Boo the Pomeranian captured the hearts of millions of netizens in 2010 after the dog’s owner posted a picture of the freshly clipped Pomeranian on Facebook. This triggered a clipped Pomeranian wave, with more and more Pom owners showing interest in getting their dogs groomed to look like the furry internet sensation.
Unfortunately, many took things too far, and a lot of Pomeranians are paying the price with permanently jacked-up coats. To put it simply and bluntly, shaving a Pomeranian is a bad idea as it entails risks of compromising the protective functionalities of the coat, not restoring the coat to its original appearance, or even not regrowing at all. It is even worse if you are planning on pulling a DIY.
In the sections below, we shall take a look at what could go wrong, how to fix the almost inevitable effects, and most importantly, how to avoid permanently damaging your Pomeranian’s coat.
Should Pomeranians Be Shaved?
Pomeranians should not be shaved, especially if it is for the sake of aesthetics. There are, of course, a few exceptions, in which case it would be ok to shave your Pom. This includes shaving to deal with excessive matting or shaving for access to the skin in surgical procedures.
On the other hand, shaving for aesthetics is nothing short of cruel to your Pomeranian. For some perspective on why, here are five reasons why a Pomeranian should not be clipped.
The Fur May Not Grow Back
Unfortunately, not all shortly-clipped Pomeranians enjoy the privilege of having their coats grow back fully. Whether or not your Pomeranian will grow its fur back is something you may also not be able to predict, which is why it is best to leave its coat unclipped.
The Coat Will Never Be The Same
For Pomeranians that actually have their shaved hair grow back, there is always the risk that it will not grow back with the original Pomeranian coat characteristics. One of the likely outcomes is that your Pomeranian will have wiry and fuzzy fur in place of the initial straight and soft strands.
Compromised Thermoregulation
Pomeranians need their thick double-layered coats to control their body temperature. During hot weather, the fur traps a layer of cold air, which keeps the pooch nice and cool. During cold seasons, the coat protects the Pomeranian by insulating their skin and preventing loss of body heat.
By shaving your Pomeranian, you compromise this balance and leave your dog at risk of developing heat stroke or hypothermia.
Exposure To Injuries
The Pomeranian’s coat also protects them from mechanical damage as well as from direct sunlight. Shaving too close to the skin figuratively and literally strips the Pomeranian of its protective coat.
Your Pomeranian will be more vulnerable to sunburns as well as injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to open wounds.
Increases Skin Sensitivity And Irritation
Another reason why you shouldn’t shave your Pomeranian is that it increases skin sensitivity. This increase could be due to a number of reasons, from increased risk of injuries, prolonged exposure to the sun, and irritation from ingrown hairs.
Will A Shaved Pomeranian’s Hair Grow Back?
Your shaved Pomeranian’s hair may or may not grow back. And if it does grow back, it may not grow back to the same length, texture, and straightness as it originally was.
Typically, the process of fur regrowth in a Pomeranian takes about 6 months to 1 year or longer.
Unfortunately, there is very little that can be done to control the outcome. However, there are a few things you can do to help regrow your Pomeranian’s hair after cutting. Here are a few of these strategies.
Get Your Pomeranian On A Healthy Diet
A healthy and balanced diet will help a lot in the journey of coat regrowth for a clipped Pomeranian. Proteins in your Pom’s diet form the fur strands, while healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals promote the growth of those strands from the follicles.
Add Multivitamin Supplements To The Mix
In addition to dietary changes, you could give your Pomeranian multivitamin supplements to help them grow back their coat.
Vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, and members of the vitamin B complex like B1, B2, B6, and B12 are some of the most important when it comes to ensuring coat health.
Supplements with minerals like zinc could also come in handy.
Try Hair Growth Essential Oils
Another strategy you could try out to help regrow your Pomeranian’s coat is using essential oils directly on the coat. Some effective ones when it comes to promoting fur growth include flaxseed, grapeseed, evening primrose, and horsetail extracts.
Consult A Professional
You may also need to get a professional involved, in which case a professional dog groomer and veterinarian will have the most to offer. Veterinarians, in particular, will help you identify any underlying skin and general conditions that may be delaying the regrowth of your Pomeranian’s coat.
How Often Do Pomeranians Need To Be Professionally Groomed?
You should plan to get your Pomeranian groomed every three weeks or so. This interval is perfect for a healthy wash schedule that will keep your Pomeranian clean without compromising the health and quality of their coat.
Most professional groomers also recommend a 3-week interval for basic trimming as well as refreshing special cuts like the teddy bear cut.
How much it costs you will depend on where you are getting your Pomeranian groomed. The average cost of professional grooming for a Pomeranian in most parts of the country is about $40 per session.
You may have to pay more for special cuts with teddy bear grooming for Pomeranians costing an extra $30 to $50.
How Do You Cut A Pomeranian Hair With Scissors?
If you want to cut your Pomeranian’s hair with scissors, you need to understand their fur type, body contours, and your tools.
Unfortunately, most clipping accidents, like cutting too much off or injuring your Pomeranian occur as a result of DIY dog grooming without doing enough research. To avoid jacking up your Pomeranian’s beautiful coat, here are a few tips that could come in handy if you want to cut your Pomeranian’s fur at home.
Use The Correct Tools
You need a high-quality pair of scissors specially designed to cut your Pomeranian’s coat without causing damage to the fur.
We recommend Pet Magasin Round Tip Dog Grooming Scissors for a clean cut. The best part is that the scissors come in a pair with one specifically designed for use on more delicate and contoured parts of the Pomeranians, like the face and paws.
Brush And Detangle Before Cutting
Before you start chopping about, make sure to brush and detangle the Pomeranian’s fur. They have long fur that gets tangled very easily and can make cutting their fur neatly very difficult.
Simply take a few moments to comb through the fur with the same brush you use to deshed and detangle the Pomeranian on a regular basis.
Avoid Cutting Too Close To The Skin
The biggest mistake you could ever make when cutting your own Pomeranian’s fur is cutting off too much fur. Unfortunately, this is almost inevitable, especially if you have no experience grooming your dog.
The consequences of cutting off too much fur on a Pomeranian range from compromised thermoregulation and aesthetics to permanent damage to the skin and fur.
Leave It To The Pros
After all that is said and done, the best thing you can do for your Pomeranian is to let a professional take care of the grooming process. Going the DIY route to save some money may, in turn, cost you more than you ever thought.
