10/14/2025
Matting Hurts. Let’s Talk About It.
We are a judgment-free zone. Whether your baby shows up freshly brushed or dropped off in rough shape, our only concern is their comfort and safety. But we need to be real with you—matting is painful. It’s not just a cosmetic issue. Mats pull tightly on the skin, restrict movement, trap moisture, and can hide infections, parasites, or injuries. The longer they’re left untreated, the worse it gets.
Trying to remove severe matting at home can be dangerous. Without proper tools, experience, or restraint, you risk cutting the skin, causing trauma, or making the pain worse. We’ve seen it all—and we’re here to help, not judge.
This photo is a clear example of what matting looks like. It takes time, patience, and skill to safely free a pet from this condition. That’s why we strongly encourage rebooking at the end of every appointment. We recommend all dogs be on a 4–6 week grooming schedule with proper brushing at home between visits. Staying on a routine keeps your pet happy, healthy, and out of pain. Prevention is always easier—and safer—than correction.
We do NOT demat pets in this condition as it is inhumane. Any matting or tangles will require short shave haircuts, and we charge additional demat fees based on the time it takes to remove them. The waiver we require is a matting release form, which explains that appearance is now secondary to comfort and safety. You can read more about our matting policy and view the release form at
pawsnclawsgrooming.net/matted-pet-release-forms.html.
