What is Coat Damage and How to Prevent It
Mint/Melissa Viera
When a dog’s coat is dry, brittle, or tangled it not only lacks the texture and shine it could have, but a damaged coat is more challenging to work with. If you’ve ever watched a dog show and wondered how it appears that the dogs don’t have a hair out of place, then you know what regular coat maintenance can do. Grooming dogs is important for their health and wellness, but if you want to prevent coat damage, regular coat maintenance between full grooms is just as important.
There are many things that can cause coat breakage. One of the biggest problems is matting. Once matting begins to form, combing through causes the coat to split and break. Preventing mats from forming in the first place is a big part of maintaining a healthy coat in dogs, but coat breakage can happen for other reasons as well.
One of the most important things for a healthy coat is a healthy dog. If you notice a very dull coat or sudden changes, it’s a good idea to talk to your veterinarian and rule out any medical or nutritional concerns. Take a photo of your dog’s coat and part the coat to take a photo of your dog’s skin so that you can compare the photo to any further changes and have a discussion with your veterinarian.
Using the right products and brushes is another factor. If you want your poodle to grow a full top knot for instance, make sure to use a pin brush instead of a clicker brush on the top knot. The slicker brush is used to fluff out the shorter areas of the dog. Using high-quality grooming tools makes a big difference. Look for brushes and combs that are trusted by grooming professionals and dog show handlers. Asking your groomer about tools is a great place to begin.
If your dog is in good health and you have the right tools and products, you can focus on supporting a healthy coat with regular maintenance. For some dogs, a bath every few weeks with the right conditioner is required. A dirty coat will be more prone to breakage. One of the most important parts of the bath is proper blow drying. Using an active drying technique, the coat is brushed carefully and set as part of the drying process. Some breeds need to have the ends trimmed on bath maintenance days as well. When the coat gets too long, the ends can break if they aren’t maintained.
For longer coats, there are products and techniques to protect the coat between coat maintenance days including coat oils and bands to keep parts of the coat in place or out of the dog’s eyes.
Regular brushing and combing are important, but if you brush over a dry and brittle coat, you’ll do even more damage. It’s important to use the right conditioner as a brushing spray and work through the coat carefully. While turning your dog into a show dog might not be the goal, people who begin regular coat maintenance are surprised by the results. If you have a coated breed, why not make sure your dog looks his or her best? Regular coat care prevents painful matting and makes the coat easier to work with. Most importantly, it's a bonding experience for you and your dog.
