If you're like most lucky people who have opened up your heart and home to a dog or cat with long, fluffy fur, you probably take pride in your pet's appearance when it's freshly groomed. However, if you're as busy as most people are these days with work and family obligations, keeping your pet well-groomed may be near the bottom of your list when it comes to prioritizing routine activities. This can lead to matting, and while many people believe that matted fur is merely a cosmetic issue that won't harm pets, that is not the case. Just a few minutes of brushing a day will help keep your pet comfortable and healthy as well as help you minimize costs for veterinary services. Following are just three of the many potential problems pet owners may encounter when they allow their furry friend's fur to become seriously matted.

Matted Fur Provides Habitat for Parasites

Both fleas and ticks have the potential to seriously affect your pet's health. Pets can scratch flea bites to the point where they become infected, and fleas are also tapeworm carriers. Ticks may carry Lyme disease and Spotted Mountain fever, both of which can be fatal to your pet. Matted areas provide these pests with habitat and places to breed.

Matted Fur Causes Your Pet Pain

Imagine what you'd feel like if your hair was twisted and matted close to the roots — it would feel like your hair is constantly being pulled. It would also make sleeping and resting uncomfortable and even potentially painful. Unlike humans, pets have fur all over their bodies, causing far more potential for these types of problems. It's also very easy for matted fur to become caught on things, which will cause your pet to feel pain when it tries to get free. 

Matted Fur Restricts Your Pet's Circulation  

Matting restricts the ability of your pet's circulatory system to function as it should because the mats essential act as a consistent upward pressure on the skin and the underlying blood vessels. At its worst, this sort of matting can lead to a condition known as hematomas, which occurs as the result of broken blood vessels filling nearby tissues with fluid and becoming infected. This is most likely to happen in and around the ears because that is where the skin is thinnest. 

If you suspect your pet is suffering from hematomas, visit your nearest animal hospital as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with more information on keeping your furry friend's fur mat-free and healthy. 

To learn more, contact a local veterinarian today.