Step #4 – Dispose of the cotton ball and dampen a new one. Repeat wiping his eye gently until the eye matter is removed and he can open his eye. Wipe underneath the eye with a new damp cotton ball to remove any matter that is left behind.
Important: Use antiseptic cotton balls from a resealable package to avoid infecting your furry babys eyes with germs. If your puppys eyes do not remain clear after about two days of cleaning them, make an appointment with your veterinarian to secure other treatment. He may need antibiotic eye drops or ointment to cure an infection.
Step #3 – Dip an antiseptic cotton ball into a bowl of warm water. Hold your puppys face under his chin and stand directly in front of him. Wipe the damp cotton ball on one matted eye gently, starting from the inside of the eye to the outside. If your puppy is moving his head to avoid you, gently hold his head still with your hand around his snout. Take care not to touch his eyeball with the cotton ball. Cotton ball fibers will cause further irritation and can scratch his eyeball.
Step #2 – Place your puppy on an elevated surface such as a counter or a table. Puppies tend to keep still and wiggle less if they are on a higher surface.
About the Author Mary Lougee has been writing since 2004 and specializes in pets with publications in “Modern Dog” and “Pet Planet.” Lougee gained extensive pet knowledge and expertise in care and rehabilitation, built a farm, and cares for rescue animals from small to large. She holds a bachelors degree in management.
What Causes Matted Hair In Dogs?
“Matting” is dense or tangled clumps of hair in a pet’s coat. Mats are more prevalent in long-haired dogs (and cats), especially during shedding season. The extra fur needs to be adequately extracted via a brush, or else matting will occur. Mats can also result from dogs scratching themselves and getting their fur wet in rain or snow.
Mats usually start with a small knot, but this can quickly turn into a large clump. Left untreated, mats get larger and more difficult to remove. Sometimes, eliminating large mats involves pulling on the skin, which is extremely painful for your pup. That’s why it’s important to understand the best way to remove them. You should seek a professional’s assistance if the mats get unmanageable.
In addition, severe matting can lead to health problems, such as poor ventilation and blood flow. If mats start to turn pink or red (or smell), you should contact your vet right away — this could be a sign of infection, which requires expert removal and treatment.
Mats can form anywhere on a dog or cat’s coat but especially where their hair is extra long: the backs of their ears, butts, tummy area, and under the arms and legs.
Maintaining a healthy coat can prevent mats from forming, so removing excessive hair through regular brushing and grooming is critical. But often, they sneak up on you out of nowhere.
Before we dive into how to demat a dog, you’ll first want to make sure you have all the right tools and products handy. These will help set you up for dematting success. After the product reviews, we share some tips on how to get knots out of dog hair.
If your dog is prone to tangles, we recommend a shampoo that both cleans and conditions. Honest Paws (a top producer of dog CBD oils) has developed a 5-in-1 Dog Wash that does just that (and more). They make their plant-based formula in the USA with coconut, palm, oatmeal, and aloe extracts. It washes, conditions, deodorizes, moisturizes, and detangles. We got the opportunity to try it out in exchange for an honest review.
While reshedding dog brushes work great for general maintenance and excess fur removal, you’ll need a specific detangler brush to remove mats as painlessly as possible. But what’s the best brush for matted dog hair? We recommend the Poodle Pet Dematting Fur Rake (or something similar) that has serrated stainless steel blades to help break up the hair while combing.
In addition to a brush and dematting comb, it’s a good idea to have a gentle comb like this stainless steel one by Hbuir to smooth out the hair. It has a comfortable handle and comes in three sizes, including a double-sided option.
Next in your arsenal is a detangling conditioning spray. While there are many products on the market, including the highly recommended Cowboy Magic spray, our top pick for the best dog detangler is SKOUT’S HONOR Probiotic Daily-Use Spray. I personally used this on our dog (in the lavender scent for a calming effect) and love that it’s an all-natural, non-GMO, tear-free treatment that stands behind a 100% guarantee (and also gives back to dogs in need).
How To Get Mats Out Of Dog Hair
Now that you’re prepared with products, it’s time to pamper your pup. Keep in mind that this isn’t a doggy spa treatment. Untangling a dog’s matted coat is a delicate process that requires both patience from you and your pet. Here are some steps on how to unmat dog hair.