It’s that time of year again when hot summer temperatures have people taking to the pool or hitting the beach for some fun in the sun, but the heat can cause problems for our four-legged friends – especially poofy little Pommies with lots of fur!
High temps can put any pooch at risk for a heat-related illness, but Pomeranians are even more susceptible to suffering or dying from heat stroke than short-haired or larger breeds because of their thick coats. Pomeranians originated in Arctic climates and were bred to withstand cold weather. Even though they’re not hunting or pulling sleds any more, Pommies are still sporting that warm, insulating coat, which makes them particularly prone to heat stroke during hot summer months.
The best strategy against heat stroke is trying to prevent it by keeping your Pommy cool. First off, never leave your Pom in a parked car when the weather is hot or even a little warm. The inside of a car can increase by several degrees per minute – don’t risk it!
If walks are a regular part of your Pommy’s routine, they should be taken in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are coolest. Dogs pant to release heat, so if you notice your Pommy panting more than usual on your walk, slow down, find shade, stop and rest. You should also encourage them to drink extra water. Try taking your pooch to a park with shaded areas or a pond. Your Pom can also have fun cooling off in his or her own backyard in a small plastic wading pool.
When temps are high, give your four-legged friend extra drinking water. To encourage your Pommy to drink more, try chilling water in the refrigerator or adding ice cubes to their water bowl.
There are also other ways to keep your Pommy from overheating. Some dogs like to lay on ice packs and there are cooling mats you can purchase for your Pommy to lay on and chill out! There are cooling vests, too!
Taking your Pommy to the groomer for a shorter cut can also make them more comfortable during the sweltering summer months, but some owners prefer to keep their Pom’s fur long. For those who do get their Pom clipped or shaved, be aware that can put them at risk for sunburn.
Despite the best prevention, it’s still possible for your Pommy to have heat stress or heat stroke, so you should know the signs.
The symptoms of heat stress include profuse panting, salivation, an anxious expression, failing to respond to owner, warm and dry skin, rapid pulse, fever, fatigue or exhaustion, weakness and/or physical collapse.
Heat stroke symptoms can include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a warm nose and footpads, a dark red tongue, rapid pulse, fever, dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea, immobility and/or unconsciousness.
If you see your Pommy experiencing any of these symptoms, take action immediately. Move your Pom into the shade and gradually douse their body with cool – not cold – water. Do not submerge your Pom in water and do NOT use ice to cool them – just use a steady stream of cool (preferably from a faucet or hose) water to dampen their fur and extremities. You can also apply wet towels to their abdomen, head and neck, legs and groin area. After their fur is wet, place them in front of a fan to cool them. After they’ve calmed down a bit, allow them to drink small amounts of water.
Take your Pommy to the vet as soon as possible – even if you think they’re OK. Heat stroke can kill a dog and heat stres
s can take a serious toll on their health. Even if they seem to have recovered, their body temperature could increase again and heat stress or stroke always carries a risk of brain damage and other complications.
Don’t worry, you and your Pommy can enjoy plenty of summertime fun, just make sure to find some shade and stay cool!
Peace, Love & Pomeranians
Pom Mom Jaime Mowers
Jaime Mowers is the Pommy Mommy of Foxy and Bear-Bear.
18 comments
I find myself loving these articles! I love my Pomeranian, Chomper, and don’t know what I’d do without him. He is my best four-legged friend. I got his summer haircut and we try to hang out inside more often than not, even though he loves his walks.
This is a great and helpful article. I have owned two Pom’s now and I always love looking for articles that are helpful in caring for them. Thank you for posting this.
Very good read
As a groomer I will also advise a pom owner if they choose to shave their pet that there is a chance that the hair doesn’t always grow back. Or can grow back in spots and not others. this is not always the case but can happen.
Great article! Thanks for the posting.
Enjoyed your information. Adore my Pommy, Hopie.
Hi Jaime,
I was thinking about getting Penny a shorter cut for the summer to keep her cool, but I read on a few websites that getting a Pomeranian’s fur cut (especially shaved) can damage the undercoat, making it not grow back fully or come back with missing spots. Have you ever experienced this/seen it? I always carefully trim her belly, bottom, and feet with scissors, but I don’t want to do any damage to her lovely full coat, so I decided not to get her the puppy cut or lion cut like I had intended.
My ppm has extra thick fur and I get the teddybear cut pictured above and his fur has always grown back beautifully. And you can see the relief in his face
I get my pomeranian the Teddy bear cut. His always grows back beautifully and you can see the relief
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for reading! I’m not an expert or a groomer, but here are my thoughts: It seems from all the reading/research I have done that Pommy owners and groomers are split on whether to cut their fur super short or get them shaved…I have heard some people say shaving their Poms has resulted in their hair not fully growing back or coming back with missing spots, but for others this doesn’t seem to happen or be an issue. There’s also some people who say shaving them doesn’t really make them any cooler. My personal experience with my two Poms, Foxy and Bear-Bear, has been this: They’re five years old and we’ve shaved them every summer – they seem to love it:) As for how the hair comes in, they both always have a few certain areas/patches where the hair doesn’t grow back as fast, but by the time fall hits, their coats have grown back in full and are just as beautiful as ever! Hope that helps:) Let me know if you need any more help/advice! Thanks!
Pom Mom Jaime Mowers
Thanks, Nita! Glad to have a response/advice from a groomer:)
Pom Mom Jaime Mowers
Where did you get that pool floatie seen in the top picture? I’ve never taken Juicer swimming, but tha seems like something nice to start.
Hi Sarah!
I’m pretty sure I got the pool floatie at Target a few years back…just check some of your local stores, they might be having end-of-season sales! My Poms love the pool:)
Pom Mom Jaime Mowers
Re: The Pom cuts,,I think also people need to look at THEIR Pom ,,is your Pom a “fox” ” teddy bear” ” baby doll” stature,,alot of people want their dog to look like ” Boo the Pom” and well if you have a Pom that looks like a little fox,no teddybear cut is going to make your Pom look like boo,I’ve seen people get really upset,so people just need to research what’s best for your Pom.Ive only had my ” Fox” red coat “Ivy” trimmed to the undercoat,honestly I freaked,all her red long fur was gone,it took a year to grow back,my vet warned me not to do that to my Pom or my Huskey ( spitz breed) ,but others I’ve known shaved their Pom and in 6 mo,it was all back and fluffier,,so like humans,,it’s a 50/50 gamble,,lol,,but really if you love your fur baby you will love him no matter what the outcome is !!!
Great advice,not just for Poms but all animals as well,,my Poms are so spoiled,they are in air conditioning 24/7,,, they love ice cubes,as a treat,I give them frozen sliced green beans, sliced carrots, living in Northern Ca,in the summer it averages 100* almost everyday!no way do we walk on the blacktop or during the day!living in the country!I’m lucky that my neighbors road next to us is dirt!!much cooler on the paws!!!Remember NEVER LEAVE ANY ANIMAL IN A HOT CAR !!!!
DO NOT SHAVE YOUR POMS to keep them cooler. Any good groomer will NOT shave a pom, due to the damage to their coat and the risk of sunburn. Their double coat acts as insulation against the cold and the heat. If you shave your poms coat, you damage the outer coat and it may never grow back. Get a doggy pool or hose your pom down. All dogs can suffer heat stroke, so use common sense. if you are hot, your dog is doubly hot.
DO NOT SHAVE YOUR POMS to keep them cooler. Any good groomer will NOT shave a pom, due to the damage to their coat and the risk of sunburn. Their double coat acts as insulation against the cold and the heat. If you shave your poms coat, you damage the outer coat and it may never grow back. Get a doggy pool or hose your pom down. All dogs can suffer heat stroke, so use common sense. if you are hot, your dog is doubly hot.
Thank you