Dry Skin Issues
One of the most common, yet frustrating issues is Pomeranian dry skin. The symptoms can be one or a combination of the following:
- Obvious signs of peeling and flaking
- Flakes are falling off onto the coat (dandruff)
- Area(s) of white or pink skin that is rough to the touch
- Redness
- Swelling
- The dog has a tendency to chew at or nibble at the site
- This can be all over the body or it can be only on certain areas
Note:
If you noticed a very bad smell this will point to a different issue, that you can read about in the Pomeranian odor section.
Reasons that Dry Skin Develops & Fixes
1) Blocked air flow.
Since this breed has a very thick double coat, consisting of both a dense inner layer and an outer layer of longer guard hairs, the coat can form a sort of barrier which can prevent fresh air from reaching below to the skin. If you add to that some shedded hairs that have fallen back into the coat, you have a recipe for dry skin. Hairs are mixing with body oils and are trapped on the skin and the coat is so thick that air is not reaching the area to offer any help.
Be sure to routinely brush the coat not just for appearances, but to purposely pull out shedding fur. Using a quality slicker brush sized for toy breeds will work well for the Pom. Use a sweeping motion, of down, through and out. It is important to feel that you are reaching the skin without using so much force as to cause discomfort. As you sweep out, look at the brush and see if it has caught dead hairs. If not, you will need to practice brushing deeper.
Routine grooming in this way should be done every 3 days or so. If an owner allows too many days to pass in-between sessions, this is what causes the block of air flow which is needed for health skin…And it will lead to matting and additional problems.
2) The wrong products. Anything that goes onto your Pom's coat also goes onto his skin and cheaper products including shampoo, conditioner and leave-in sprays that have the wrong PH balance can ruin a coat and dry out the skin.
3) Bathing techniques.
Another element that also contributes to Pomeranian skin problems is improper bathing techniques. Even with the right shampoos and conditioners, if the product is not properly rinsed out, tiny particles of it will cake up on the skin. This then clogs skin pores and blocks healthy skin circulation. When you think you've rinsed enough, go over the coat one more time. Be sure to use luke warm water and using a nozzle is always best. In addition, too many baths can dry the skin out. Baths should be given once every 3 weeks.
4) Static and dry air.
When the air is dry, this can dry out a Pom's skin and his fur. Arid air is much more common in the winter than during warmer months, however depending on where you live this can be a year-round problem. It can always help to increase the humidity in your home and the best way to protect the skin is to use a leave-in spritz that is distributed on the coat from roots to ends. The fur will then protect the delicate skin underneath.
5) Too much blow drying.
If you blow dry your Pomeranian after baths, this can cause issues ranging from dried out skin to a frizzy coat. Air drying is best after scrunching fur with absorbent towels to soak up most of the water. If you must blow-dry your Pom, so this on a low-heat setting and hold the dryer at least 4 or 5 inches from your dog.