Matted hair, HELP!

[king2005]

I don't know how she got this mat. It wasn't there yesterday as I always scratch & play with her ear hair.. Well When I tried to do it when I got home, there was a huge mat of hair! Is there a way I can safely get it loose? It took so long for her to regrow her fur from what those Jerks did to her, I really don't want to cut it!! :(

[Taz_Zoee]

There is a tool for removing mats. It works okay. I cut Zoee's out. When they are near the ears I cut them out only if other hair will cover it up and then you can never tell.
Try this, if Digi will let you, take scissors and try to comb through it with the blade of the scissors. Do you know what I mean? Then when it's small enough just cut out the rest so you don't leave a huge short spot on her head. Sometimes I'll just sit and work it apart with my fingers too.

[king2005]

I've been working on it for a little while now... The fur is really weird. It doesn't feel like fur anymore.. its far too soft & light... Also large chunks have been coming off of this matt.. I almost have enough hair to make a new dog :eek:

Anything sharp near Digi is a bad idea.. she freaks when I get the brush out. she thinks its going to hurt her... Took nearly a year to teach her that petting her back is a positive thing... Shes on the floor with her tail tucked inbetween her legs as she thinks the brush is going to attack her.

My poor baby :(

but I have a good portion of it out now

[Shelteez2]

I would probably just shave it out. Hair grows and spending time fiddling around and pulling at it isn't going to make it a positive experince. Hair grows.

[king2005]

I would probably just shave it out. Hair grows and spending time fiddling around and pulling at it isn't going to make it a positive experince. Hair grows.

That would make her pee all over the floor & scream. Can't put a shaver anywheres near her.. My electric toothbrush scares the heck out of her, so I had to stop turning it on.

I was hoping for ideas on things I could soak it in to help loosen it up.

I mostly used my hands & she was fine with that.. as I would scratch her ear often to make her think I was petting her... the brush was used a little to make the hair straight, so it would go back into a mat.

Her fur is getting more & more weird.. her back hair is starting to zig zag down her back, but its popping up higher then the rest of her fur.. its sooo weird... Maybe the seasons changing are making her fur weird? & thats why she got that mat.

it did snow for the first time today.

[kfitzp1]

try peanut butter, the oil will loosen it up, also put some on her nose to distract her,lol.

[king2005]

try peanut butter, the oil will loosen it up, also put some on her nose to distract her,lol.

its out now, but for next time, would regular oil work? Shes allergic to Cow, so she can't have peanut butter as I'm sure there is some form of dairy in there. + I don't think crunchy will work too well :D:D:p:D:D

[Husky_mom]

you can also use a tinsy bit of conditioner diluted with water....

[buttercup132]

Soaking the mat would just make it 10 x's worse and you would never be able to dry it which would cause skin problems to form under the mat.
Like Shelteez said it should have been shaved out, never use scissors..
There are thinning shears which is probly what Zoe's mom is talking about, they look like scissors, one blade is like normal and the other has lines. You put it under the mat and just move it a couple times, don't cut into it like scissors keep it still and just move the blades. Then you brush it out.
Don't let her get away with being scared of those things..
Although you brushing and brushing especially near the ear is going to make her not like it, how would you feel having someone tug at your hair for a long time?
It could also cause a hematoma because it's close to the ear..which would cost you a hefty vet bill.
Also just because she is allergic to dairy doesn't mean it will bug her skin..don't know where you got the idea that it would.

[Karen]

its out now, but for next time, would regular oil work? Shes allergic to Cow, so she can't have peanut butter as I'm sure there is some form of dairy in there. + I don't think crunchy will work too well :D:D:p:D:D

Hey, a couple points:

1. Just because she's allergic to beef does not mean she's allergic to dairy. Many people are allergic to diary products but can eat beef with no problem. I am the opposite, I cannot have any beef at all, but practically live on cheese!

2. Peanut butter usually has no diary in it at all. It's just smushed up peanuts, basically, with sweeteners and other stuff added, there's no "butter" in peanut butter.

[scrain2329]

Conditioner. Thats what i use when the dogs get mats. just a dab and start at the " end" of the mat and try to separate the hair from there. Work up into it. if you start at the top you will get no where : /. It takes some time but it ends up working.
also you said digi is scared of the brush? Our old shorthair was terrified but it helped to use a soft brush on her to help get burs off of the coat. It hurts to bad to take them of with fingers and obviously they had to come out! I would leave the brush out with her, just in the room and she after a while would warm up to it. once she looked and took a step closer to try and investigate it went back away. every day she would be more and more interested in it because, well once she looked at it, we took it away! She started to walk up and sniff it finally and then she was okay. except when we picked it up again, she tucked her tail under and looked at us like it was death haha. then we just started carrying it around. ours had a little tie at the end that i could wrap around my wrist, just started wearing it. that took about 2 weeks (ugh! haha) she warmed up to it and then we started holding it in our hand and just petting her ( petting her with the opposite hand, with brush in her sight still). slowly we could start petting her with the brush Cupping it in our hand like it was mine. Not sure How scared of the brush digi is but hey anything that doesnt make them scared is good.
Glad the mat is out : ) good luck for next time!

[king2005]

Hey, a couple points:

1. Just because she's allergic o beef does not mean she's allergic to dairy. Many people are allergic to diary products but can eat beef with no problem. I am the opposite, I cannot have any beef at all, but practically live on cheese!

2. Peanut butter usually has no diary in it at all. It's just smushed up peanuts, basically, with sweeteners and other stuff added, there's no "butter" in peanut butter.

1. I knew Digi was allergic to Dairy long before the beef.. She would eat cheese & then become terribly ill seconds later. I think thats a pretty clear sign.

2. Many additives contain dairy of some sort, like Whey. & I didn't have a container of peanut butter with me so I have no idea what is & isn't in it... But the things many companies add to their products can be scary. & I'm not that kind of a risk taker.

I dated a guy who has a deathly allergy to cow.. he can't even touch it. No dairy, no beef, no nothing related to a cow (I learned a lot about dairy & being in sooo many aditives that most people have no idea about)... So thats proof right there that touching it can cause a reaction & I have no interest in hurting digi. She isn't allowed near beef or dairy period. Her allergy has obviously gotten worse as she now pukes up beef. So I don't know where that line is & I like Digi alive & well.

So I think you guys can understand me being really cautious on this cow allergy

[buttercup132]

I dated a guy who has a deathly allergy to cow.. he can't even touch it. No dairy, no beef, no nothing related to a cow (I learned a lot about dairy & being in sooo many aditives that most people have no idea about)... So thats proof right there that touching it can cause a reaction & I have no interest in hurting digi. She isn't allowed near beef or dairy period. Her allergy has obviously gotten worse as she now pukes up beef. So I don't know where that line is & I like Digi alive & well
You can't relate humans to dogs, our bodies work totally different.

[Karen]

I didn't know Digi was also allergic to cheese/diary. As I said, the two allergies - beef and dairy - are separate, but obviously, some people can have both allergies. But as I said, Peanut Butter has no diary, don't be fooled by the word "butter" in the name.

[kfitzp1]

I can understand the overprotective Momma thing! I am one!! Better safe than sorry. ;)

[king2005]

You can't relate humans to dogs, our bodies work totally different.

That wasn't the point I was trying to make. The point is that there is an allergy out there to be allergic to both at the same time & touching it can also be lethal.

Dogs are more like people then many would like to believe. Sure there are differences, but remember we came from the same bug once upon a time, so we have a lot of similarities.

Besides I like a non-dead dog, so why should I risk it?

Think about chocolate.. look how many dogs can eat bars of it & be fine.. then look at the ones that eat a tiny bit & die. Thats a pretty big genetic difference.. Sure its toxic to them period, but many can tolerate it fine, & to some its a death sentence. So what do you do.. Let the dog eat chocolate & hope for the best? See thats a line I don't want to find.

I have a chemical allergy. Its commonly found in juice & drinks. Well sure I can try different brands, but I have no interest in finding that line. I like being a live. :D Recently my throat has swelled from chips & Cheese Whiz.. So I'm avoiding a lot of processed foods as nearly everything I eat is trying to kill me (well except for pure foods of course).


Karen,

You'd be surprised as to all the different foods that contain milk product (its not the liquid milk we drink, its a part of the milk (broken down).. if that makes sense), There is even chicken with milk in it.. Sounds weird, needless to say I was shocked when Steven picked up raw chicken & other products & said see, thats milk, & thats milk, & that, & that, even that! I'm sure Digi isn't deadly allergic to Cow, but like I said above, do I really want to find that line?
Nope :D

I love my PoopieDog :love:


Thanks kfitzp1
I live alone so Digi means a lot to me. + I've had her since she was an itty bitty very ill 6 week old abused pup. So there is a really strong bond. I'm VERY protective over her, & she is stuck to me like glue (until Jordan or Joe come over, then I'm nothing for a little while hehehe). No one but me can walk her..I am going to teach Jordan how to walk her with the leash strapped to his arm, so there are no poopie dogs running free in the neighbourhood. I don't really want to teach him how to walk her, but he loves her so much & hes becoming part of our family & if things keep going in the direction they are going, hes going to need to learn sooner or later.

[Karen]

Karen,

You'd be surprised as to all the different foods that contain milk product (its not the liquid milk we drink, its a part of the milk (broken down).. if that makes sense), There is even chicken with milk in it.. Sounds weird, needless to say I was shocked when Steven picked up raw chicken & other products & said see, thats milk, & thats milk, & that, & that, even that! I'm sure Digi isn't deadly allergic to Cow, but like I said above, do I really want to find that line?
Nope :D

I love my PoopieDog :love:

I wouldn't be surprised, I read labels for everything. I have such an odd variety of food allergies, and have to be very careful. I understand, next time you are shopping, look at the peanut butter labels, and I bet you'd find one safe for both you and your Digigirl! :)

I am always glad that, while I am allergic to all "tree nuts" I can still have peanuts!

[king2005]

I am always glad that, while I am allergic to all "tree nuts" I can still have peanuts!

If I ever became allergic to real foods I think I would die inside :(
I love food!! To a degree, NO sea bugs & nothing I consider a house pet, ewwwwwww!! <- I could careless what others eat

[bckrazy]

Digi looks very Border Collie to me... at least, her fur does, especially her ear fur. Lots of BCs with feathering around their ears get mats. The key is keeping up with brushing her - on a daily basis during shedding season, which is right now.

I start with an undercoat rake, then a slicker brush, and finish with a pin brush. It is VERY important to acclimate your dog to brushing, particularly in double-coated breeds. She should be getting excessive amounts of praise and treats when the brushes are even in sight, and you should be brushing her as frequently as possible to teach her that brushes are good. Procrastinating on the brushing will result in even more mats, discomfort, excessive shedding, and unhealthy skin & coat. It looks like the hair on her ears is very silky and whispy... that will mat up very quickly. I would regularly brush the hair behind her ears, and when you spot any matting, spritz it with conditioner and use your fingers or a comb to gently loosen the mat.

[buttercup132]

Procrastinating on the brushing will result in even more mats, discomfort, excessive shedding, and unhealthy skin & coat Which means her hating it even more and having more negative experiences.

[jennielynn1970]

its out now, but for next time, would regular oil work? Shes allergic to Cow, so she can't have peanut butter as I'm sure there is some form of dairy in there. + I don't think crunchy will work too well :D:D:p:D:D

I don't think I've ever heard of cow/dairy being in peanut butter. It should just be mashed up peanuts. Look for the organic, or just read the ingredients, but milk products in peanutbutter... I truly don't think there are any.


As for your own allergies, have you gone to an allergist to get tested? Maybe then you can find out what you are reacting to exactly. I'm not a big fan of chips or cheese whiz, but I'd rather know what it was about those products that I was reacting to so that I could find an alternative. I know I react to many preservatives, so that limits a lot of what I can buy in the stores. Don't think I've had anything from Pepperidge Farms or Tastykake in ages.