10/09/2026
This beautiful Border Collie Ć Poodle is a perfect example of why severe matting is not just a grooming problem ā it can become a serious welfare issue.
The coat had become heavily matted, and the owner understandably tried to help by using clippers to remove it.
Unfortunately, the skin had become trapped deep inside the mats.
When the owners clippers went through the matted coat, they caught the skin as well ā resulting in an injury to the dogs front legs.
I do not normally remove severe matting.
Over the last three dogs I have been asked to help with significant matting, all three had skin pulled into the mats and were injured when the clippers caught it.
When a dog is severely matted, you cannot always tell where the coat ends and the skin begins. Mats can pull, fold and tighten around the skin, effectively hiding what is underneath.
What looks like ājust a big lump of hairā can actually have delicate skin trapped inside.
Even with professional equipment, removing extreme matting can be extremely risky. If the skin is damaged, infected, ulcerated or tightly incorporated into the mats, the safest option may be veterinary treatment and, in some cases, sedation.
Most owners who attempt to remove mats are simply trying to help their dog.
It's about knowing when a situation has gone beyond a normal grooming job.
If your dog's coat has become severely matted, please seek professional advice before attempting to remove it yourself.
Regular brushing, proper combing and maintaining a grooming schedule can prevent a painful situation like this from happening in the first place.
If you can't get a comb through the coat, don't reach for the scissors ā reach out for professional advice from your vet or a professional groomer.
