MOST IMPORTANT BRUSHING
Brushing not only makes your pet's coat look nice and shiny. It is for skin and overall health and provides you with the opportunity to spend some quality time with your dog. You will be able to check your dog closely for any problems during brushing. Move hair aside and examine the skin closely for signs of fleas, ticks or skin irritations. Check for mats, tangles, ect. When you brush, do a section at a time, brushing down to the skin on all dogs. If you are finding lots of mats, it's a sure sign you are not grooming frequently enough. Don't bathe until all mats and tangles are out. No dog should have to endure mats or a dirty itchy coat.
MATTED PET HAIR CAN BE SERIOUS
Mats pull tightly on the pet's skin, causing them constant discomfort and sometimes suffering. But even more serious is the fact that air cannot circulate through the hair and skin,which can lead to major skin irritations and infections. As a highly trained professional, your pet's groomer/stylist understands how serious matting is and what health consequences your pet can sufferas a result of the matting. When a pet's hair becomes severely matted, there is simply no way to remove it except to give the pet avery short haircut, often referred to as a "smoothie". A smoothie groom is very time consuming, as the groomer must use extreme caution as she removes the tightly matted coat from your pet. You just don't shave the hair off. Your groomer uses specialized equipment to seperate the matting from the pet's skin. It is incredibly difficult and delicate work to release your pet, inch by inch, from the hairy prison surrounding him. The skin can become unhealthy undermatting. Your pet will feel different after it's matted coat is removed. He may feel itchy or his skin may have become irritated and sore from the matting. He may want to rub or scratch, but you must not allow him to further irritate himself. You must protect his skin from the sun. Now that your pet has very short hair, you have the opportunity for a fresh start. Begin by putting your pet on a regular schedule of grooming appointments. Then you and your groomer should discuss how you can maintain your pet at home between professional groomings.
