Armpits

[JeffandAnnie]

Jeff has some nasty matts (next to skin; no "root" to cut through) in his armpits  I have tried to clip them out but he is really sensitive to the clippers (even though they can't be cutting/hurting him  ). I have also tried to cut them out with scissors when he is lying on the sofa, but he seems to know IMMEDIATELY I have scissors in my hand. He is happy for me to fondle the matts for ages, but as soon as I pick up the scissors he's off. He has never been hurt by scissors 

Can anyone advise how I can remove the wretched things? It's the fist time he's had them like this.

Typically Annie, who you can roll around on her back and flops about like a ragdoll, doesn't have this problem.

[KellyT]

would he let you cut 'down' the mats, rather than trying to cut them out completely?

If you had some round ended scissors and could cut 'straight down' them, you'd only need a couple of snips, then you could continue to 'tease' them out if he's happy with you doing that?

I sometimes have to do this with Millie who has very ticklish armpits, then tease them out with a wide toothed comb.

[Saffaroo]

Saffy gets these but she actually likes me fiddling around  how about trying a wide toothed comb - as though you are about to 'comb' the matt, if you see what I mean, then once the comb is in place, ie between skin and matt just whisking it off with clippers.........   maybe worth a try

[cangrejo]

Sounds like my two.

Charlie hates being brushed, just say the word brush and he stops and looks at me with a wide eyed look of horror. I sneak the brush out when he's sleepy on my lap and brush him until he cottons on and dashes off, so it's very much little and often. He is prone to matts under his armpits and I have to do the same sneaky thing with the scissors.

Dexter is like Annie, he will roll around and will let you groom him no problem.

[Clover]

Just a thought Liz. How about just getting him to accept the scissors say closed and near him for say a week and progressing slowly from there. I can easily do it with Willow but Katie is another story, luckily she is very low maintenance (coat wise   ).

[bajoleth]

I find that late at night when the 2 of them have been settled in their beds for a while, very little disturbs them, I wait for this time and then gently snip off any offending knots etc that I have found difficult to do otherwise. Very often I have got the knot out in one go as they don't know what I am doing, othertimes I have had to go back the following night to finish off. Maybe there is a time during the day or night when he sleeps so soundly you could give it a go? You have to wait until they are so tired that even if they acknowledge you they go back to sleep
Good luck with it, I hate finding a mat and not being able to sort it, it plays on my mind til its gone

[JeffandAnnie]

Thanks for the advice - I think he is actually ticklish as much as worried   but keeping him still for more than a millisecond when trying to sort out that area is a challenge. We are going to buy some extra special yumyums and see if we can persuade him that scissors=

Proper round ended grooming scissors are going to be a Crufts purchase 

[HelenS]

Jeff has some nasty matts (next to skin; no "root" to cut through) in his armpits  I have tried to clip them out but he is really sensitive to the clippers (even though they can't be cutting/hurting him  ). I have also tried to cut them out with scissors when he is lying on the sofa, but he seems to know IMMEDIATELY I have scissors in my hand. He is happy for me to fondle the matts for ages, but as soon as I pick up the scissors he's off. He has never been hurt by scissors 

OMG you could be talking about the Cupar here. Have also found some matts in his arm pits and we are going through the same nonsense with him.  He will also let you fondle them but as soon as he sees the scissors hes off  just like Jeff   So trip to groomers for him on 9th March  Ive tried all sorts of tricks to get him to let me get them out but no success, little scamp. Its driving me crazy so will be keeping an eye on this thread for tips

[Ninasmum]

I use a no.15 blade to clip off any matts  if they are difficult to either tease/comb out. 
It is usually quick & easy because the blade clips very short & close to the skin. 

[dizzytrish]

I have been finding some on Ella the past couple of weeks. She use to be so easy to groom, but these are making it a problem. Again in armpits!
She is happy for me to groom her and usually just lays on her back, but these few are a problem.
Am I better off getting someone to clip these out?,  or to persevere? I was also lookig at detangling sprays, I take it they wont get rid of the matted lumps?
I did wonder if it was the equafleece, (I have read this on a couple of previous threads), but once gone, I could make sure they don't get bad again. iyswim!!
I dont have any clippers at the mo!

[bluegirl]

If you've not got a grooming table I would lie him down on his side between your legs and the floor. Whilst he's there and after he has settled a little, I'd use a long wide toothed comb, place it in between his skin and his knots. Whatever is on the other side of the comb is for cutting, so I'd use the thinning scissors on that (just looks less severe). You know you can't cut him, you know you can't catch his skin because thats all behind the comb and the only thing in front is the matted fur. The matted fur can be very difficult to cut through so I usually bring the comb out and insert again and cut again (repeat a few times) and you'll see the bulk of the matt removed then just brush the area out and repeat the comb where there are other smaller knots.
Hope that makes sense but its a foolproof way of removing the knot and not worrying him too much as you'll never cut his skin as its always guarded by the comb. Does that make sense?

If you have a grooming table you can still do it whilst he's standing. Secure his neck and body, then get him to bring his front leg (same side as knot) forward and backwards slightly whilst you again insert comb behind knot and then use thinners followed by a brush out.

[HelenS]

If you've not got a grooming table I would lie him down on his side between your legs and the floor. Whilst he's there and after he has settled a little, I'd use a long wide toothed comb, place it in between his skin and his knots. Whatever is on the other side of the comb is for cutting, so I'd use the thinning scissors on that (just looks less severe). You know you can't cut him, you know you can't catch his skin because thats all behind the comb and the only thing in front is the matted fur. The matted fur can be very difficult to cut through so I usually bring the comb out and insert again and cut again (repeat a few times) and you'll see the bulk of the matt removed then just brush the area out and repeat the comb where there are other smaller knots.
Hope that makes sense but its a foolproof way of removing the knot and not worrying him too much as you'll never cut his skin as its always guarded by the comb. Does that make sense?

If you have a grooming table you can still do it whilst he's standing. Secure his neck and body, then get him to bring his front leg (same side as knot) forward and backwards slightly whilst you again insert comb behind knot and then use thinners followed by a brush out.

Great advise Bluegirl . Will try this method. Thanks. Sounds foolproof

[sands]

Sounds like my two.

Charlie hates being brushed, just say the word brush and he stops and looks at me with a wide eyed look of horror. I sneak the brush out when he's sleepy on my lap and brush him until he cottons on and dashes off, so it's very much little and often. He is prone to matts under his armpits and I have to do the same sneaky thing with the scissors.

Dexter is like Annie, he will roll around and will let you groom him no problem.


So glad I'm not alone with this problem and will look forward to any advice 

[JeffandAnnie]

I would lie him down on his side

One big problem here - Jeff is a weeble, he will not let you lay him down on his side or back. I don't know for sure, but I think it may be because of his puppy injuries (dislocated hip followed by major stomach op to remove kebab stick) which meant he spent a lot of time being manhandled by vets 

The advice about the comb between him and the scissors is good though - will try that 

[dizzytrish]

thanks guys!
as always, experience helps!!
I have managed to do two out of the four 'pits' but still have a major one inside her back leg to sort out, so leaving it for a couple of days before I tackle her again!

one thing though, she also has quite a large mat on the outside of her back leg, not sure how, as she always lets me brush her?
am I right in thinking I should not use thinning scissors here?, or just do it to get rid of the problem, and then let it grow back again?