27/07/2026
Should you wash a matted dog? Although we might think washing a dog who has tangles or mats will at least make sure it’s clean, it won’t. Mats are compressed against the skin of the dog. If you don’t or can’t wash the skin of a dog, you are not cleaning it. While yes, the fur gets dirty, the bacteria (which is responsible for that dog smell) is sitting on the skin. If your dog has mats or is overgrown, the water will sit within that mat and tighten against the skin, causing irritation, pain, and even infection. You can’t just wash matting out, and you should never attempt to cut them with scissors. Mats are against the skin, and pulling on them can cause harm; they need to be clipped off.
Pictured below is a mat that got caught up in a dog towel. It went into an industrial washing machine on a heat cycle with antibacterial cleaner, and it still kept its form, so you can imagine what hand washing your dog will do.
