Mats

Sake has not been doing very well at taking care of her fur lately.  This has happened the last several springs, and I think, as she gets older the contortions to reach the various parts of her body are more difficult.  She has lost some weight, so I would think that might help a little, but if she has arthritis, not much.

I tried working on her side mats, as they are the easiest to get to, and she was just furious. If I touched her tummy mats, she went nuts!  Well, she was outside on the leash the other day, and as she was absorbed in scouting out grass, I was able to pick at some of the side mats. I started working lower another day, and she erupted! 

Well, then I got part of a big mat off of her stomach using the clips on the penknife, and it bothered her, but did not hurt.  The last couple of days, when she has been on the counter, she has let me work at little at a time at the other big mats on her stomach.  I always show her what I have taken off of her, and allow her to smell it, so she knows it is her.  She has gotten a little more tolerant, once again, of the clips.  Yesterday, I found a big mat on my dresser, on top of my bag. right where I could not avoid it.  I think that was intentional, as if she were letting me know she was working at it too.  If I can do a little every day or so, I believe we can get this problem licked.  I let it get too far, but her reaction to my earlier efforts was so violent.  I guess I just had to let it get bad enough.