Matting on the Ears

[Ali]

So, I have been really good at keeping Lola matt free on most of her body except her ears. I don't know how she had managed to matt her ears so quickly but she did it. Probably from rubbing up against everything like a cat. Anyways I have a cheap little de-matting tool I use for her body which has been working really well, but does not do anything for her ears. I cannot brush the matts out with anything I have. I own a comb, brush, de-matting tool, and shedding tool and none of these have worked. The matts are so close to her skin and the very tips of her ears that I cannot get under them. Any suggestions on how to get these out. Are there any good de-matting tools out there that are not too expensive? I have looked at the les pooches brushes, and are considering them, but they are so expensive. Any knockoffs that work? And where do I get them.

[Nancy Cavanaugh]

Try cowboy Magic and then you have to take little tiny pieces at a time. Start at the outer edge of the matt, and keep combing inward a little at a time. As it starts to loosen, pull apart with your fingers, keep combing it out, working your way down. Then you start on another matt! She is probably scratching her ears - and they knot up. Check her ears to make sure she has not ear infection, just to be sure. The Cowboy Magic will help alot and help in prevening them - going forward. I use the Les Pooch brush, butyou could also use a comb - as you will be working on such small bits - since she is so matted. Worse comes to worse, under the ear, close to her head - you can cut these out, since you don't see them when the ear flap is down - and just work on the ones that would be visible if you cut them out.

That is my two cents. Let me know how it works

[Ali]

Where do I get cowboy magic? Is it available at any pet store or do I need to order it online? Is it a spray? Thanks for putting in your two cents, any thing helps.

[Joy Williams]

Hi Ali,
I got cowboy magic from a place called Tractor Supply. Not sure if you have those where you live or not, but I was told that this stuff is actually used on horses to prevent their tails from matting. So any place that sells tack or that type of supply probably has it. The one I got was in a tube that you squeeze out into the palm of your hand, then rub it into the mat. Its good stuff!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I have one girl who gets this type of matt. The only thing that I found that was small enough to get into her fine fleece coat was a flea comb. The teeth are so close together. It took a bit of working at it, but I got all the matts out. Her ears have not matted like that since. She was about 7 months old when this happened and now she is 9 months old.

[Ali]

How funny... Lola is 7 months old. Well I had to cut her long furry ears. I got the matts to the very bottom with a couple of days work and some detangler spray and then I cut them out. She looks so funny but it will grow. Hopefully these matts won't come back, they were the worse. I will have to post pictures.

[Tam]

I'm about to have to do the same thing w/my doodle. His ears are so tightly matted that I think they're each one huge matt. I'd love to see a photo of Lola. Did you use clippers and do it yourself?