Many stray and neglected dogs don’t get groomed, so their fur becomes tangled and matted, causing them distress. But a good haircut can make a big difference.
Recently, a dog with severely matted fur got a makeover that completely changed his life.
On July 16, the South Plains SPCA posted about the “worst case of dog neglect we have ever encountered.” A 6-year-old dog was covered in very matted, thick fur and was in terrible shape.
“The dog had rotten skin spots, fur matted so badly it had grown into the skin, and nails that were 2 inches long,” the SPCA reported.
Kim Moyers, president of the South Plains SPCA, told KLBK-TV, “His fur was matted for about five years. It’s awful that he was probably seen by people but overlooked. I don’t understand how he wasn’t noticed roaming around in such bad condition. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was shocking.”
The South Plains SPCA took in the dog and named him Matt because of his matted fur. Despite his terrible condition, they decided to help him and give him a fresh start.
Matt yelped with pain every time they tried to cut his fur, so they had to sedate him. They had to cut through a collar and leash that were stuck in his fur and shaved off three pounds of matted hair, which had built up over five years.
“There were thousands of stickers, sticks, grass, and even beetles in his fur. He had severe bruises from the tight fur,” the SPCA wrote. Matt was anemic and needed medication, but he tested negative for heartworms and tick diseases.
Matt still has a long recovery ahead and will need dental work once it’s safe. But after removing all that matted fur, Matt’s life has already changed a lot, and he looks like a completely new dog.
