When you re working on the armpits it s much easier to use a triangular shaped slicker brush.
Jow to demat a horible mat.
Don t wait for them to get worse.
Also known as dematting rakes these combs are specifically designed to pull apart mats.
Using a fine toothed flea comb gently start combing through the mat piece starting at the very tip of the hairs.
If you re checking your cat weekly you should find mats before they get so bad that they ll need to be clipped off.
Brush out small mats as soon as you find them.
Yes rub cornstarch into the mat from the scalp to the free hair end of the section.
This helps prevent painful pulling on the skin.
By slick we mean use a slicker brush to break up the mat.
The bristles should not touch your dog s skin even so we suggest holding the mat in your hand and brushing it that way.
Starting with a separated section of the mat use your non dominant hand to hold the base of the mat down with thumb and forefinger so the comb won t pull hair out.
If the mat is one large clump sometimes pulling it apart allows the brush or comb to better untangle the hair.
Needles to say this biting can discolor the hair and cause skin infections.
If the brush doesn t seem to work use both of your thumbs and index fingers to pull apart the matted fur.
Mats not only make the coat look disheveled they actually add to a dog s distress and cause skin irritation.
You don t want to have to clip your cat again.
When working on the mat it helps to hold the base of the mat with one hand while working on the end of the mat with your other hand or brush.
Work your way down to the base of the mat as you untangle the top.
Be aware that some rakes can cut away your dog s fur rather than comb it out this is a good temporary solution but often results in hair growing back unevenly which is especially problematic for styled breeds dematting combs are just the thing for those tough thick knots.
The goal is to unknot tiny portions of the mat at a time.