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Pomeranians are adorable small dogs that have vibrant personalities! They also have beautiful hair! And there was a popular Internet Pomeranian who was clipped. He made pet parents want to shave or clip their Pomeranians to look like Boo! But is shaving or clipping a Pomeranian really necessary or recommended?
This is the question we’ll deal with in this article!
Is It Bad to Shave a Pomeranian?
Pomeranians have a double coat that helps the dogs stay warm in winter and cooler in the summer. If your Pom’s hair is shaved, he immediately loses his body temperature regulator. In addition, his shorter hair may leave him prone to sunburn, skin cancer, a condition called PCA (post clipper alopecia), and more.
When a Pom’s coat is shaved may start growing back immediately. However, shaving can damage the dog’s hair follicles, leading to the fur growing back slowly. In addition, the hair follicles may be so damaged the fur never grows back. In this case, the dog could have bald spots (PCA) where the fur doesn’t grow back.
Does Pomeranian Hair Grow Back?
In many cases, the Pomeranian’s fur does grow back. However, it’s possible the fur never grows back or takes a long time to regrow. It may take as long as a year for the hair to grow back! However, the guard hairs in the dog’s coat usually grow back much slower.
What’s more, the older your Pom is, the greater chance that he won’t have fur growth at all. It may be that your used-to-be fur baby only has a short bit of hair on his head and legs. He may also have small places where his undercoat grows back. However, he could be bald in many places.
Post-clipping alopecia may not only result from damaging the hair follicles but it can also be caused by hypothyroidism and other metabolism problems.
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Ask a Vet Live NowShaving Pomeranian Myths
There are several myths about shaving a Pom’s hair, including the following.
- Shaving a Pom’s coat stops shedding: this is false
- Shaving your Pom helps him feel cooler in the summer: this is another false myth
- Your Pom’s fur will grow back: this is also false
- Clipping a Pom’s air can make your allergies better: this is another false myth
The Dangers of Clipping or Shaving Your Pomeranian’s Hair
We’ve already covered some of the reasons why shaving or clipping a Pom’s hair can be bad. But let’s take a deeper look at these issues.
1. The Fur May Never Grow Back
Shaving the dog’s fur may damage the hair follicles, which can hinder the regrowth. The dog’s fur may grow back slower or not at all.
2. The Coat May Take a Year to Regrow
Once the Pom’s hair has been clipped or shaved, it can take a year or more for the hair to regrow. Because these dogs don’t shed very much, the regrowing process is much slower for them.
3. Sunburn
Without his fur, a Pomeranian can be prone to sunburn when he’s outside in intense sunlight. The reason is that the dog’s outer coat protects the Pom’s skin from sunburn. It also protects him from bug bites.
4. Skin Cancer
Along with the increased risk of sunburn, a Pom with short hair could also develop skin cancer. The cancer can develop because the dog’s outer fur has been shaved off, exposing his skin.
5. Heatstroke
A Pom’s coat works to keep him warm in winter and cooler in summer. When his fur is too short, the dog isn’t able to regulate his body temperature. If he gets too hot, the dog may be prone to heatstroke and other heat-related conditions.
In that case, the dog may pant more and not be up for walks outside. Instead of being fun, his walks will become torturous.
6. The Fur May Be Permanently Damaged
In addition, the Pom’s fur can be permanently damaged. The fur may either take a long time to grow back, not grow back at all (leading to baldness). It may also grow back in patchy. These are not healthy for the dog, and he certainly won’t look well-groomed or cared for.
In addition, because Pomeranians have double coats, the outer coat usually grows faster than the undercoat. When a Pom’s been shaved, his outer coat grows back faster and can become tangled with the slower growing undercoat.
The result is a dog that’s full of tangles and mats. This doesn’t feel good, as the matted, tangled hair can pull his skin and cause pain.
How to Keep Your Pomeranian’s Hair Healthy
There are some things you can do to help keep your Pom’s hair healthy, even if it’s been shaved. If your dog has been shaved or clipped, these methods may not help regrow your dog’s hair. However, they can help improve your dog’s health.
Ensure Your Dog’s on a Healthy Diet
A healthy, balanced diet helps coat regrowth and/or works to maintain a healthy coat of fur. Make sure your fur baby gets plenty of proteins in his diet, along with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Add a Multivitamin to His Diet
Before you make changes to your dog’s diet, it’s best to talk with the vet. They may say it’s OK for your dog to take vitamins. If so, make sure your dog has plenty of these vitamins:
- A
- E
- C
- B complex (B1, B2, B2, B12)
Your dog may also benefit from zinc and other minerals.
Consult a Professional
If your dog must have a haircut, then be sure to only consult with a professional dog groomer. They should have plenty of experience working with Poms and know how to safely trim their hair.
In addition, if your fur baby develops any skin conditions, then you’ll need to make an appointment with the vet.
Summing It Up
So, there you have it! Shaving or clipping your Pomeranian is not recommended. It can damage his fur and cause other health issues.
If your fur baby needs a trim, you may want to ask the vet for their recommendations. They may be able to recommend a groomer who has extensive experience with trimming Pom’s hair and understand that shaving is not an option!
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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