Dog has half a kilo of matted hair removed after ‘horrific’ RSPCA surrender

A Victorian dog looks unrecognisable, after its had more than 500g of matted fur removed in what a vet has described as a “horrific” case of pet negligence.

The black and grey shih tzu was handed into her local RSPCA inspectorate earlier this week, covered in 650 grams of horribly matted fur.

Dr Rebecca Belousoff said that although the dog was on its way to recovery and adoption, she had been carrying more than 10 percent of her weight in dirty, tangled fur.

Dr Belousoff said pet owners need to be reminded that grooming was a part of good ownership.

 “Grooming is not just cosmetic, it is an essential part of responsible pet ownership,” she said.

“Most dogs require some form of regular maintenance of their coat. If their coat is not regularly brushed or clipped, it will clump and can lead to serious health issues.

“When a dog’s fur becomes matted, it sticks to the skin and causes irritation, dandruff, dry skin and the matts constantly pull at the skin and can even rip the skin.”

Dr Belousoff also said grooming helped keep pets cool during the warmer months.

The dog’s case remains under investigation by RSPCA Victoria.