How to Get Candy Out of a Dog's Fur

Standard cooking oil can soften sticky mats.

Toffee, chewing gum, caramel and other sticky matter can tangle and mat your dog's fur into itchy, painful clumps. Matted fur can irritate your dog's skin; however, painstakingly picking the clump apart can mean hours of frustration for you and your pet. Don't resort to shaving or clipping off the sticky patches, though. You probably already have everything you need to loosen the candy from the fur without hurting your dog or driving yourself insane.

Things You'll Need

• Canola, olive or corn oil or peanut butter
• Dog shampoo

Instructions

1. Pour a liberal amount of oil or oily peanut butter onto your fingers. Work the oil through the matted fur, saturating the sticky candy.

2. Break the candy into pieces with your fingers as you go. The oil should soften the pieces and make them slippery. Gently pull the small chunks of candy out of your dog's fur.

3. Shampoo your dog's coat with your normal grooming shampoo. Wash thoroughly to remove the oil and any remaining bits of candy.

Tips & Warnings

• If large sections of your dog's coat are sticky, divide the matted area into sections, carefully picking it apart with a separating comb. Pick at the outer layer of fur first, then proceed to the layer closer to the skin. Do not slide the comb under all the fur and attempt to pull it out. Once you have separated the mat, work the oil through each section individually.

• Do not apply chemical thinners or solvents to your dog’s fur. Nail polish remover, paint thinner, turpentine and other such substances are toxic and can burn your dog's skin or enter his bloodstream.

References

• UrbanHound: How Can I Remove Pine Sap From My Dog's Fur Without Harming His Skin or Cutting the Fur?
• Bichon Frise Information Station: De-Matting Techniques

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• ASPCA: Groom Your Dog