Tip #3: Use a leave-in spritz when you brush.
Since Pomeranians need to be brushed a lot, it is best to not brush a dry coat since this can lead to static issues and even split ends. This can be averted by misting on a leave-in conditioner while you brush which has additional benefits that help your Pomeranian stay clean such as repelling dirt and debris, as well as maintaining a nice texture, adding shine, preventing tangles, and keeping a Pom smelling nice.
If your Pom’s biggest problem is the coat attracting dirt and debris, a good choice is
The Stuff. You'll realize why they chose this name after you use it, because you'll be saying 'this stuff is awesome!' and 'why didn't I try this stuff before?'. This is also an excellent detangler and has a very light fresh fragrance.
And, if odors are the biggest challenge, a great way to keep a Pom smelling heavenly is to use
Nootie Daily Spritz Conditioning Spray; there are several delightful scents including warm vanilla cookie, coconut lime verbena, cucumber melon, and sweet pea & vanilla.
With any leave-in that you use on your Pom, lightly spritz section by section, about 1 inch from the roots and then down in the direction of the hair growth. Do not overdo it, just a light mist is needed. If you go crazy with a leave-in spray, the coat will get weighed down.
Tip #4: Keep the body clean with grooming wipes.
Most owners who struggle with their Pom getting dirty really fast are missing out on the wonderful benefits of grooming wipes. This is a great method of cleaning off dirt, urine, bits of feces, and all of the things that make you wonder if your Pomeranian is made of Velcro.
An added plus is that wipes will also remove potential allergens and irritants from the coat, if these are an issue with your Pom.
You can spot-clean your Pom as needed or swipe down the entire body every 1 to 3 days. Be sure to wipe in the direction of fur growth. Note that if your Pom has issues with feces getting stuck to the tushie, it can help to have the groomer trim around the anus (commonly done for lots of dog breeds for hygiene reasons) and to wipe the bum right after a bowel movement when the feces is still wet.
Though Earthbath offers a fragrance-free option, if your Pom has trouble smelling clean in between baths,
Earthbath Mango Tango Grooming Wipes
is a terrific choice. These are extra-thick to remove all sorts of debris, smell heavenly, and help keep fur soft and conditioned via Hawaiian Awapuhi extract, a restorative juice from the flowering cone of the Awapuhi plant.
Cuteness break!
Bandit (AKA Boo-Boo), photo courtesy of Rose Jones (from Lebanon)
Tip #5: Routinely clean the face.
It’s common for a Pomeranian’s face to get dirty quickly. And, some issues like tear stains can make a Pom look dirty at all times even if every other method to keep a Pom clean is being done.
So, keeping the face clean involves two parts:
Part one:
Daily face cleaning.
Aside from the obvious results of having dirt, food particles, and other fine debris removed from the face, which plays a big role in maintaining cleanliness, regularly wiping a Pom’s face can also prevent dried eye discharge from migrating back into the eye where it can cause discomfort and it is one step in preventing tear stains.
You can use a general grooming wipe for this, but if your Pom tends to need lots of cleaning around the eyes, opt for a specialty wipe like
Earthbath Facial Wipes
that is formulated for this sensitive area.
Part two: Stain prevention and treatment.
Tear stains refer to discolored hairs under or around the eyes, possibly with a hardened crisp texture. However, staining can also occur down the cheeks and/or around the mouth. No matter how clean a Pom is, the dog can look unkempt due to this.
This sort of issue can be due to one of several reasons including excessive eye discharge (iron in the tears causes the staining) which itself can be due to a number of issues such as allergies (including reactions to kibble with chemical preservatives or artificial additives) or tear duct or eye lash abnormalities and excessive moisture on the face that leads to a red yeast infection.
Stains on around the mouth can be due to a Pom eating out of a heavily dyed plastic bowl or eating a kibble that contains artificial coloring.
Moderate to severe tear stain issues warrant a vet visit to rule out issues that can cause excessive tearing such as eye lash or tear duct issues.
Aside from this, it is usually a combined effort of several things that will all work together to help. Be sure that your Pom is not drinking unfiltered tap water (use a filtering device or offer spring water), use only stainless-steel or ceramic bowls, clean the face at least once a day and preferably after each meal (see previous Part one), reassess kibble to be sure that it is all-natural, and use a remover like
SPA by TropiClean Tear Stain Remover
without giving up too early (it can take up to 2 months for the stains to gradually disappear).
Cuteness break!
Bella, at 14 weeks old, photo courtesy of Fran Hulcher
Tip #6: Routinely clean the ears.
It is common for a Pomeranian’s ears to get dirty since erect ears tend to collect debris and excessive wax is not unusual. Keeping a Pom’s ears clean involves two parts: the ear flap and the ear canal:
Part one: Clean the ear flaps.
The ear flap on a Pomeranian is basically a ‘catch-all’ for tiny debris. If this is not kept clean, the debris may make its way into the canal. And, it is a two-way street, excess wax and matter can slowly creep from the canal and become stuck on the flap.
So, if your Pomeranian’s ears tend to get dirty, wipe the flap clean as often as every day and at least once a week. Since excess moisture can lead to ear infections, you’ll want to use a soft thin washcloth that is just barely damp or a specialty wipe that is designed for the ears like
Pet Aroma Care Ear Wipes.
Part two: Clean the ear canals.
Cleaning the ear canals is a bit of a balancing act. Removing wax too often can lead to issues, but not removing excess wax can lead to ear infections especially for Poms that are prone to this very common canine issue.
For Poms not prone to ear infections but with ears that tend to get stinky, a cleaning once per month usually works best.
And, for Poms that are indeed prone to infections, the veterinarian may recommend cleanings as often as every week.
For this, a small amount of cleanser like
Virbac Advanced Ear Cleanser
is placed into the canal, the base of the ear is massaged for several minutes to loosen any impacted wax, and then a cotton ball or piece of sterile gauze is used to swipe out any matter that worked its way out.
Tip #7: Keep the paws clean.
Considering Pomeranians are generally very active dogs, trotting around on a variety of outdoor surfaces, it is not surprising that the paws can get dirty soon after a bath. And, it goes beyond just keeping paws clean of dirt since contact allergens and irritants can cause itchiness that lends to paw chewing and licking.
One method to help the paws repel dirt and irritants is to use a paw wax. And, this has additional benefits as well including offering a layer of protection from walking surfaces (hot and cold), giving a dog better traction, helping to prevent snow from melting and refreezing in between toes, and preventing dry paw skin.
For this, one of the best products to use is
Musher's Secret Paw Protection Wax
which does all of the above and absorbs into the paws rather fast (in about 10 seconds). Massage this into the paw pads and in between the toes every 2 weeks and you may find that it works best to do this while your Pom is in bed, right before bedtime.
Regardless of whether or not you apply paw protection, do be sure to rinse the paws off as needed to remove any debris such as dirt, sand, grit, road salt, lawn care products, etc. that can either remain as irritants on the paws or be tracked into the house.
Cuteness break!
Lola, at 8 weeks old, photo courtesy of Michael Straus
Tip #8: For females in heat, help keep things sanitary.
Though most toy breed dogs like the Pomeranian have a light flow during heat, this certainly does accumulate over the course of those one to two weeks. Fluids will soak into porous items like bedding, blankets and the like, and will dry on to the belly and coat.
Many owners opt to use doggie diapers their female during the heat cycle and this can work well to keep things contained. Even so, every day the bum, genitals, and underbelly should be cleaned with a partial bath using warm water and your Pom’s regular shampoo.
If you opt to forgo the doggie diaper, pee pads, a towel, or a small blanket can be placed down where a Poms rests and sleeps to help absorb discharge.
Tip #9: Routinely clean the teeth.
For all that you do to keep your Pomeranian clean, the one that most greatly affects your Pom’s well-being and quality of life is how well and how often the teeth are cleaned.
This is one of those things that may not seem to be a problem now, but if ignored can make owners exceedingly regretful that it wasn’t done. Toy breeds like the Pomeranian are prone to dental issues. And, time is not on your side; every moment of every day, the body produces plaque. This sticks to the teeth and eats away at enamel.
Teeth that are not cleaned eventually will rot away, leading to infections, gum disease, and tooth loss.
If your Pom has had unclean teeth for some time, it is best to begin with a vet visit to have the teeth examined. A professional cleaning may be needed to remove tartar that has had years to grow.
At home, there are several things you can do. This includes brushing the teeth ideally once per day using an effective canine paste and 3-sided brush. The Nylabone Advanced Triple Action Dental Kit
is a nice set that contains both of these, plus a finger-brush. Note that for Poms 10 pounds and under, the 'puppy' size often works best. There are also sprays like
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dental Spray
that can work pretty well with regular use (though not as good as a thorough brushing); however, this can be an option for dogs that do not tolerate having their teeth scrubbed.
Also, offering a dental chew like
GREENIES Teenie Dental Dog Treats
once per day can be part of a good dental hygiene plan. Note that these are intended to be very hard treats (they have to be to help remove plaque), so a dog needs to be supervised when given this.
Cuteness break!
Minx’ee (left) at 2 years old and Jax (right) at 3 years old, photo courtesy of Kelly Nusbaum
To Summarize
These 9 tasks can help keep your Pomeranian clean:
1. Give baths every 3 weeks using a quality shampoo to remove accumulated body oils.
2. Brush the coat every 1 to 3 days to remove dead hairs.
3. Use a leave-in spray to help the coat repel debris and offer a nice scent.
4. Use grooming wipes to spot clean and touch-up the body as needed.
5. Use facial wipes to keep the face clean of food, excess moisture, and debris. Address any tear stain issues, if present.
6. Clean both the ear flaps and ear canals on a regular basis.
7. Keep the paws clean of dirt, allergens, and irritants by using a paw wax and rinsing the paws when your Pom comes back inside.
8. For unspayed females, use a doggie diaper or pee pads to collect discharge during the heat cycle.
9. Keep your Pom’s teeth clean by brushing or using a spray and offer a daily dental treat.