Mats pull tightly on the pet's skin, causing them constant discomfort and irritation. Your pet can suffer from these mats due to the problems they cause. Air cannot circulate through the hair and skin, which can lead to serious skin irritations and possible sores underneath the mats. If you bathe your pet with matted fur, moisture can get trapped underneath the mats causing several more complications such as yeast and bacteria.
As a highly trained and experienced professional, your pet's groomer understands how serious matting can be and what health consequences your pet can suffer as a result of matting. Your pet stylist will evaluate the condition of your pet's coat as well as your pet's tolerance level towards mat removal and recommend what is best for your pet.
When your pet's fur becomes severely matted, there is simply no other way to remove it except to give the pet a very short haircut, often referred to as a 'smoothie' haircut. Your groomer will need to cautiously choose a clipper blade that will safely remove this matting from your pet's skin.
A smoothie haircut is a very time consuming clip. The groomer must use extreme caution to remove the tightly matted coat from your pet. You don't just shave the hair off. It is much more involved. Your groomer uses specialized tools to separate the matting taking extra precaution not to cut your pet's skin. It is very delicate work to release your pet, inch by inch, from the hairy prison surrounding him.
As the matting is removed, it may reveal skin conditions, parasites, or even foreign objects embedded in the pet's fur. The skin can become unhealthy under matting, sometimes to the point that immediate medical attention is needed.
Your pet will feel very different after his matted coat is removed. After finally being free of the matting that confined him like a straight jacket or body cast, he may feel itchy or his skin may have become irritated and sore from the matting. If your pet's ears were matted requiring complete removal of the fur, your pet may want shake his head and you will need to keep your pet from doing so as much as possible. Severe shaking can cause the small blood vessels to burst inside of the ear resulting in a hematoma. Your pet stylist will not remove any ear hair inside the ear canal when your pet's ears must be given a 'smoothie' to eliminate any further irritation.
Your pet may want to rub and scratch, but you must not allow him to further irritate himself. Be especially aware that your pet's freshly clipped toenails may be sharp and could cause secondary problems if he scratches and digs at his tender skin.
You may apply pet first aid cream or gel to your pet's skin. If his skin is tender, the cream can provide welcome, soothing relief from itching and encourage his skin to heal. You should never allow anyone to make fun of how your pet looks after a smoothie haircut. Going from being encased in hair to almost no hair can be traumatic for your pet. Reassure your pet with a lot of praise and love. Remember, humanity before vanity!
Now that your pet has a very short hair cut, you have the opportunity for a fresh start. This is the time to form a working partnership with your pet stylist. Begin by putting your pet on a regular schedule of grooming appointments. You and your pet stylist can then discuss all the techniques of brushing and bathing your pet in between grooming visits. Together you can make sure your pet is cared for properly and comfortably in hopes that his hair never gets into such bad condition again.
Your pet stylist can recommend the grooming equipment that you will need to properly care for your pet's fur. There are special combs and brushes designed for different types of coats. Your groomer can show you exactly what you need and how to utilize the tools correctly.
Products such as soothing therepeautic shampoos, de-tangling conditioners, and grooming sprays can make brushing easier at home for a more enjoyable experience for you and your pet.