The haircoat, left in its natural state, gets small tangles in it from everyday activity. The small tangles get snarled together, and dead, shedding hair and debris get caught in the snarl. As the mat gets bigger, hair from farther and farther away from the original site becomes entangled and pulls on tender skin, causing the animal discomfort. In groin area Underneath front legs Under the collar When brushing or combing is not routine, mats become bigger and the skin may be pulled almost constantly. Each time a dog gets wet, the mat tightens more and becomes even more painful for the animal.
Skin can become irritated and ulcerated from the constant pulling.
In our clinic, we have seen mats so advanced that they were nearly impossible to cut out with a pair of sharp scissors because they were so close to the skin. Removing Mats One of the reasons pet owners avoid grooming is to avoid dealing with mats. As a rule, mats bigger than your thumb need special care. Your pet s skin is very delicate and thinner than yours, so if your dog is severely matted, it may be wise to consult a professional pet groomer. Smaller mats can be broken apart with a mat rake or matbreaker.