I gave both dogs baths yesterday and I think I may have finally found the magic combo of products to deal with Indie's impossible coat. I used Earthbath's Tea Tree Oil and Aloe shampoo which I'm now totally in love with. It didn't bother his nearly gone hot spot/infection, rinsed beautifully, got them so incredibly clean, smelled divine and didn't leave them itchy like other shampoos have in the past. It was able to penetrate Indie's unbelievably dense undercoat and really get alot of it out just by rinsing with water and running my fingers through it. I didn't want to irritate his skin by using the ZoomGroom or undercoat rake. Then I rinsed him with Efa HyLyt Bath Oil Spray mixed with water. It also smelled wonderful and helped lift out even more undercoat just with water and my fingers. It was especially helpful on his "bloomers". The fur on his back legs, butt and tail is just plain terrible. It's coarse, kinky, matts easily, traps every burr, twig and leaf in a 3 mile radius and is almost always impossible to get combs and rakes through unless he's saturated with a gallon of conditioner. While in the tub I was able to just use my fingers and get loads and loads of fur out of that area, work the oil rinse all the way to the skin, and it actually started to feel softer. Once I got him out and towel dried him, I sprayed it full strength on that area and was able to use a gentle plastic comb to finish up that area without the yanking and pulling l usually have to do to get his bloomers brushed out and matt free. I'm a believer! I'll be using it regularly to condition that fur and keep it matt and tangle free! Yay!
Just had to share, this stuff is FANTASTIC!!!