Ellie The Matted Mess!

She really is soooooooooo matted, it makes me sick. :no: I know the bandage had to be on there and the bandage was so sticky the vet said it was literally like glue. She looks absolutely terrible! She has lost so much of her patience being pulled at and fussed at messed with and she's had to go through so much pain and confinement and restrictions. I feel bad that we have to torture her by messing with her coat, but we cant just let it be. :( We try very hard to be gentle, but I have never seen this many mats on a dog before. From the back of her front legs to the front of her back legs the hair looks like it was first twisted and then glued to her and she has (had) a LOT of hair! And it is was so soft and fine--like cotton candy. I know when it's matted down to the skin it is uncomfortable and pulls at her skin, so we have to get the mats out somehow and we have to be very careful not to pull her skin around the sutres. I just don't know how long I can risk leaving some of those mats on her because I am afraid of them cutting off the blood supply to her skin. :cry:
 
You might give a call to your vet then, just to ask for suggestions on the matting and see if you can try to comb her out. If he gives the OK, I'd try Lightplum's suggestion and pick up some child's Johnson & Johnson detangler which you can get in the drugstore and see if you can untangle her a bit away from the suture area. But do use a wide-tooth comb or a dematting tool so you pull as little as possible. I've never used the scissor method but it sounds like that would work well on the really hard to get ones.
 
Poor Ellie! First all those surgeries, and now matts in her beautiful curly hair. I am glad to hear that she is feeling so much better though. I have to admit, that I was getting worried having not seen any new updates from you. Phew, I can rest easy now.
 
Lahree said:
Is it the "Furmanator?"
Click to expand...


I use a furminator to dematt Sadie all the time. It works like a charm but you have to work at them slowly to avoid pulling. Using powder or a detangling conditioner with it would probably make working the matts out much easier.
 
Lahree said:
She really is soooooooooo matted, it makes me sick. :no: I know the bandage had to be on there and the bandage was so sticky the vet said it was literally like glue. She looks absolutely terrible! She has lost so much of her patience being pulled at and fussed at messed with and she's had to go through so much pain and confinement and restrictions. I feel bad that we have to torture her by messing with her coat, but we cant just let it be. :( We try very hard to be gentle, but I have never seen this many mats on a dog before. From the back of her front legs to the front of her back legs the hair looks like it was first twisted and then glued to her and she has (had) a LOT of hair! And it is was so soft and fine--like cotton candy. I know when it's matted down to the skin it is uncomfortable and pulls at her skin, so we have to get the mats out somehow and we have to be very careful not to pull her skin around the sutres. I just don't know how long I can risk leaving some of those mats on her because I am afraid of them cutting off the blood supply to her skin. :cry:
Click to expand...


In the interest of not driving Ellie crazy, I'd advise just cutting the suckers off. Hair grows back. :wink2:
 
Lahree said:
I just don't know how long I can risk leaving some of those mats on her because I am afraid of them cutting off the blood supply to her skin. :cry:
Click to expand...

I'm a little bit behind. What did she have surgery for? It sounds terrible.

I've looked at pictures of your sheltie before, and she had very nice looking fur. I never knew a sheltie could have such curly hair. :biggrin2: I also didn't know that mats could cut off blood supply to the skin. I learn something new every day on this forum.

I hope everything turns out ok for you and your dog. :yes:
 
I also didn't know that matts can cut off blood circulation to the skin. That sounds really scary.

Poor little Ellie, seems like she's been through enough to me. I'd be tempted to just shave her to save her the additional trauma and discomfort. Her beautiful hair will grow back. Surely shelties have been shaved for surgeries or whatever. Although I'm no expert, I would imagine it would grow back as beautiful as ever. It will just take some time.

I agree, perhaps you should call the vet and ask their advice.
 
Cut, yes, but don't shave unless you have to. I don't think the fur ever grows back quite the same after that. I don't know why that is. But its not dissimilar with people hair.

(e.g. maybe she won't be curly anymore! :eek2: That would be a shame!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top