Dog Koltuns: Causes and Solutions

The problem of koltunov sharply worries owners of dogs with long hair. It is important not only to properly remove the confused lump, but also to establish the cause of its occurrence. So it will be easier to choose preventive measures. For example, when combing a pet, you need to use a special comb - this will prevent the occurrence of lumps of wool.

The formation of warlocks is the result of a lack of care or excess. We list the common causes of their occurrence.

1. Wet, clean wool is knocked down in a lump. This happens with the owners of long and dense hairs, if you do not dry them with a hairdryer after bathing. In the process of natural drying, not only the condition of the coat deteriorates, but also the skin.
2. There are special “water tangles” - the result of improper washing. This phenomenon occurs in inexperienced owners who are trying to actively soap and wash the dirt from the wool. Prevention is simple - apply detergents gently and on the growth of hairs, without confusing them.
3. When wearing clothes for dogs, the hair can go astray at the seams and in contact with the body. To prevent the need to use things with overlays made of special sliding fabric.
4. The dog can pick up burrs and thorns while walking. It is difficult to pull them out of the wool, the ball splits into small spines when moving. It is recommended that you inspect the animal during the walk to remove all plants immediately. You can put on a dog anther or other clothing that will protect the coat.
5. Combing with the wrong tools. Inexperienced owners believe that a massage brush is enough for care. However, short denticles tidy up only the top layer, and the undercoat gets off in a lump. Even professional groomers do not always cope with the consequences of such errors; the dog has to be cut bald.
6. Excessive love of owners for scuffing wool during games leads to disastrous consequences. Do not stroke the dog against the growth of hairs, ruffle them.
7. Health status may affect the appearance of the coat and the formation of tangles. If you observe not only knocking down of hairs, but also their dullness, inanimate appearance, then you should contact your veterinarian. Fleas, helminths, kidney and liver diseases can affect the condition of the coat.
8. Dogs may deteriorate during pregnancy and childbirth. This is due to a number of factors, including a decrease in the number of cosmetic procedures. Breeders recommend shaving the dog as short as possible before pregnancy, or at least removing hair near the mammary glands. If this is not possible at all, tie the hairs with elastic bands or put them in papillots.

If the wool is knotted, then you should try to solve the situation with the least loss. You need to try to unravel everything, and not immediately cut it off. For combing tangles, special tools are used that greatly simplify the task. Consider the most effective methods.

1. Koltuny often appear in the area of ​​the ears, armpits - where the coat is especially soft. Immediately after combing, treat the hairs with a baby powder on a zinc base and go for a walk. This way you can easily prevent tangling.
2. When using shampoo from tartlets, be sure to read the instructions. Some of them wash the undercoat too much and are not suitable for some breeds. Particularly badly this can affect the state of the Pekingese wool, Shih Tzu.
3. Conditioners will help make the coat softer, which will facilitate the unraveling of tangles. Use them after shampoo and immediately comb the animal.
4. For processing lumps of wool, it is not necessary to wash the dog, you can use a spray from taunches. The composition of such a product contains oils. The coat becomes oily, so it is better unraveling.

You need to purchase care products at a veterinary pharmacy. Many of them are aimed at the wool of certain breeds of dogs, so carefully read the information on the packaging. Give preference to famous brands.

The device allows you to carefully cut off the stray lump, without causing pain or discomfort to the dog. It is important to choose the correct cutter so that it is most convenient for you to use it. Only in this way will the procedure be easy. There are several types of chippers.

1. Vertical - a comb with sharp blades, instead of cloves. The back side is rounded, safe. Some models are equipped with cutting teeth that are hooked.
2. Horizontal or stripping - Outwardly similar to a slicker, but, instead of the usual teeth, there are sharp, slightly curved blades.
3. Teardrop-shaped or specific - consists of 1 or 2 rounded small-sized blades. Designed for use in hazardous areas - near the ears, on the legs, under the armpits.

The number of blades is selected based on the density of the undercoat of the dog. For owners of long hairs, models with 12 sharp teeth are suitable. And also, depending on the type of wool, it is worth choosing a different blade length, which varies between 4-10 cm. Some chippers have wavy cutting elements, this increases the efficiency of the tool. The handle must be durable and ergonomic.

Using the tool is quite simple.

1. For long-haired dogs with large lumps, vertical collunorez is suitable. With one hand, fix live wool at the base of the clew. Pry up the lump with the tool underneath and carefully separate it. All movements should be smooth, without jerking.
2. If the coat is semi-long, use a horizontal slitter. Comb the lump in several sets with neat movements. Gradually dissolve the cleaver into pieces.
3. Treat small tangles in delicate areas with a teardrop-shaped thimble cutter. Be careful, be sure to hold live hairs. If there is a painful and large lump in this zone, then it is more efficient to cut it off with sharp scissors. To avoid bald patches, incise vertically with respect to the skin of the animal.

After applying the cutter with your fingers, separate the living hairs and the lump. The procedure is simple and quite quick, the main thing is not to pull, so as not to hurt the dog. Comb the place where there was a lump so as to accurately separate all the hairs.

The comb is selected based on the type of coat and need. For quality care, several tools are combined. If the dog has a long, flowing coat, then first of all you need to use a massage brush. Brush the short-haired pet with a brush with soft bristles. For processing thick wool, a slicker is used, the working surface of which is made of metal.

In all combs for dogs, the teeth are not sharp, but blunt, rounded. So you can not be afraid to scratch the skin of the animal. Manufacturers offer tools in different sizes. It’s worth choosing to make it easy to comb even hard-to-reach areas. Dogs with a working surface of 6-7 cm are suitable for medium-sized dogs; larger models are relevant for large pets.

Comb-combing is also called a rake. The care tool is very convenient and allows you to process the coat with high quality. When choosing, special attention must be paid to the length of the teeth. Their size is selected along the length of the coat. The device not only removes hairs that have fallen out, but also cleans the skin of the dog from the old epithelium.

A convenient and modern fixture is furminator. The working surface is made of stainless steel, and the plastic handle is rubberized to prevent slipping. The tool combines a comb with a small blade. During processing, most of the dead hairs are removed, and live hair remains untouched.

The great advantage of the furminator is that it does not come into contact with the skin of the animal. The device for breeds without undercoat is not used, because in this case it simply will not bring benefits. Only dry wool can be processed. You need to scratch smoothly, according to hair growth.

A smooth-haired dog needs to be combed out with brushes or special gloves made of silicone, rubber. Tools are only suitable for breeds that do not have undercoat and are used during molting. Short dog hair is also handled perfectly with a flap of natural suede.

The combing procedure can bring discomfort to the animal if it is in a neglected state or is not at all accustomed to grooming. To simplify the task of preventing warlocks, expert advice will help.

1. If the coat is long or medium length, then start processing with a comb with rare teeth. It is important that the tool is guided correctly. Guide the coat at a slight angle.
2. Particular attention should be paid to areas with soft coat. In most breeds, these are the muzzle, ears, and hind legs.
3. After combing, it is necessary to re-treat the wool with a massage brush. Move from head to tail.
4. Scooter should be used for dogs with medium length of coat. If the hairs are very long, then the tool will bring discomfort.

For how to comb the tangles in dogs, see the next video.