Dealing with Shih Tzu Mats

Shih Tzu hair may make this breed unique and truly outstanding but we all know how much time it requires when it comes to maintenance and grooming. Actually, once you decide that yu want a Shih Tzu as a pet, one of the primary considerations is the amount of effort you can give to the dog’s coat and maintaining it tangle free. It may be totally impossible not to observe mats on the Shih tzu once in a while, but it is also important to know how to deal with mats and how to avoid them.

Mats occur daily because shedding happens on a day to day basis. It is just that when the fallen hair gets tangled and thick that mats already form. In fact, the Shih Tzu hair is considered double coated. It has a thicker outer coat and a softer inner one. The outer coat is the one that needs brushing and grooming on a regular basis. If neglected, the hair can pile up and get intertwined with the healthy hair. Mats usually annoy the dogs and they end up scratching the area. Problems occur when they scratch too much that they already damage the superficial part of the skin and such leads to dermatitis. If this gets infected, pus can form from the wound and such cases already needs medical intervention. Hygiene is very important in long haired breeds such as the Shih Tzu. Take note to brush the areas where mats are usually formed such as the legs, behind the ears, the neck and the tail area. These body parts are also the sensitive regions of the canine body and your Shih Tzu will surely not want to have lumps of hair in these areas. Hair on the forehead that might cover the eyes and face must be put in a top knot and the hair on the snout must be trimmed often. Wipe off the face and neck area after eating because moisture can help to increase mat formation because water tends to gather more hair together. However, should you observe too much mat formation that it seems already impossible to untangle them, resorting to clippers and a clean shaved cut won’t do any harm. It is actually healthy for a hairdo-challenged Shih Tzu because all the hair has the opportunity to grow back again to their healthy state.