Photos of Bailee are courtesy of Britanee Gugel
Adult Pomeranian Shedding FAQ
Once you and your Pom get through the sometimes dramatic phase of the puppy coat shedding off, you may want to breath a sigh of relief. But keep in mind that your now adult Pomeranian is still going to shed, albeit in a different way. Let's dive into some FAQ.
Yes, they are considered to be moderate shedders.
When does a Pomeranian shed?
All Pomeranians have light shedding year-round. Much like human hair, the coat is always in a process of renewal. Fur grows, rests (pauses) and falls out on a continual basis. Most Poms also 1 or 2 noticeable seasonal sheds (see next).
Does a Pomeranian have seasonal sheds or times of heavy shedding?
Yes, many do. This is also known as 'blowing the coat' since a significant amount of fur can shed off. These shedding cycles are triggered by changes in daylight hours and by changes in temperature.
For those that live in an area that experiences four seasons, there may be heavy shedding twice per year, once in autumn
and then again in the spring, or just one major shed in the spring or early summer.
For those that live in warmer climates where it stays relatively mild in the winter and closer to the equator where there is more winter sunlight hours, there is often just one major seasonal shed in the late spring/early summer.
How long does seasonal shedding last for?
How long a Pomeranian has a heavy, noticeable shed varies. In general, it will be most obvious for 1 to 2 months.
Can outside factors influence shedding?
A Pomeranian's diet can affect how much they shed. Specifically, those that lack diverse nutrients and/or adequate levels of omegas can have poor coat quality that lends to weak hairs and thus more shedding. When a
Pomeranian is eating quality food, this is almost always apparent in coat quality.
Stress can also have an affect on shedding. Acute yet severe stress such as moving to a new home, the loss of a family member, etc., can trigger significant shedding. Chronic stress such as
separation anxiety
and have an affect as well.
Which part of the coat sheds?
With Pomeranians, the
vast
majority of shedding comes from the undercoat (the very dense short inner layer of fur). The longer outer guard hairs are more like human hair with a light year-round growth and fall cycle, as touched on previously.
Because it's the inner layer that sheds, the majority of those dead hairs will be trapped in the coat until removed by you. So, going over the coat with a de-shedding tool plays a big role in staying on top of a Pomeranian's shedding.
How much shedding is normal?
Normal seasonal shedding can produce a lot of dead fur that is pulled out of the coat
and you'll often see shedded hairs around the house. What's visible on furniture, bedding, carpeting, etc., will somewhat depend on your Pom's coat color.
It can be surprising to see just how much fur can come from such a small dog (more ahead). But the better you are about staying proactive by brushing on a regular basis, the less overwhelming and disruptive shedding will be.
After a heavy shed, the coat may appear slightly thinner than before and you may feel a difference when you pet your Pom. However, adult Pomeranians do not lose so much fur during normal shedding that there are missing patches of fur or balding areas.
If your Pom is losing fur to this severity, this warrants a vet visit to have the issue diagnosed.
With this sort of severe fur loss, any number of canine health issues could be the cause, from allergies to mange to a thyroid problem. Balding can point to alopecia or even BSD. Does one gender shed more than the other?
Females shed more, but only if they are not spayed. Many female Pomeranians blow their coat after a heat cycle. And just about all females blow the coat with extreme fur loss after giving birth.
What does it mean if my Pomeranian doesn't seem to shed at all?
When dogs stay indoors a lot with artificial lighting, this can disrupt the natural shedding season. And if you are using effective grooming tools on a regular basis, you may not notice shedding since you're keeping up with things.