Curly Fur: How to Prevent Your Dog’s Hair from Matting
If you have a dog, you’ve seen it all. Keeping your dog clean is a challenge no matter what breed you own. For long-haired dog owners, it’s even more challenging. You not only have to worry about eye boogers and ear wax, but you also have to keep an eye out for hair matting. Curly and long fur easily becomes tangled and matted. This is a result of infrequent brushing and your dog’s habit of licking and scratching at their body.
Matting itself is not that serious of an issue, especially if you can untangle it yourself in time. However, in extreme cases, matting can become very tight to the skin and prevent proper airflow. This is a case that groomers call “pelted.”
Matting or pelting can lead to several other issues, like skin irritation, hidden parasites, and more which will cause pain and discomfort to your beloved animal. So, the best thing to do is prevent matting altogether so that it never becomes a problem.
Here are some ways you can prevent your dog’s hair from matting:
More Natural and Raw Food in Their Diet
Some food is better than others for dogs. The first thing you can do to prevent their hair from tangling is to ensure that you’re feeding them the right food that will contribute to the health of their coat. For example, dogs need Omega-3 in their diet to maintain their nice coat.
While you don’t have to switch their entire diet to raw food, including it in their diet will improve their overall health and keep their fur nice and healthy. You can also include animal-based oils instead of plant-based oils in their diet. Including more natural ingredients in their food can give them the nutrients that might be missing from commercial dog food.
Choose the Right Brush and Brush Regularly
Just like humans, if you leave hair unbrushed too long, the tangles will become tighter and less cooperative when you brush it. The type of brush that you use also makes a difference in keeping your dog’s hair tangle-free.
The first thing you need is a detangler before you start brushing your dog’s fur. This ensures that they won’t feel pain or discomfort while you’re brushing them. A slicker brush with fine wire bristles or a pin brush with metal bristles is perfect for taking out knots and tangles. Afterward, you can go in with a comb or a soft bristle brush to get their hair looking nice and neat.
Bathe Them Regularly
Bathing your dog regularly can keep their skin and fur in good condition. You should wash them as often as needed to prevent the buildup of dirt, dead skin, and hair. The bathing schedule for each dog varies, but if you’re unsure, just ask your vet and stick to their recommendation.
Keep Their Hair at a Manageable Length
Lastly, of course, don’t let your dog’s hair grow too long. No matter how nice long hair might look on them, this could be the reason why their fur keeps getting matted. A good rule of thumb to follow is to get their hair cut every four to six weeks. This can help prevent their hair from growing out of control.
The Bottom Line
Your dog’s comfort should come before their looks. Prevention is important, but hair tangling is common and even natural. When you find that your dog’s hair has matted despite your best efforts, do what you can to remove the knots, but don’t force it. The best thing you can do is go to the groomer and let them take care of it.
If you’re looking for the best dog groomer in Bentonville, we’re the right place to go. Earthwise Pet Supply & Grooming Bentonville offers various pet care services and products. We guarantee that your babies are safe with us. We only have the best products to ensure that your dog is comfortable. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us today!