Advice regarding grooming...

[Malteseluv]

What products do all of you use to groom your furbabies? Is there a product out there that will prevent matting? Emma has a beautiful coat and we've been using Coat Handler products which are awesome. They really leave the hair soft and shiny :) We brush her hair everyday and use the anti-static detangling spray which also works well. But this past weekend, she seems to be matting out of the blue...We got the few mats that she had out, but is there anything that will prevent matting other than brushing everyday? Is there a special product? Do you think she may be getting her adult coat in? She's just over 9 months old and we've had her for a month and a half and no problems up to now...Any thoughts or advice?

[mia's mom]

I read alot of people use the Pantene Ice shampoo & conditioner or the Cowboy Magic. I just found the Pantene Ice and going to try it this week end! Good luck if you find something that works please post it so we all can try it!:)

[Morkie4]

Kallie's hair is 12 inches long now and she still gets mats when her and Toby play. I have not found a product out there that "prevents" mats. My best advice is a thorough daily brushing, thus preventing even the smallest mat from turning into a "problem" mat!!! Toby has different hair but doing the daily brush with him keeps his hair to a minimum of matting as well but his hair is only 10 inches long. I found that with the longer hair I have less matting than when they were short and does not take any longer to do the brushing as long as I do it daily. Doing the topknots daily takes more time than the brushing..............hopefully with more practice I will get faster!! lol

Just think of it this way. What if you didn't brush YOUR hair every day........think you would have a mat or two???? I have long hair and I know daily brushing is essential for me.........so it is with the furbutts!!!!

[MyTrixie143]

Products I use include Cowboy Magic (detangler and shine), Plush Puppy's Sea breeze oil-this is suppose to prevent the hair from matting and breaking and I love this stuff but you should only use a tiny bit. The biggest thing that has helped us the most is a conditioner I found at Petsmart. It is called Groomax Silk Protein Moisturizing Conditioner. I just love this stuff!! I helps get the mats out and leaves their hair feeling so silky. I have also noticed it keeps their coats cleaner and looking better for a longer period of time and helps keep the matting from getting out of control. Since I have started using it, I don't have to bath them as often and their hair still looks great and isn't matting much at all like it use to. It also helps the skin as it has omega fatty acids in it.:thumb2:

[maltchimom]

Nothing I have tried helps with Chipper's matting so maybe I will try some of these products. I have also ordered a sample of Minksheen. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

[mia's mom]

Nothing I have tried helps with Chipper's matting so maybe I will try some of these products. I have also ordered a sample of Minksheen. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

I tried the Pantene Ice just now...it's wonderful she is SSOOO soft and smells great. Easier to blow dry too.:D

[maltchimom]

Thanks so much. I will try that.

[Malteseluv]

Yes, we definitely brush her hair and Miko's hair thoroughly everyday :) Thank goodness she hasn't had any problem mats, but I was just wondering about a magic product that "prevents" any mats! LOL :) I posted on SM, and someone told me that Emma is probably going through a transition period and that it usually lasts 2-3 weeks. That's good news! I started thinking back, and I remembered that Miko went through a short stage like this as well, and now he rarely ever gets a mat. I will try that Plush Puppy's Seabreeze Oil. She really does have a great coat, but we're always trying to find the best products out there :)

[M101]

I've been giving Babe a 1/4 tsp. of Olive Oil w/ his dinner the last 3 weeks. It seems to help his coat. Although I must untangle a few mats per week (no cutting of them), his hair maintains the part overnight. And his coat is very thick and lush. He is combed/brushed daily however. So something has helped.

Linda

[mia's mom]

I've been giving Babe a 1/4 tsp. of Olive Oil w/ his dinner the last 3 weeks. It seems to help his coat. Although I must untangle a few mats per week (no cutting of them), his hair maintains the part overnight. And his coat is very thick and lush. He is combed/brushed daily however. So something has helped.

Linda

My vet has always suggested the olive oil in the food for my bigger dog...I have never given it to Mia. It helps with the skin, coat & Snoopy loves it. I will ask if Mia is to little to start on it.:)

[Im26]

wow emma is almost 9 months old...
she grew so fast :hug:
she's beautiful~

lately i have had a problem with dry skin
so my vet has given me this fish oil pump thingy
but me being so busy and being a bad mommy i had it tipped on a table and it started to leak over night...
next day all the kids were licking it going crazy while i was in the shower...
one hour later they were drenched with it...

i havnt seen a mat on them
but i would never give it to them again but the dry skin is gone now but the fish smell is still there :confused:

[Malteseluv]

Olive oil is a great idea :) I have heard that before. I think I'm going to add a supplement to Emma's diet...either Missing Link or Seameal...Not sure yet. I have to do more research!
As far as the fish oil goes, actually that was recommended for Miko (my liver compromised yorkie)...They say to put it in his food and that it will help his coat be more lustrous :) He doesn't have dry skin at all, and he has pretty silky hair all the way to just past halfway down his back, but his butt area is cottony. I can't get over the stinkiness of the fish oil, though!! LOL

We bathed her with a different shampoo (Bless the beasts, it left her hair feeling more cottony and soft) this past time also, and I think that in combination with her going through this transition period may have caused those few mats. So Friday, when she gets her next bath, it's back to her regular shampoo (Coat Handler)...It leaves her hair sooooo silky and smooth! I love it :)
Thanks for all the advice everyone!!!