Pomeranian is the smallest breed of dog belonging to the Spitz family. One of its main attributes is its coat, which is usually very striking. This is characterized by being very voluminous and having a great shine. Another characteristic of this breed is that they all change their coat throughout the year; therefore, if you have a specimen of this breed at home, you need to know everything related to shedding hair in Pomeranian dogs to cope with it when the time comes.
Shedding hair in Pomeranians
Many people, when they acquire a dog of this breed, expect a voluminous and long coat, but they do not know that to reach this, it is necessary to go through several phases in which it can even change color and texture. In addition, the maturation of the coat can vary according to different factors, such as genetics.
Phases of the molting process
Although all dogs shed their hair, in the case of the Pomeranian breed it is much more noticeable. It is a breed characterized by a dense and long coat. This shedding process goes through different phases:
- Phase 1: This phase corresponds to the first shedding of the Pomeranian’s hair. Usually, first time owners do not expect it and the first thing they think about is a disease. Keep calm and do not panic: it is a natural process that dogs of this breed go through. You should worry if it does not happen, because if it does not shed or does it very little, it is likely that the dog is suffering from a skin problem or predisposes him to suffer from it in the future. In this first phase, the dog ends up completely hairless, with some areas remaining lighter than others. It may happen that the color of the coat changes. Usually, it changes from a dark color to a lighter one. One of the ways to know what coat it will have, is to investigate the genealogy of the puppy.
- Phase 2: It is also called the “molt of the year”, since it usually originates in a range of time between 12 and 15 months. Like the previous one, it is also totally normal and is part of the dog’s physiological process. However, the hair loss is not as exaggerated as in phase 1. In this phase, the coat will not change texture or color. Likewise, it is important to maintain its health in optimal condition.
- Subsequent phases: Once the previous phase has been overcome, shedding in Pomeranians is regulated between 1 and 2 times a year. It should be noted that, at high temperatures, these can occur more than 2 times a year. The full maturity of a Pomeranian’s coat is reached between 3 and 4 years of age.
At what age does molting begin in Pomeranians?
Pomeranian molting begins at 4 to 8 months of age. Usually, in this range of time they usually lose a large amount of hair. This is important for you to know, as many people are frightened to see their pet with almost all the hair fallen out.
The seasons of the year are also related to the shedding of the coat. In spring, you start to see a considerable amount of hair on the floor of your home: this means that the shedding process has started and that your puppy is getting ready to better enjoy the warm days. By the cold seasons, the fur will have grown back, so they will be naturally protected with a long coat, which allows them to insulate themselves from the cold temperatures.
How to promote the molting of a Pomeranian?
In case you want to favor or speed up the whole Pomeranian shedding process, it is essential to maintain a good hygiene at home. In addition, it is important to brush every day; this helps to remove all the dirt present in the coat and dead hairs are eliminated.
On the other hand, it is advisable to brush your dog’s coat from an early age, so that it becomes part of his routine and he gets used to it. In addition, this is extremely important to maintain a healthy coat throughout its life.
In the brushing process you can use a metal comb or rake, however, you must know how to use them so as not to hurt the dog when you are removing the knots that form in the coat. An important thing to keep in mind is that the combing should be done with a movement in favor of the hair to avoid breaking it. Remember that in Tiendanimal you will find a complete section related to the care of your dog’s coat.
During the molting process of Pomeranian dogs, they need as much attention as possible to keep their general health in good condition. Exposing them to very low temperatures is not recommended, as it will have negative effects on them. Therefore, it is important to maintain a stable temperature inside the home and also to keep them warm with special clothing.
