The Best Dematting Tools for Dogs in 2022

Now that you’ve seen our top picks for the best dematting tools for dogs, it should be easier to pick the right product for your pooch. And if it isn’t – no worries, we understand how difficult finding the right product for your pet can be.

That’s why we’ve prepared this buyer’s guide and answered some of the important questions when it comes to dematting and deshedding tools. Here, you can read all about the matting, the difference between shedding and matting and how to use grooming tools to help your pet maintain healthy, smooth coat. Don’t forget to check out the FAQ section as well – the more informed you are, the easier will be to pick the best grooming tool.

Benefits of Using a Dematting Tool

Having a pet is not all rainbows and butterflies – sometimes it’s hairy snarls, tangles, and knots. And when these devil furs become really serious – meaning, when we don’t groom our canine companions regularly – mats happen. Painful, uncomfortable and dangerous, mats can be difficult to deal with, especially if your dog is a wiggler who hates to be brushed and groomed. And make no mistake, the canine who hates grooming most likely hates it because the tool you’re using hurts and irritates his skin.

Luckily, there are many gentle but efficient grooming and dematting tools on the market that can help you not only quickly demat your hound, but even prevent future matting. Here are some benefits of using dematting tools regularly:

• Your pooch will have healthier skin: no mats means no hair pulling and no infections;
• Additionally, your dog will have healthier fur: no mats means better-looking coat;
• As a result, you’ll have a healthier pet: with less mats there is less of a chance fleas and ticks will attach, and as a result, there will be less infected skin lesions;
• Less painful grooming: unlike scissors and razors, good dematting tools are less painful for your dog;
• At-home comfort: with a proper dematter, you don’t have to stress your dog by taking him to a professional groomer as you can demat him quickly and easily in the comfort of your own home.

How to Use a Dematting Tool Properly

To quickly and easily demat your dog, it’s important to follow certain guidelines. First of all, always be gentle so you don’t hurt your pooch. This is especially important if you’re dealing with a young pup or a dog that’s new to grooming in general.

• Start by brushing your dog gently and slowly. This will allow you to locate mats and start working on dematting your pet’s coat.
• When you locate a mat, brush the top layer of the fur that is not completely entangled. Again, make sure you’re gentle, as we’re not trying to demat anything t this point.
• If you’re working with a really nasty mat, apply a detangling product if you have any, if not, cornstarch can help.
• Now break the mat apart with your fingers by lightly pulling away outer hairs while holding the entire clump.
• Finally, hold the hair below the mat in one hand and take the dematting tool in your other hand. Gently start combing the ends of the matted fur in a picking motion. You don’t want to literally comb through the mats as this can hurt your pet and irritate his skin, but rather tease out the knots. The dematting tool will cut through the matted hair, helping you detangle your pet’s coat.

Difference Between Dematting and Deshedding Tools

Grooming is an important part of caring for your dog. Depending on the breed, your pooch may shed a little or a lot, but no matter its shedding habits, it’s important to brush and groom him regularly. If you neglect your canine’s coat, knots, tangles and finally mats can develop. Luckily, even if your fur-friend’s coat is in a really bad shape, you can turn things around with a good grooming tool.

That’s where deshedding and dematting tools come in. Although both of these brushes do a similar job – remove dead hair from your pet’s coat – they’re not the same. Let’s highlight the differences between the two, so you know which tool is best suited for your pup.

• Dematting tools

Dematting tools come in various shapes and sizes but all have the same purpose – to demat your dog’s mats. To do this, these tools have sharp blades or teeth that cut through the mats, breaking them apart and making them easier to remove. Of course, the teeth cannot be just sharp – they’re also rounded so they don’t hurt your dog’s skin. Still, it’s always wise to use dematting tools slowly and gently to ensure your pet’s safety.

• Deshedding tools

Like dematting tools, deshedding tools come in different sizes and shapes. There are wide-tooth combs, bristle brushes, slicker, pin brushes, and many other deshedding combs. The purpose of this grooming tool is to help you get a handle on your hound’s shedding. Of course, you can never stop shedding permanently, as this is a perfectly natural and healthy process, but you can somewhat minimize and manage unwanted fur. Regular brushing is also a great idea if you want to keep your pet’s coat healthy and tangle-free and prevent matting.

Take a look at our ultimate guide on the Best Dog Brush for Shedding.

Best Dematting Tools for Dogs FAQ

Q: What is matting?

A: All dogs shed hair – some may shed a little and some may shed a lot, depending on their breed. Regardless of your furry friend’s shedding manners, if their coat is not regularly brushed, these loose hairs may become entangled, and in time embedded in large masses. Combine that with friction and you get mats.

Matting is especially common among dogs with long hair who undergo seasonal shedding, although it may occur in any breed and at any time. If mats are not dealt with immediately, they become large, nasty mats, particularly hard to remove. Therefore, to prevent serious matting, make sure you groom your pet regularly and demat his coat as soon as you notice large clumps of hair forming.

Q: Do I need to incorporate dematting into my pet’s grooming?

A: If you notice your pooch is developing some suspicious hair clumps, tangles, and knots, it’s time to incorporate some dematting into his grooming routine. Prevention is always better than cure, so to help your pet keep his healthy coat well-maintained, it’s wise to use a gentle dematting tool from time to time, even if he doesn’t have actual mats.

Of course, if your dog is not that prone to mats and you brush his coat regularly, there’s no need for using dematting tools.

Q: How often should I use a dematting tool?

A: How often should you demat your dog depends on a few different factors:

• How often she gets knots and mats: if you know your pooch is prone to mats, make sure you demat her coat while brushing her from time to time.
• What breed your dog is: some dog breeds are more prone to matting, including the Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise and other long-haired, non-shedding, as well as heavy shedding dogs.
• How active she is: if your dog plays outside a lot, it’s probably best to use a dematting tool every few weeks.
• How often you groom your dog: the more you groom and brush your canine buddy, the less of a change she has of developing mats.

You might also be interested in the following guides: Dog Flea Combs, Brushes For German Shepherds, Brushes for Short Hair Dogs, and Dog Detangler Sprays.

Q: How do I prevent matting in dogs?

A: Removing mats is hard work, both for you and your pup. Therefore, the best thing you can do for your dog’s coat health is not let him develop mats in the first place. To prevent matting, make sure you regularly and thoroughly brush your pooch. This is especially important when it comes to long-haired canines who shed a lot.

Generally speaking, all dogs should be groomed on a regular basis, every 4 to 6 weeks, although you can always gently brush your dog every day if needed.

Sources:

1. Wendy C. Fries, Best Pet Deshedding Tools, WebMD
2. Carol McCarthy, Dog’s Hair in Knots? How to Get Them Untangled and Under Control, PetMD