legs once - and I thought I had been doing a good job with my grooming, so I was suprised

good luck making your decision on how to proceed

Since summer is approaching, it might not be a bad idea for a summer cut...you and him may both love it! Good luck with those icky matts!

I would have the matts shaved off. Whether or not you want the rest shaved is up to you. Warning trying to cut out matts that are close to the skin can be dangerous! :warning:

Thank you for all your responses! I made an appointment with the groomers to shave the entire underside of her and along the insides of her legs since that is where all the mats seem to be on her legs. I thought I was doing a good job brushing her everday (I use the CC Systems Ice on Ice spray and a boar bristle brush) but she would fight me when I tried to brush her belly and legs so that is where all the mats have formed. Now I learned my lesson to completely brush her all over consistently... we'll see how the grooming goes, hopefully I don't have to have the top of her body and her face trimmed at all. Keeping the underside of her shaved seems like it will help solve problems with future mats forming... now I know what people mean with the coat being high maintanence!