How to Brush a Pomeranian Dog With a Matted Coat

The unfortunate reality of a Pomeranian's gorgeous, fluffy double coat is that the fine, dense undercoat can work itself into tangled knots if you don't brush him regularly. If your pom develops matted hair, deal with the problem sooner rather than later to avoid painful and troublesome skin conditions.

"Manageable" Mats

Step 1

Lightly brush your Pomeranian with a slicker brush starting on the outer part of the mat. Use short, gentle strokes, brushing upward and in the direction that the fur grows. Use your fingers to put pressure on the fur at the base of the mat to minimize tugging on your dog's hair and skin.

Step 2

Sprinkle corn starch onto the mat and work it in with your fingers before working it with the brush again. The corn starch will help separate the fine hairs, making it easier to pull them apart.

Step 3

Soak the mat with a detangling spray made for dogs or humans. Gently brush with the slicker brush or mat comb, a small section at a time.

More Difficult Matting

Step 1

Work a comb gently into your Pomeranian's fur between the mat and the skin.

Step 2

Work the mat splitter in between the comb and the mat.

Step 3

Cut up away from your dog's body with the mat cutter, working in a back-and-forth motion. Repeat several times with each difficult mat to break them into several manageable pieces.

Step 4

Gently work the cut mat with the slicker brush or the mat comb starting on the outer part of the mat and working back toward the skin. Brush in the direction that the fur grows and place pressure on the fur at the base of the tangle if the brushing tugs at your dog's skin too much.

References

• Pomeranians for Dummies: D. Caroline Coile
• Dog Channel; Dematting a Pomeranian's Coat; Kathy Salzberg, NCMG

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Tips

Don't use the corn starch and the detangler both in one session. Mixing them together will form a messy paste on your dog's coat. One or the other should be effective in detangling your pom.

If your Pomeranian has a large matted area or more than one mat, tackle the job in stages. Work a little bit at a time; "The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" suggests working on a considerable mat job for about 10 minutes at a time, then taking a break both for you and your dog. Give the dog a treat and some love for enduring the intensified grooming session, then come back to the job a few hours later.

Take your Pomeranian to a professional groomer to have the mats taken care of if the undercoat is felted. Felting is when the fine undercoat binds itself so tightly together that it forms one large mat that feels like felt and is so closely bound to the surface you can't even feel skin. In those cases, it would be too painful for your dog to try brushing out the mat yourself. A professional groomer will be able to shave your pom, eliminating the mat and allowing you to start from scratch with grooming.

Once you've gotten your Pomeranian's coat mat-free, keep it that way with daily brushing. Take the time to groom all the layers of your pommie's coat all the way down to the skin to keep his hair tangle-free.

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