These photos were taken exactly one year apart…
Yes, this is the same dog!
Here is his story…
In early January of 2021, I received a call from a client. She lost her beloved Pomeranian to old age a few months prior, and now found herself enamored with a new tiny spitz. Upon visiting the local pet rescue, Angels for Animals, it was love at first sight with a small black Pom who she named Zeus. The little senior guy had rather large problems: significant hair loss over most of his body, and hard scaly skin on his back. She called and asked if there was any way I might be able to help him out. And so, the journey began!
Our first meeting took place on February 11, 2021. Indeed, Zeus was in rough shape. My first concern was the large, hairless patch on his back. Several breaks in the skin were present, and much of it was exceptionally tough. Someone had been trimming him down to look like a lion; while his mane was long and untamed, the little bit of hair on the rest of his body was short, fried, and frizzy. Yellow and white scales polluted the mane throughout; the vet was running several tests to determine the cause. I knew that at the very least, I could help the little guy feel better. The ultimate goal was to get his coat to grow back entirely, but sometimes that is not attainable. I kept expectations realistic and proceeded with optimism that he would be comfortable.
to heal damaged, dry skin.
Zeus began coming to see me every week for mild pre-brushing to shake loose any dead hairs, followed by a healing bath and gentle drying. The first two weeks included a medicated bath to help heal the breaks in the skin. These quickly healed, so I began to soothe the skin with DermaRenew soaks and wet wraps. I only used the small dryer on low power to fluff his mane, then gently teased the fuzz with a wood pin brush while using the stand dryer. The little guy blissfully enjoyed every single moment.
Little by little, the fuzz began to shed, and newer, healthier hairs were coming in their place. We faced a minor setback when he had to have his belly completely shaved so the vet could do an ultrasound, but I kept up with the DermaRenew treatments and wet wraps. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with mild Cushing’s disease. The prospect of Zeus regrowing his hair began to look dim, as the disease has a direct impact upon hair growth. His mom began weaning him off the shelter’s food and on to a high-quality diet.
At first, the medicine prescribed by his vet seemed to be working. Skin flakes were still present, but in slightly smaller numbers. The improved diet began to nourish his skin from the inside out. With weekly bath sessions and continued treatments, new hairs continued to appear and the scales began to shrink. One day, Zeus became lethargic. His body couldn’t handle the medications anymore, so his vet discontinued them and instead, opted for a holistic albacore supplement instead. He responded well, his mom continued the diet, and I began to re-evaluate my care program. The flakes were disappearing!
We moved his weekly treatment baths to every other week, as healing was more present than ever, and it was time to wean him off the healing products. Eventually I began to spot-treat the few remaining scales on his back with DermaRenew. His body hair was becoming longer and shinier, and the flakes were disappearing entirely. I can only imagine how mad he must’ve felt when I decided a few months later that the wet wraps were no longer necessary – good thing looks can’t kill!
Shortly after, I graduated him to the big dryer, using a nozzle only on his mane. The shiny hairs, now almost without any flakes at all, danced wildly in the wind. As I teased his coat while stand drying, encouraging it to stand up, I realized that he could do with a little bit of all-over trimming! For the first time in a long time, he began to look like a Pomeranian again!
of coat growth!
Exactly one year later, on February 11, Zeus came in for his grooming session. He is on a three week schedule at the request of his mom. Scaly spots are ancient history, and his hair is almost fully restored. There is a small patch on his rump where the hair thins slightly, but given his health and his age, it is not something that concerns me. The big surprise is how much hair I need to scissor every three weeks to keep his profile tidy and natural, without him looking like a big black bear!
Zeus’s vet has stated that his coat regrowth is nothing short of incredible. Many nay-sayers will preach about how once a rough Nordic coat is cut, it will never grow back. I like to think of Zeus as a direct challenge to that sort of philosophy. While it may be true that the first hair might not grow (it is possible for a hair to enter a permanent resting phase), with a little bit of help, it is also possible to encourage it to shed, and a brand new hair will come in behind it if the follicles are healthy!*
In the words of his mom, “Miracles DO happen!”
I cannot take all the credit for Zeus’s fabulous fur. Topical treatment was but one aspect of the entire process. It stands to reason that without proper diagnosis and underlying treatment from his vet, as well as proper nutrition and home care provided by his mom, we never would’ve come this far. The pet parent, the veterinarian, the stylist: this is the trifecta of perfection for enabling a coat to grow. Add in the factors of patience and time, and you have… one happy, hairy, handsome Pomeranian!
*Disclaimer: while I was able to help Zeus grow his coat back, I do not advocate for very short haircuts. Clipping hair too short will expose the dog’s skin to elements it was never meant to see and can potentially lead to skin problems. Consider age, diet, activity levels, health conditions, management, and coat type of ANY dog before deciding on a short haircut.
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