What are mat rakes used for on animals?

Mat rakes are designed for long haired animals, mainly cats(i.e. Himalayans) and dogs (cocker spaniels, huskies), to remove the matted areas due to undercoat shedding or poor grooming practices. You move the mat rake with the direction of the fur, not against the direction of the fur (think how bad it hurts to brush a cowlick as a result of bed-head in the morning). Once you eliminate the mat, you can resume brushing with the proper grooming equipement. Remember, if you try to just brush the mat out, you will pull your dog's hair out and hurt it.