Have you noticed that your Pomeranian puppy is starting to smell? Then it might be time to wash your puppy. However, you might not know if your Pomeranian puppy is old enough for a bath.
So, when should you bathe your Pomeranian puppy? In general, you shouldn’t bathe Pomeranian puppies under 2 months old because they can’t regulate their temperature well and can catch a cold. After your Pomeranian puppy is more than 8 weeks old, you can bath them once a month.
So, how can you bathe a Pomeranian puppy, and how often? Keep on reading to find everything you need about bathing Pomeranian puppies?
How to Bathe a Pomeranian Puppy?
The good news is that Pomeranian puppies are easier to bathe than kittens. However, a slippery puppy can be almost as hard to keep in the bath like a cat. So, let me walk you through the process.
1. Pick a Location
Before you get to bathing your Pomeranian puppy, you should decide where you’re going to do it. Most owners prefer to wash their puppies in the bathroom/kitchen sink.
Since Pomeranians are so tiny, it’s not worth your efforts to fill a whole bath for them. Not to mention that you don’t want to chase a wet puppy in the bathtub.
2. Gather Your Supplies
What do you need to wash your Pomeranian puppy? Shampoo and conditioner, of course. However, not all dog shampoos will do the job, and some might even damage your puppy’s coat.
Since Pomeranians have a dry coat, they need a moisturizing shampoo that will nourish the skin. I recommend shampoos and conditioners with natural ingredients such as oatmeal and aloe vera. Avoid shampoos with artificial ingredients or human ones.
3. Brush Your Pomeranian Puppy
It’s important to brush your Pomeranian puppy thoroughly before you put them in the water. Your Pomeranian puppy’s coat often mats and tangles, and when these knots get wet, it’s almost impossible to untangle them.
Moreover, brushing removes dead hair and stimulates the blood flow to hair follicles.
4. Prepare the Bath
Before you fill the sink with water, you should place a rubber mat on the bottom. That will prevent your puppy from slipping. It’s also a good idea to put a filter in the drain so that it won’t get clogged with dog hair.
Fill the sink with enough water to reach up to your Pomeranian puppy’s knees. The water should be warm, not hot. Test it with your elbow and adjust if necessary. Place the shampoo, conditioners, and towels close to the sink.
5. Bathe Your Puppy
Don’t call your Pomeranian puppy when you’re about to bathe them. Pick the puppy up and wet their paws first. Then gently put your Pom in the water. Talk soothingly. Then:
- Wet your Pomeranian puppy, but avoid the ears.
- Clean your Pom’s face with a rag or a sponge.
- Squeeze some shampoo and work it in your Pom’s coat. Start from the neck and work your way down.
- Rinse the shampoo well, and then apply conditioner.
- Wash the conditioner off.
- Get your Pomeranian puppy out of the water and wrap them in a clean towel.
- Your Pomeranian will shake the water off their coat, so prepare to get a little wet.
Caring for Pomeranian Puppies After a Bath
Once you’ve taken your Pomeranian puppy out of the water, you have a couple of other things. The most important one is to dry your Pomeranian puppy well. Otherwise, your Pomeranian puppy might get a cold, or the wetness might promote fungus growth.
You can dry them with a towel, but that’s going to take some time until you get the whole coat completely dry.
So, pat your Pomeranian dry as much as possible and then blow dry them. It’s not necessary to have a dog blow dryer. However, you have to be very careful when you’re using a human one.
For starters, don’t turn it off on the warmest setting. Instead, use the cool one and keep the blow dryer as far away from your Pomeranian puppy as possible. You don’t want to overheat them accidentally.
Besides drying your Pomeranian, you have to take care of your Pom’s ears. You don’t want any moisture to remain trapped inside the ears because it will lead to an ear infection. So, take the time to inspect your Pomeranian puppy’s ears and use an ear cleaner to dislodge dirt and debris. Then clean the ears with a cotton ball.
Some owners prefer to place cotton balls in their dog’s ears before a bath. However, you don’t have to as long as you make sure that you don’t get the ears wet and clean them well afterward.
If you notice that your Pomeranian puppy is scratching their ears or shaking heads, you might not have swabbed all the moisture from the ears. Redness and odor are also a strong indication of bacterial or yeast infection. You shouldn’t try to deal with these at home, but take your puppy to the vet.
It’s normal for the puppy to shake and tremble for a while after the bath. Usually, the first bath is a stressful event for almost all puppies. However, if your Pomeranian doesn’t stop shaking, you should talk to your vet.
How to Wash a Young Pomeranian Puppy?
As I already mentioned, when you should bathe your Pomeranian puppy depends on their age. However, sometimes you have to wash a Pomeranian puppy younger than 2 months.
For example, when you’re weaning Pomeranian puppies, they tend to get food all over their faces and coats. You can’t leave food to dry in their coat, or it could lead to skin irritation.
Moreover, sometimes your Pomeranian puppy might get something dangerous on their fur. Young puppies are curious, and they get into all kinds of trouble. In these cases, you have to wash them as soon as possible.
A full bath is too much for such a young puppy because they get still don’t regulate their body temperature well. That’s why they snuggle with their littermates and mother as much as possible.
Instead of bathing your Pomeranian puppy, you can wipe them with a wet rag until you get their coats reasonably clean. Make sure to soak the cloth in lukewarm water and to dry your puppy thoroughly.
In addition to this, you can use wet wipes. These are very handy because you can keep them with you and use them whenever you have to make your Pomeranian puppy presentable quickly. But make sure that you’re using pet-friendly wipes without fragrance or alcohol.
How Often Can You Bathe a Pomeranian Puppy?
How often you should bathe a dog depends on their skin type. For example, breeds with oily coats need frequent baths to remove the oily residue and control their body odor.
However, Pomeranian puppies have dry skin. That means two things. They need grooming products suitable for dogs with dry skin, and they don’t require so many baths. Bathing your Pomeranian puppy too often will strip the natural oils from their fur and make it drier than usual and likely to flake.
In general, specialists recommend a bath per month. But if your Pomeranian isn’t dirty, you can bathe them once every 3-4 months.
However, during the puppy uglies period, when Pomeranian puppies change their coats, you might want to wash them every three weeks. That’s because your Pomeranian puppy will be shedding like crazy, and bathing will help remove dead fur and open the hair follicles.
Closing Thoughts
Pomeranians are one of the cleanest dog breeds, but they do need baths from time to time to keep their majestic coast in perfect condition. That’s why you have to know when you should bathe your Pomeranian puppy and how often.
