Frequently asked questions.
What is matting in dogs?
“Matting” refers to densely tangled clumps of fur in a pet's coat. If a coat is not properly and/or frequently brushed, loose and live hair become embedded in large masses. Sometimes mats can be combed out, but if left too long, it is impossible without seriously harming the animal.
Should I cut out the matting?
Never cut out mats from you dog or cats fur. It is extremely dangerous. It is hard to tell where the fur stops and skin begin. Getting a matted dog more wet will tighten the mats.
When should I start getting my puppy groomed and how often?
It is important to get your puppy used to the idea, smells, sounds and feeling of being groomed. It is also important for you to start desensitizing you dog’s feet, face, ears in being handled. This makes things a lot less stressful in the long run for you dog and much more manageable for you groomer. Once you puppy has at least its first 2 round of puppy vaccines about 16 weeks. We do not do a haircut for a puppy’s first grooming appointment (unless it is necessary). It allows the groomer to get time introducing your puppy to all the ins and outs of grooming without overwhelming them.
How often do I get my pet groomed?
This depends on a few things; type of fur/hair of your dog, how long you want to keep it,
Generally a haircut every 4-6 weeks with consistent brushing in between. The longer you want to keep it, the more often the appointments need to become.
Can double coat dogs be shaved?
Just because you can, doesn’t always mean they should. There are some different opinions about this topic. When you shave the coat of a double coated dog, you shave the undercoat as well. The undercoat is what regulates the dogs temperature. When you take that away, it is more difficult to do that
IF shaved, it may never grow back the same, whether it loses its shine or texture or doesn’t even grow back. It exposes the skin to the elements which fur protects them from. The exposure can lead to skin problems.
Overall we recommend not shaving any double coated dog unless there is a medical reason.
What is matting in cats?
The matting in cats is similar to those of double coated dog breeds where the dead fur loosens and falls off but the grease in their fur holds onto the loosened fur to create clumps that without proper or regular grooming will eventually have to be shaved out.
Never cut out mats from you dog or cats fur. It is extremely dangerous. It is hard to tell where the fur stops and skin begin.
Do cats even need to be groomed, I thought they groomed themselves?
The short answer is yes. Long hair cats such as Persians and Himalayan’s tend to get matting if not groomed regularly. Cats produce more oils than dogs, especially senior cats.
When should I start getting my kitten groomed?
It is important to get your kitten used to the idea, smells, sounds and feeling of being groomed. This makes things a lot less stressful in the long run for you cat and much more manageable for you groomer. It is best to get your kitten in as early as possible but after their rounds of shots. Starting with a bath allows the groomer to get time with them which allows them to do a slow introduction to grooming without overwhelming them.
When should I start getting my cat groomed and how often?
Longhair cats ideally should be groomed every 4-6 weeks. Shorthair cats, 6-8 weeks.
What is the reason for a lion cut, are their other options?
The main reason for a lion cut is when the matting is so dense that there is no choice but to shave (for the safety and comfort of the cat). The lion cut is not recommended for senior cats (if possible) as the chance of nicking the thinner stretchy skin becomes greater. This is when a regular schedule comes into play. If you are not a fan of the lion cut but do want a haircut for your cat, the plush cut is a good option. It is a longer length left on the body of your cat. This is only doable if there is no dense matting.