Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog

              

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A Pomeranian's Fur

How Many Coats Does the Pomeranian Have?

Pom's have two coats, however many Pomeranian owners do not realize this.  To an owner, it may seem as if there is only one coat of fur.  A long, fluffy coat.  So, where is this other coat?  A Pomeranian will have a short undercoat of thick hair and a long top coat of soft, long fluffy hair.

The two are not so distinct and separate that you will literally see two different coats.  They blend together.  Just as if a person had long hair but with layers cut into it.  When brushing it, they would not see two separate types of hair to brush.  So, a Pomeranian's two coats are indeed going to blend into each other.  However, There is much to know about a Pomeranian's coat of fur.
Fur Loss as a Pomeranian Puppy

There are many questions about a Pomeranian's fur.  Many questions revolve around a Pomeranian losing its fur. We will cover fur issues including the explanation of the Puppy Uglies.  After all, the Pomeranian is famous for its fur, this toy dog is known as a "ball of fluff".  What is a normal hair loss for a Pomeranian, what is a fur issue that proper grooming will fix and what is a sign of a medical issue that needs attention ASAP?

To begin, one must understand what is known as the Puppy Uglies.  Even though you may have seen many pictures of Pomeranians, you must understand that most pictures of a Pomeranian are not taken when he or she is going through this Puppy Uglies stage.  They are taken before and after, when the Pomeranian has its wonderful, fluffy coat of fur.

When does a Pomeranian first lose its fur? It usually happens when the puppy is five or six months old. This is not set in stone.  Fur loss from Puppy Uglies may happen early, at three months or late at seven months.

At this time, if you see fur loss in your Pomeranian, it is normal. The fur loss does not always happen evenly.  You may see a loss of hair just around the eyes of a Pomeranian.  You may see patches all over the dog's back.  There is no rhyme or reason for this loss of fur, it is a natural part of the Pomeranian growing up.

You will want to use gentle shampoos and even dog hair conditioners during this time.  Your Pomeranian's skin will be sensitive and not as protected because of the hair loss.
See Grooming

When does your Pomeranian get its adult coat of fur?  When your Pomeranian reaches the approximate age of eight to ten months, it will have grown a beautiful new coat.  Keep in mind this may happen a bit early or a bit late.  Each Pomeranian is different. When your dog is about one year old, he or she will have their adult coat of fur.

Note: Fur is what the Pom is known for...their most outstanding feature!  For this reason, an owner should be aware of every fur issue that affects this dog breed.  Find out more

Other Reasons for Pomeranian Fur Loss

We talked about the Puppy Uglies and that fur loss is normal when a Pomeranian dog is a five or six month old puppy, give or take several months.  However there may be times beside this when your Pomeranian's fur is falling out.  Males will not have major shedding issues. For both male and female Pomeranians, it is normal to have a big loss of fur after having anesthetics from surgery.  With female Poms there is a big difference.    It will take up to six months for her coat to grow back.  When she is in heat, she will lose fur.  When your Pomeranian is stressed she will lose fur. A female Pomeranian will often lose her coat after having puppies.
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What Else Causes Fur Loss in a Pomeranian


There are many reasons why your dog may be losing hair, however it is important to be able to stay calm and look at the situation so that you can determine if it is a serious issues or just a normal part of being a Pomeranian.  There is a vast array of medical problems that can cause a Pomeranian's fur to fall out.

Among them are: Red Mange (when your Pom gets an allergic reaction to microscopic mites that live on all dogs), allergies (from dog food, dog shampoo and everything in between), Alopecia (a skin disease)  thyroid problems (that upset the dog's natural balance) and many more.  There are other diseases as well that will cause not only the loss of fur on your dog but cause the dog's skin to appear thin, feel brittle and look discolored or black. Any strange or unusual fur loss (not related to shedding) must be brought to the vet's attention.

When Fur Does Not Grow Back

When a Pom has health issues which causes the fur to fall out or to thin; there is always a chance that the fur will not grow back as expected.

This is called post loss alopecia.

Studies are currently being done to understand this further.  However, as of now, it is thought that there are certain changes that take place in the dog's skin because of the temperature changes that occur when the fur is gone or very thin.  When this happens, it can take up to 24 months for the Pomeranian's fur to grow back.  There has been some  promising results in using Melatonin to help stimulate the hair follicles.  You may wish to discuss the possibility of this with your dog's veterinarian.

12 Pomeranian Fur Issues

To read about the 12 Pomeranian Fur Issues in detail (And to see photos of every colored Pom in the world - Have you seen a true Pink Pom?)  Click Here To Learn How