This Poodle Was In So Much Pain From Severely Matted Fur He Wouldn’t Let Rescuers Touch Him—See His Amazing Transformation!

Poor Cole—a small white Poodle—came to Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, from another shelter in rough shape. Cole wouldn’t let anyone touch him without snapping and growling at them, and he was whimpering in pain. But Cole wasn’t injured, his pain was coming from his severely matted fur. Not certain of his past, all shelter staff knew was that someone had seriously failed this little dog. His fur hadn’t been cared for in a long time, and he needed to get to a groomer as soon as possible. 

Surprisingly, Cole did well getting groomed and bathed—he even let the groomer bundle him up in a towel afterward and give him some love! All that matted fur had been tugging and pulling at his skin, creating sore spots that would sear with pain every time his fur moved or was touched. Once he was unburdened and all the mats were shaved away, Cole showed everyone he was just a sweet, scared boy. 

Cole appears to have already been adopted, all thanks to his rescuers who didn’t give up on him when he showed “aggression.” A dog in pain is likely to growl, nip, or bite to protect themselves or out of fear. Luckily, the Valley Animal Center staff saw through his reactive exterior and found the root of the problem. 

@valleyanimalcenter His cries of pain broke our heart. 🥺❤️ Meet Cole (29070), a 3-year-old poodle we rescued from another shelter. His fur was matted and overgrown, a sign of months of neglect. We may never know his full past, but it’s clear he didn’t get the care he deserved. #shelterdogs #dogrescue #animalrescue #animalshelter #adoptdontshop #adoptme #trending #dogsoftiktok #dogtok #trend #blowthisup #fyppppppppppppp #fypage #fy #fypシ゚viral #thedodo #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #fypシ゚viral🖤tiktok☆♡ #poodle #dogtok ♬ je te laisserai des mots – favsoundds

Is Matted Fur Painful? 

When you choose a “hair dog” like a Poodle, you must be prepared for the responsibility of having them groomed regularly. Without at-home maintenance like brushing and professional grooming services, hair dogs’ fur mats quickly. Mats aren’t just an aesthetic issue, they can also cause serious skin problems, hair loss, and pain. Matted fur is also unhygienic, and can harbor bacteria, trap moisture and mold, collect bugs, etc. Under matted fur, dogs can experience skin infections, painful hot spots, skin tears, and even tissue necrosis. Matting is much more serious than just looking a little messy. 

How Often Should Poodles Be Groomed? 

Poodles should be groomed every 4–8 weeks but should be brushed daily or every other day to prevent matting and protect their coats from damage. If you bring an overgrown, matted Poodle to the groomer they might not be able to preserve coat length. Mats often need to be shaved out of the fur, and your Poodle can go from a long luxurious coat to a short puppy cut in one session if you don’t do at-home care between professional grooms. 

Many dog breeds don’t require professional grooming. One of the reasons I chose Chihuahua mixes is because they have short, smooth coats that don’t require brushing or trimming and can easily be bathed at home. When you choose a dog breed, factor in the time commitment and financial responsibility of grooming and select a breed with a coat you can easily manage.