Anybody who has ever had long hair will know how painful it can be to remove knots from your hair, especially if you are sensitive to pain. Now, imagine how painful it will be if those knots formed mats in your hair. Animals feel pain too, and you wouldn’t want them to suffer and be uncomfortable because of mats in their fur. Besides the pain, your pet can also suffer from dermatological problems if you don’t keep his coat in a healthy and knot-free condition.
Once mats have formed in the hair, it needs to be cut out of the fur. Sometimes, the entire coat then needs to be shaved so that it doesn’t look too awkward. Shaving a dog’s coat is not a good thing (especially if he has a double coat), and your pet might be left either too hot or too cold.
Here are a few tips to make the brushing process easier for you and your pet.
Dogs
Frequency Once a day.
Time spent Up to 30 minutes.
What to do Start with a pin or slicker brush and always brush your dog’s hair in the direction of the hair growth (from his head to his tail). Brush his coat in small sections at a time to make it easier. If you find a knot in his hair, work your way from the end of the knot in small sections towards the skin. Do it bit by bit until all the knots are gone. If this is at all painful for your dog, it might be easier to cut the knots out.
Cats
Frequency Once a day.
Time spent Up to 30 minutes.
What to do Cats with long hair do need some help in the grooming department. Cats do better with a routine, so do this every day at about the same time and in the same place. Use a bristle brush or a long-toothed comb and work in small sections. If you find knots in her hair, gently comb them out in small sections, or cut them out if it is painful or uncomfortable for her.
Rabbits
Frequency At least once every three days.
Time spent Up to 15 minutes.
What to do Removing the excess fur from your rabbit’s coat will prevent him from ingesting too much hair, which can cause problems such as gastrointestinal stasis. Place your rabbit on a flat and safe surface, making sure his paws touch the surface so that he feels secure. As not all rabbits are the same, you might need to try different brushes to find the one that will work best for your rabbit.
Start with a slicker brush and a comb with round ends to get rid of the knots. Start by brushing very small sections of his coat and be very gentle. Brush or comb from the root of the hair towards the end, and if there are knots, deal with them in small sections. You need to be extra gentle with a rabbit’s sensitive skin
Guinea pigs
Frequency Once a day
Time spent Up to 15 minutes.
What to do A narrow-toothed comb is the best to use to comb out your guinea pig’s hair. Once you’re sure his coat is knot-free, you can give him a gentle brushing with a slicker brush to get rid of any loose hairs. Don’t overdo the grooming, as guinea pigs are also good at grooming themselves.
