Matted fur- I feel HORRIBLE!
 

Last night I gave Madison a bath b/c I knew it would be awhile before he can have another one, and for the first time I noticed his fur is all matted right up against his skin!

I've bathed him several times before and didn't notice this, but it can't just have happened. His fur is always kind of wonky....it looks really good right after a bath, but one or two days later, it sort of sticks out away from his body. It's quite thin and fine, but feels coarse after a day or so.

As I said, it's thin, so when it starts sort of clumping the way it does when it starts sticking out, you can actually see his skin.

I've never seen anything like this before and I'm not sure if his hair has been matted like that all this time (since I got him in March) and maybe that's why it's so thin (like, maybe if it wasn't all matted, his hair would grow better?). Or, he has a habit of rubbing his body all over the carpeting and rugs (like if your back itched and you were trying to scratch it). and now I wonder if maybe that's what causes the mats, OR, if he's doing that b/c the Mats are bugging him?

When I bathed him, I used a hair conditioner, but it doesn't seem to have helped much. I can comb the mats out somewhat, but it's like almost his entire body is like that right at the skin. It doesn't seem to hurt him (I tried to be very gentle, but his skin is thin too, and the mats are so close to it, that it's difficult to hold onto them so I don't pull his skin.

I know that maybe the best thing to do would be to shave his body...only his hair is so sparse, I'm afraid that he'll just be totally hairless.

Has anyone else encountered this? If I did shave him, do you think his hair would grow back better? I'll be taking him to be professionally groomed as soon as I can after his surgery, but I want to know what I should do first! Is there anything I can use to try to get those mats out?

It's so weird, b/c if you looked at him, you'd never even know he had those mats and when I brushed him everyday, the brush must have just gone over them but not into them.

I have one that mats really bad too. I use cowboy magic and it works great. The hard part is getting him to be still while I work the mats out.:p

Yes, yes, yes! I can say I totally understand what you're saying. I was very naive with Yorkie hair because I had a poodle before Tatum and always used a brush. I learned when Tatum was several months old and had already had several baths that the brush I was using on her wet hair immediately after her bath was NOT getting to the roots. What you need to do is this...... first, get a metal comb (very important). Then after you bathe him next time, put a real good leave-in conditioner in (for this time, I would say use Pantene leave in or Infusium is the one I used) and comb him out - all the way down to the roots. I did NOT have to shave Tatum down. It was rough for both of us to do it and I got quite a bit of hair out with the comb but we survived. You need to maybe hold the hair at the roots and just pick, pick, pick with the comb at the root in little bitty sections. Also, the leave-in condition..... put it on liberally. You can always rinse him out again after using it to get the matts out. Then, each time you give him a bath, use a good shampoo, good conditioner and some kind of leave-in conditioner AND comb wet hair, brush dry hair. I think that's how it goes..... that's what I do anyway. Good luck in getting it all combed out. I know it can sound daunting but really, there's usually no reason to shave the dog down. I know people do it because they think there's no other way but with a little work, you can save his hair. Let me know if you have any questions because like I said, I've been there!

Most mats can be worked out with a comb. The above post gives good info. I would add that you should never bath a dog that hasn't been freshly combed. The water will only tighten the knots.

But wouldn't you "brush" the dog first since combing is supposed to be for wet hair? Just trying to verify what I think I've heard before.

I think once you get those matts out of his hair with the extensive conditioning and combing, it will be SO much easier the next bath time. I don't usually brush Tatum before a bath because I'm real diligent about combing out the matts at her roots. But then again, she really doesn't get matted anymore.

One of my boys mats like that in a day. Im sure you didnt not miss his mats, it could easily happen in a day or two. I have a matbreaker comb ... but I also use Johnson & Johnson no more tangles baby shampoo to bathe him with. I keep his hair pretty short when he gets groomed too. This just keeps him nicer looking and feeling for longer. I know this baby will never have long hair, but he has lots of hair.

[QUOTE=TatumsMom;2042397]But wouldn't you "brush" the dog first since combing is supposed to be for wet hair? Just trying to verify what I think I've heard before.

I know I do things a little differently than most. I started using the comb on my puppies as it works better than a brush. Now I find that combing works better (for me) even with my adults. I don't get the split ends that I used to and I tried several types of brushes before starting with the comb. I just start at the ends (with the coarse teeth) and work my way toward the roots. I finish off with the fine teeth. So far, I'm getting good results. :aimeeyork :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa :)

[quote=Woogie Man;2042415]Hey, whatever works for you! I was just curious. I say that not everyone's Yorkie is going to respond the same way as others so we have to find what works for each one. I actually very rarely brush (or comb) Tatum before a bath and to be completely honest, don't brush her but maybe once between baths. I got very lucky in that she just really doesn't mat up - nice silky hair! She even plays hard outside with our Aust. Shep. and it's quite windy up on our hill (which would usually cause tangles) so we got very lucky with her hair type. I can usually just run my fingers through her hair while petting her and get any little tangles out.

I have gotten matts out by working through them If they are really bad though I use a dematting comb and the blades on that cut right through the matt. I always comb wet hair and bush dry hair

You got good advice from the others. No, no, no! Don't shave him. His hair just gets mats. Harnesses and clothes will cause them, too. Once you get used to dealing with them, then it is quite easy. It will take you awhile to get used to it (him, too :D), but it really is easy to deal with. Take care!:)

any tips on working out mats from tears?

Take some warm water and wet it then take a flea comb through it

how old was he before he got his adult coat in. I'm hoping teddy's curly hair turns into long silky coat.

Ziggy also gets very bad matting and what really helps for the big matts is to pull them as flat as possible and make a few small cuts with a pair of scissors. It frees up the matt and you don't lose as much hair as if you just cut out the matt.

I easily spend a half hour or more each evening combing out his hair-its a real committment but worth it to see his lovely coat.

I bought some spray on conditioner that worked decent whenever his fur was seriously matted. I got out a lot of his mats but some I just couldnt get out(which is why he got shaved)

Thank you everyone! I was feeling like I must have been such a slacker and just "glossed" him over when I brushed or bathed him. Max's hair is so totally different!

I intend for him to be cut short when he's groomed, but I was ashamed to be taking him in there with such mats in his hair. I wish I could take a photo of it, but my digital is dead at the moment and I don't think the cellphone would really get it.

You said a metal comb....so before I go out and buy the wrong kind, is there a certain brand or style of metal comb?

I don't mind spending a couple (or several) hours to work the mats out, but it would be great if I didn't have to do it on a regular basis...just keep him mat-less once the big job is done! I worked on him for at least 2 hours last night, and he was SO GOOD! I know it wasn't pleasant for him, but he didnt' whine or yip or anything. I thought maybe he knew he'd feel better without them.

I had been using a Pantene conditioner on his coat, but rinsed it out. I'm going to get some Cowboy Magic when I can, but what is a good leave-in conditioner? It's been forever since I've used anything leave-in, so I'm clueless and I know there's a ton of them out there.

Is a dematting comb something that shaves the mat out? I hate to remove too much of any hair that he's got; poor little guy. He didn't get the good hair gene I guess. I was hoping it was a nutritional issue, but now that he's almost 8 lbs:eek: up from 2 1/2 in March:eek:, I'm not so sure of that. Someone did say though, that it could take them 4-6 months to recover from a starvation mode, so I'm holding out hope:).

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who responded. I don't feel like such a negligent owner now and am encouraged to take the time to just work them out! I really appreciate your help!

The dematting comb doesnt shave the hair but it does have blades on it and will cut through the matt. When I have used it I have had very little hair loss. But there was a little bit from the matt

I would suggest using a good quality metal comb. Try to find a small one (4" or so) since you're dealing with a puppy. Also, a metal flea comb helps to keep the puppy down pulled out as the adult coat comes in. You can try diluting any conditioner to help. I don't personally use it when combing but when I bathe mine I dilute the conditioner down to about a 10 to 1 ratio and work it in well and don't rinse it out.

Don't feel bad. No matter how much I brush Abby, she seems to get matted. I took her to the groomers a couple weeks ago and she gave me a good tip. Use those scissors that looks like it has teeth in it and cut through the mat. That way you only lose a small amount or hair.

Abby gets matted where her harness rubs along the top and under her legs. I hate it and I'm praying that her adult coat will be silky and not curly, like her baby coat.

I wish you lots of luck.

BTW, where to you buy a dematting comb?

Some time ago, someone suggested Cowboy Magic - I bought it and wow - it really helped with the mats. I also use E-Z Groom Silky Almond Conditioner and The Stuff to keep the mats away. Good luck! :D

Also, if your metal comb has long teeth on it be extra careful when combing out the hair. I tend to grab the base of the matt and slowly work it with the comb but Ziggy has very loose skin and sometimes I have "nipped" him with the comb (bad mommy!)

Don't feel bad about missing the matts; a year ago I was in exactly the same situation as you are thinking the daily brushing was doing the job. I felt terrible when I saw all the matts so close to his skin. Live and learn. One day you'll be the one giving advice to someone in the same boat.

What is the "the stuff to keep the mats away"?

I'll try to upload the picture of the bottle. You can find it at PetEdge.com Wholesale prices on exclusive dog grooming and pet supplies - it's called "The Stuff Conditioner and Detangler"

if your embaressed try this:
"i went on a mini vacation and our pet sistter didn't groom him so his hair became this matted"

Great advice!!!
Don't feel bad - the very same thing happen to Scruffy (my 1st yorkie) when he was 3-4 mths old. The Vet told me he was matted at the roots - But I brush him every day! He told me I would have to shave him - But I worked the matts out a little every day for a week.
I used Cowboy Magic from the feed store.
here is the picture of the metal comb - I have 2 sizes - one tiny comb for face & small for the body.

Oh, that's great! Wow, I'm going to feel almost like a professional groomer once I get all this stuff....too bad I'm so terrible at even trimming their hair:rolleyes:.

Oh, that's a good idea about diluting the conditioner and then leaving it in...I was making sure to really rinse it out good:rolleyes:. But this will probably work better!
Madison isn't really a puppy; he's about 2 yrs old the vet thinks. So, I suppose this isn't puppy down, unfortunately!

LOL, I was going to ask where do you buy those scissors??? I would think you can get a dematting comb either from Petco or Petsmart, but maybe there's better brands than they have:confused:

ROFL...I thought you were just calling it "the stuff" b/c you didn't remember the name of it:D and it was made by the same EZ Groom people, hehe. Thanks for the advice. I'm going to have to start saving for all this stuff, b/c I can see that it's probably going to be an ongoing problem and I don't want Madison to have to endure this all the time. PetEdge is great, aren't they?