Dog Community

Help with constant mats

Posted : 12/1/2009 5:50:10 PM

I would like to know if there is something I can do to help Skyline with her constant mats. I brush her every second day, bath her with Tropiclean Oatmeal and Tea Tree shampoo followed by Tropiclean Kiwi conditioner. When I groom her I use a greyhound comb for knots and mats and a slicker brush for her undercoat. I bath her about once a week to once every two weeks, because she likes to roll in the dirt and snow. She was eating Orijen 6 Fish for almsot a year, I recently switched to Happy Paws Holistic food, but I am again switching them to Acana Pacifica soon (Orijen is not agreeing with Rickards and switching to happy paws and now acana is a long story hehe).

Anyway, every day I find mats behind her ears, armpits (?) and the back of her neck. She doesn't wear a collar, only a harness when we walk. And I can't figure out what is causing these mats. Shes been on a good diet, I'm brushing her regularly. Her hair texture is kind of weird though, she has alot of hair, but her individual hair feels thin and flimsy. Rickards hair is thicker feeling than Skylines and he doesn't have this issue.

Any thoughts on how I can get a handle on these mats? Thank you Smile

Also, I was wondering if anyone here has tried SPA Colors shampoos? I'm still debating on ordering it online and I would love to hear from people who have tried it. Thank you :)

jennie_c_d

Posted : 12/1/2009 8:52:11 PM

The SPA shampoos are made by Tropiclean. It's their luxury line. I think you'll be happy with them.

Comb her neck immediately after you take the harness off, and comb the underarms and behind the ears daily, with the fine end of your comb, using the line combing method. It sounds like her hair is finer. A conditioning spray may also help.

3girls

Posted : 12/2/2009 9:54:10 AM

What's the line combing method?

I'll second the conditioning spray. I use a little bit on Astra every other day and its done wonders for keeping her ear mats away.

Kindredspirits

Posted : 12/2/2009 6:01:46 PM

I don't really having a combing method. I start from her head and work my way down. I'll have to google line combing because I'm not quite sure what that entails. Would either of you have any suggestions on the spray conditioner? I think I might have to order something online, I went to several stores today and only found de-matting sprays :)

Thank you again for the help :)

3girls

Posted : 12/3/2009 7:40:01 AM

I just use Johnsons & Johnsons baby detangling spray to keep the mats away.

lauren fischer

Posted : 12/5/2009 1:58:58 PM

The only thing you can really do is more than you are already doing.

if you are brushing every 2 days and matts are still bulding up, then you need to start brushing everyday. and always give a brush through her when you take off the harness.

Line combing is very easy, basically you want to lift the hair, so that you are brushing from the root of the coat. if you just skin the top of the coat with a comb or slicker, then you wont get the root of the hair, and will not get to the mats that are starting deeper in the coat.

if you are not getting all these matts out, then bathing the dog, and still not getting the matts out then you are only making the matts worse.

The areas you are describing the matting are areas that most dogs have issues with. if you start brushing everyday, and these areas are still matting, then a shorter haircut will most likely be the best thing for the dog.

Kindredspirits

Posted : 12/5/2009 4:59:42 PM

I have started brushing her everyday now (so far so good). I still haven't picked up a conditioner spray, still reading around on which one would be best.

lvdgs24

Line combing is very easy, basically you want to lift the hair, so that you are brushing from the root of the coat. if you just skin the top of the coat with a comb or slicker, then you wont get the root of the hair, and will not get to the mats that are starting deeper in the coat.

Ah so thats what line combing is, yes I do do that, I just didn't know it had a name lol

lvdgs24
if you are not getting all these matts out, then bathing the dog, and still not getting the matts out then you are only making the matts worse.

Goodness no, I don't bath her when she has mats. I brush them out first.

lvdgs24
The areas you are describing the matting are areas that most dogs have issues with. if you start brushing everyday, and these areas are still matting, then a shorter haircut will most likely be the best thing for the dog.

I have thought about getting her ears cleaned up a little (she still looks kinda scraggly, definitely still getting out of the 'uglies';), because that is the number one spot where she gets mats. But I won't ever cut her whole coat, I'm very against short cuts/ shaves on Pomeranians. I'd rather take the extra work with conditioner and brush it out. Smile