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What is matting?
“Matting” refers to densely tangled clumps of fur in a pet’s coat. If a coat is not properly and/or frequently brushed, loose and live hair become embedded in large masses. Sometimes “mats” can be combed out, but if left too long it is impossible to brush out the coat without seriously harming the animal. Mats can form in both the outer coat as well as the deeper undercoat. Sometimes severe mats form in the undercoat and are unnoticeable because of a heavy outer coat. If left completely unattended, a pet’s fur can become entirely matted to such an extent that the only recourse is to shave the entire coat. Matting is especially prevalent in long-hair dogs during seasonal shedding if the excessive hairs are not removed.
Why can it not be brushed out?
In most cases, matted fur cannot be brushed out. The process of brushing out a pet’s fur in the case of matting is dangerous and painful. The groomer will decide what is most humane for the pet. The groomer has years of experience to make this determination and deciding to shave a pet if necessary is not taken lightly. We are committed to making sure that the pet is left comfortable and healthy by the end of the appointment. If you do not agree with our decision to shave a matted pet if the groomer has determined it necessary for the safety, comfort, and health of the pet, we have the right to refuse service and charge a fee to recoup from income lost as a result of cancelling the appointment.
What are the risks of shaving a matted pet?
A matted coat can cause numerous health problems, including (but not limited to) itchiness of the skin, irritation of the skin, skin infections, as well as may hide sores or scabs caused by the constant pulling of the fur from the skin. Blissful Pet Grooming is not responsible for any pre-existing conditions due to a matted coat. The risks of shaving down a matted coat include (but are not limited to):
-Loss of hair growth
-The coat growing back a different color or texture
-The pet becoming itchy, or behaving in a way that causes them to scratch/bite/rub the affected area once the coat is removed
-The pet is more likely to get sunburned
-The development of “cow-licks”
-Hotspots/rashes
We highly encourage research on “matting in coat” online so that you are aware of additional risks.
In the case of injury:
Blissful Pet Grooming is committed to performing services in the safest manner possible. When a pet is matted the possibility of injury to a pet during the de-matting or shave down process does increase exponentially. While the groomer will do everything they can to ensure that no harm comes to the pet, accidents do happen. There is also an increased possibility that if there was a prior injury under the matting that the groomer was unable to identify before moving forward that the injury may reopen (example: groomer may shave off a pre-existing scab unintentionally). Blissful Pet Grooming reserves the right that in the unlikely event an injury occur that we are allowed to have the injury inspected at the veterinarian offices of Blissful Pet Grooming's’ choice, or having a veterinarian of our choice review any invoices for services completed another veterinarian office, prior to committing to cover any expenses related to the injury. Should you decide to have the injury inspected and treated at a veterinarian office of your choice prior to Blissful Pet Grooming's’ preferred veterinarian reviewing the injury, this may and will impact our decision to cover the full costs of treatment. Blissful Pet Grooming will only cover what we determine to be reasonable and related to an injury caused during the grooming process.