The Risks of Ignoring Knots in Your Pet's Fur 

Brushing our dogs and cats every day is not just for aesthetic purposes. It also helps to improve their quality of life. Believe it or not, knots in your pet’s fur can be risky for his health. In this article, we will tell you what those risks are.

Why you should get rid of knots in your pet’s fur

Even if you have a dog or cat with short hair, you should still brush to remove dead hair and avoid bad odors. In the case of long-haired pets, daily brushing is essential. This will keep tangles from forming. Remember that knots grow with time and “stick” to skin.

One of the main problems of tangled fur is that it creates a layer that doesn’t allow the dermis to “breathe”. Furthermore, it creates a better environment for fungus and bacteria to grow. If we bathe a dog with tangled hair, we will make the situation worse instead of better. The skin will become moist and will not dry properly.

Animal fur forms knots because of daily activities when no one bothers to untangle it. The areas most susceptible to having patches of hair stuck to skin are: between the hind feet, in the ingle, behind the ears, on the hip, on the neck and underneath the front feet.

If the correct shampoo is not used when trying to untangle knots from the animal’s skin, it can suffer greatly. In some cases, very sharp scissors must be used to remove all fur. This can hurt a lot, especially when you don’t know where the skin begins and the knot ends.

Hairballs on dogs or cats can be removed with a special comb. Although the animal complains or does not want to remain still, we must implement this routine if knots form habitually.

Keep in mind that when pets have large lymph nodes near skin that cause discomfort, a specialist should remove the knots.

Steps for removing knots from your pet’s fur

Since knots are not only a detrimine to aesthetics, but can interfere with a pet’s health, it is essential to brush the fur every day or at least several times a week. If you have a hard time remembering, you can set an alarm. Take advantage of free time while watching TV when you get home, or while waiting for dinner to be prepared.

If you haven’t had time to do it, or haven’t noticed knots forming, pay attention to these tips:

1. If the knot is not too tight, and it is moveable, it can be untangled without problems using the fingers first. Don’t use a comb yet because it can become more tangled.
2. Prepare a hot water bath for your pet after softening the tangled hair. Bathe him with dog shampoo and apply special conditioner. Let the conditioner work for five minutes. You can give the animal a toy so that we won’t get restless or bored.
3. Rinse with plenty of warm water until all residue is gone. Dry using a hair dryer or towel. Comb with a wide-bristled metal brush that will serve to remove knots.
4. If untangling the hair is impossible, you must resort to scissors. Always be careful when using them, so that you don’t cut or hurt your pet. Start little by little (work from the ends to the knot) and continue with the comb.
5. Only use a shaver or razor as a last resort. The skin of the canine or feline will be irritated by having endured the knots. Using these tools makes their condition worse. It may result in a lot of itching and redness.