Removing Mats and Tangles From Your Dog's Coat

Anyone with a long haired dog knows the importance of keeping their coat smooth and clean. Long haired dogs are vulnerable to tangles and matted hair, much more than short haired dogs. These tangles are tough to get out, but more importantly they are bad for your dog's health. The tangles can cause ulcers on the skin, skin problems, and can also require complete hair removal to fix the issue. Most tangles and mats start around a tangible object such as a burr, twig, or random trash. Locating the tangle is step one.
There are many ways to remove these tangles at home, some of which are fairly easy and painless also. The best way to get a tangle out is with a wide tooth comb. Along with pet stores, you can also find these in any beauty aisle in convenience stores for humans. There are different sizes available, and the bigger you get, the easier it will probably be to deal with the tangle. Start with a small area of hair near the outer edge of the tangle and work your way towards the center. Be gentle with your strokes so you keep your dog at ease.
Pet stores sell detangler specifically designed for dogs for cases such as this. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results. These detanglers are safe for your dog's hair and skin and lessen the tangle. If you don't find any at your pet store, human detangler might also work but I very highly suggest consulting your vet before ever using human products on your dog. If you don't have any detangler, baby oil may also work. Use a very small amount and make sure you don't rub the oil in or in circular motions, as this will only make the tangle worse.
Do a thorough check up of your pup for tangles and mats at least once a month. Prime spots to look at are the armpits of the dog, behind the legs, near the paws, and around the collar and ears. Chances are, if a foreign object is causing the tangle, the dog will become irritated with that area and begin to scratch or itch at it. It would be wise to take care of the tangle immediately so your dog is comfortable again. Don't spend too much time on one spot because this could annoy the dog's skin and make him become sensitive in that area. Once the tangle is taken care of, lightly spray your dog with mink oil, which will help prevent tangles in the future.