Bailee - After pic:
It may be hard to believe this is the same Pomeranian. The puppies uglies stage is complete and look how gorgeous this Pom looks now. All of the odd thinned-out areas are gone and her adult coat filled in very nicely. Notice that her once cream base coat now appears orange. And, interestingly, though sable often fades, this Pom retained much of her sabling (dark hairs seen on her outer layer) and this makes for a very beautiful coat. Photos of Bailee, courtesy of Britanee Gugel.
Care Tips During the Puppy Ugly Stage
The best ways to care for a Pomeranian during the puppy uglies is to:
- Bathe your Pom every 3 weeks
- Use a soothing and nourishing shampoo and conditioner
- Brush often with the right type of brushes
- Use a leave-in spray
- Have your Pom rest and sleep on a padded surface
- Treat any skin irritations with a restorative cream
- Help keep your Pom warm
Let's dive into the details:
1) Bathe your Pom every 3 weeks.
Even if your puppy seems clean and there doesn't appear to be too much fur to wash due to the puppy uglies, regular baths are important. You will be washing off accumulated body oils which can otherwise clog skin pores and hair follicles. In addition, you'll want your puppy to become accustomed to being bathed, so these sessions will set the foundation for countless bathes in the future.
Note that 3 weeks is the customary time frame since baths given too often can strip off body oils too frequently and baths given too infrequently usually leads to smells and odors and can even lead to skin yeast infections.
2) Use superior bathing products.
Since the coat will thinning and skin will be much more vulnerable,
it is more important now than ever to use a top-quality shampoo and conditioner
to keep both skin and fur moisturized and healthy. For the shampoo, steer clear of cheap formulas that base their ingredients off of human shampoo; it'll have the wrong pH and will contain soap agents that will be very irritating to the skin. We recommend
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo
which has a correct pH of 7, plant-based cleansers, and nourishing ingredients for both skin and fur.
Always follow that with a wash-out conditioner. When a dog is bathed, the hair follicles open and you need a conditioner to smooth them back down. If not, what little fur remains during the puppy uglies can become very dry which will make a Pom even more uncomfortable. We recommend the
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner
which complements their shampoo. Gently massage this in and let it soak in for at least 5 minutes.
Note that when you dry your Pom, you should never rub the coat; instead, gently dab and pat.
3) Brush your Pom often.
Some owners hesitate to brush the coat for fear of making even more fur fall out, but those puppy hairs must shed off regardless. So, one way to help speed up the process is to brush a Pom often to remove loose hairs.
In addition, and importantly, when you brush your Pom, this will increase blood flow to the hair follicles which is a fantastic method to help fur grow back in and speed up the puppy uglies.
The type of brush you should use on a Pomeranian with the puppy uglies depends on how much fur remains on the body.
And please note
these will be different from the
types of brushes and grooming tools
that are used on adult Poms that have thick double-coats, increased risk of mats, and heavy seasonal sheds.
For areas with very little fur (where you will basically be 'brushing' on skin or very thinned fur), you will want to use a soft bristle brush like the
Bamboo Groom Palm-Held Boar Bristle Brush. Note that you should avoid hard, coarse, and plastic bristles. Brush this over the body, in the direction of fur growth. For areas with longer or denser fur that have not yet succumbed to the puppy uglies or where some longer adult hairs have already grown in, you will want to use a bubble-tipped pin brush.
One like the
ConairPRO Small Pin Brush for Dogs
will separate hairs and the tips will stimulate hair follicles. Work in sections and always brush in the direction of fur growth.
4) Use a leave-in conditioner spray.
You may wonder why it's recommended to use a leave-in product if there is very little fur remaining during the puppy uglies, but there are indeed many benefits. First and foremost, whatever is used on the coat directly affects the skin. And during this changeover in fur, it's vital to keep the skin in good shape.
A good spray will help moisturize the skin, keep fur soft, repel irritants (pollen, dirt, small urine splashes, etc.), and help prevent static issues often seen when brushing. So, anytime you brush, use a spray. You can lightly mist the coat as you go along, mist the brush as you go, or (best for short or very thinned fur) spray some into your hands and massage it into your Pom.
The needs of a Pomeranian going through the puppy uglies is different than an adult with a double-coat, so during this time we recommend using
BioSilk Therapy Spray.
5) Make sure your Pom has padding underneath them. This is advice for
Pomeranians at all ages
but plays an especially important role at this time during which fur is thinned. Pressure points (like the elbows) can become sore and raw when lying down on hard surfaces.
It's best to encourage a Pom to rest on their
supportive doggie bed, but at the very least slip a towel or baby blanket underneath them.
6) Treat any irritated skin issues, as needed.
If fur loss during the puppy uglies stage has caused skin to be exposed, it's not uncommon for that to lead to dry skin, sore spots, hot spots, or otherwise irritated areas. These sorts of issues should be addressed as soon as they are noticed since they can worse rather quickly.
It can help to massage in a restorative or healing cream at least once a day. Ingredients to look for include shea butter and aloe. For this, we really like
ResQ Organics Pet Skin Treatment
which has an awesome combination of aloe vera, Manuka honey, coconut oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil, shea butter, blue/green algae minerals, and a mix of vitamins.
7. Help keep your Pom warm.
Pomeranians are one of several Spitz breeds that descended from Arctic sled dogs. And one feature that they've retained throughout all of these years is their adult super-thick double-coats meant to keep them warm. However, young pups, and especially those going through the puppy uglies that do not yet have that sort of fur, can easily get chilled.
You can help your Pom stay warm by keeping their indoor playpen or other designated area distanced away from entrance doors, windows, or areas with drafts, try to maintain an indoor temperature no lower than 70 F (21 C), and slipping a warm shirt or sweater on them, as needed.
A soft and warm shirt can also help a puppy that's lost a lot of fur feel more secure. A top like the
Zack & Zoey Cotton Polo Shirt for Dogs
is good for indoor wear during most seasons; note that the size extra-small is usually ideal for most 3 to 4 lb. puppies.
Other Issues That Can Mimic the Puppy Uglies
Though not overly common, there are other conditions that can be mistaken for the puppy uglies. So, if your Pomeranian is not between the ages that the puppy uglies occurs (4 to 10 months old), has symptoms that more closely resemble other coat or skin disorders such as very itchy skin or discolored skin, or fur is not growing back in as expected (usually by the 10 month mark), it will be time for a vet visit.
One issue to use out is
Black Skin Disease
(BSD). The early signs include fur that has a wooly texture, huge clumps falling out, and discolored, darkened skin. Later signs include balding areas (sometimes the entire body) but generally not including the head.