[Bellas Mummy]

Hello everyone

I wondered if anyone can help me please.

I normally spend 25 mins to an hour a day brushing Bella as i like her long coat and ive never had her hair cut. She never really gets many mats and her coat is normally in great condition.

However the other week i took her away to the beach with me for a long weekend, was the first time there for her and although she loved it and had great fun ... lets just say her coat and the sand really dont go!!!

How on earth do i get all the mats out of her without having to cut her coat?

Ive been working on it a little each day and it is getting there, however one side of her is still rather matter and on of her paws look terrible. She looks like shes not been brushed in months.

Plus, understandably shes not too keen on me trying to get them out and once ive got some out and stop for a rest she wont come near me for a couple of hours..making me feel terrible lol

Is the only way to keep brushing her coat when its dry a little at a time?
I feel like im never going to get them all out!

If anyone has any ideas on what i could do or anything i could use to get them out id be very very greatful.

Thanks for any help
Fiona & Bella

 

[Toby's Mom]

 

[Bellas Mummy]

Oooh just seem my typos

Sorry it should read Matted coat not matter coat! :wacko:

 

[Bellas Mummy]

Hi Nichole and Toby

Thanks for that. I think I might try the bath with extra conditioning.
I was holind off washing her incase the water would make the tugs worse.

I see the pet shop has mat cutters, they looked good and like they would help, however I wasnt sure how much damage they would do to her coat.

Is this the day Toby's having his op? - What time is it at? or has it been done?

 

[LexiAndNikkisMom]

Hi, Bellas Mummy! I love Bella's name.

I always use a PetSilk's leave-in-conditioner when I am brushing/combing lexi. When I can get Lexi to sit still long enough this is what I also use to work on the matts. I just spray a lot on the mat and let it sit for 30 seconds or so and then try to work the mat out with my fingers. Usually though Lexi does not sit still long enough for me to work it out so I ended up cutting them out using a small cuticul scissors.

 

[Toby's Mom]

 

[Bellas Mummy]

Hi Kristi and Lexi

Thanks for the compliments about Bellas name and for the advice.
In normally use petsilk shampoo and conditioner every for ever 2nd beth Bella has as sometimes i think it drys her coat a little. I think i'll try and water come down and spray it into on coat, see if it helps, although i have a feeling I may have to start cutting soon

Shes not sitting very still for me and after 15mins of brushing shes away in a huff! - Taking the toys she had dropped at my feet with her lol

Nichole.. course id remember. Although im not very good with the different times that you have (im in scotland) so i dont know when it will be 2 or 4. Its normally 10to 6(pm)here. - Bella and I are both thinking of him (and you) anyway. Sounds like he should be happy and elaxed with her blanket and his toy.

let us know how he got/gets on.

Fiona & Bella

 

[LexiAndNikkisMom]

I know exactly what you mean about them getting in a huff! Lexi can only put up with it for so long. It is usually just an I find a mat she decides enough is enough and walks away. I had wanted to keep her in a longer puppy cut but after having a really bad experience (Lexi was mad and I was getting mad at her for not sitting still ) I decided to get her hair cut short and to start over. I have now decided to give up on the longer cut. The short puppy cut is SO much easier. I am thinking though of giving the long cut another chance this fall/winter. It is just too hot right now. Plus Lexi is something of a Tom Boy, everytime we go outside she rolls in something.

So far I have not had any problems with the PetSilk drying out Lexi's coat. I use the moisturizing shampoo & rinse, the leave-in-conditioner and the oil stuff you put on after the bath. I give Lexi a bath every 1-2 weeks. I also have the whitening shampoo which I only use about every 4 baths. Hmm? I will have to keep an eye on Lexi's coat and make sure it does not get to dry. I think on thing that helps is that after putting the moisturizing rinse on you are supposed to leave it on for 5 minutes. Lexi usually only lets me leave it on for 3-5 minutes. But I have noticed that it does help to leave it in longer.

It would definitatly me a shame if you have to cut all of Bella's hair. You could maybe try to cut into the mat and see if that helps. Or just but the mat out if it is not too big.

 

[Brinkley & Neyland's Mom]

Originally posted by Nichole@Jul 12 2004, 09:04 AM
As for the brushing, I have heard that you are supposed to brush the hair while it is wet.

I don't know, but I heard and read in several places, that the matts should be brushed out before it gets wet, b/c the wet bath just makes the matts tighter. Brinkley's hair is also fairly short, but I do make sure he is brushed well before bath, and I brush him softly while I blow dry. I use a spray in conditioner I purchased on the Pet Edge sight in between baths to help his coat and make him smell clean. Anyway, the wet/dry combing thing is just what I had read. Doesn't mean it is necessarily true in all cases.

 

[Toby's Mom]

 

[MalteseDad]

Hi Bella's Mom,

Try the dematting comb that you saw at the pet store before cutting out the mats. The dematting comb will slice through the mat taking much less hair with it than cutting out the mat. I've used Johnson and Johnson baby detangling spray before and it helped alot. There should be some detangling sprays at the pet store that may help also.

If the mats are to big and to close to the skin they may start pulling the skin and causing some irritation - in that case you will have to cut them out.

Good Luck
Don

 

[Bellas Mummy]

Hi everyone

Well, good news..... finally got all the tugs and mats out of Bella!
After a good hour of brushing this morning and getting around 70% of them out i gave her a bath (a bit of advice ... never bath your maltese if its mated!!) she ended up nearly being as bad as ever...

So after another couple of hours brushing (!!) and a lot of growling from Bella and myself we're all tug free. Thankfully I didnt have to cut her hair too much and found the mat cutter a great help

Bellas now sitting in her bed with her toys ignoring me lol everytime
i look at her she turns her head in the opposite direction!

Anyone else got a maltese with attitude issues? LOL

Thanks again everyone for all your help and advice

Fiona & Bella

 

[Toby's Mom]

 

[doctorcathy]

awwww!!!! thats so cute. i love how they have personalities.