The PCT is interested in forming a collection of photo documented cases of Poms who have experienced severe coat loss and have recoated. Some will be presented here as encouragement and to provoke thought. The fact remains there are Poms whose coat loss doesn’t respond to any known method: medical, homeopathic, or dietary. Are those cases more severe, longer lasting, or did we just not discover what would work on that particular Pom? There are no answers to those questions yet because no information is known about what causes the condition: genetically, physically, or environmentally. It is probably safe to assume a combination of all these factors.
The reports of cases that recoat using a particular method (and not having responded to other methods) tend to confirm the concept that we are looking at multiple causes which can produce similar results. The number of confirmed “Clipper Alopecia” cases appears with greater frequency than thought previously. Commonly these cases recoat spontaneously after two years.
Shortie is a BIS Canadian and American Champion. His primary owner passed away in 2004 and her husband kept Shortie and another Pom as companions. The person that was to eventually recoat this dog groomed Shortie for him in Jan. 05; Shortie was still noted to be in full, gorgeous coat at that time.
In May 05, the husband clippered Shortie right down to his skin. Shortie went to a kennel while the husband went on vacation. Unfortunately the husband was taken very ill, so Shortie had an extended stay in the kennel. While there, he was fed a very poor quality food. He was not kept clean and he was isolated from human contact. This was in contrast to his original owner who did not crate him and always had him by her side. This Pom had a strong human bond. He was temporarily rescued from these circumstances into a home, but unfortunately had to be returned to his original home. Once again for about a month, he had little human contact; the only time he saw a person was when he and his other Pom buddy were let out 3-4 times a day.
In Sept.05, the person who would recoat Shortie received both of these Poms. She was devastated to see him. His condition was very bad. He had no coat, had black skin, and was dirty and just so very sad. She noted, “There was no life in his eyes yet he was only nine years of age." First, his diet was changed to Canidae (a commercial dry food), with added Omega 3-6-9 and Salmon Oil. She began bathing him once or twice daily. She actually scrubbed his skin with a brush while he was wet. She used Tar-ific Shampoo and followed that sudsing with a very soothing shampoo. By just after Christmas, Dec. 05, he had fuzz.
His coat kept growing normally thereafter. He even enjoyed a last fling in the ring as a Veteran. She believes that stress, lack of personal contact, poor food and dirty conditions all played a role in his coat loss. Her vet didn’t think it was Alopecia X, although he didn’t have any explanation for the coat loss. All Shortie’s blood work was normal. It was as if there was a greasy film on his skin that prevented the coat from coming through. When she brushed his skin, black flecks came off, pepper like. Later, pink skin began to appear.
Whether this case is to be thought of as Alopecia X or not, the fact remains if seen at his worse, one wouldn’t be able to discern whether it was or wasn’t. “He was black - and bald - except for his head and a few tufts on his legs and feet.” Our highest regards go to this person for opening her heart and putting forth her effort in Shortie’s behalf. This last picture was taken hours before he passed away on May 24, 2008 at the age of 12.
This is a picture of the Pom as a puppy. He was born in Fall 04.
His coat condition deteriorated over time. His worse is pictured here in Dec 07.
Dec 07 Profile
Dec 07 Rear view - Notice the lack of color tone on his legs even where there is coat.
The dietary change that began to recoat this Pom began in Jan 08. His coat 10 months later is lush and has more orange tone than any time previously. He had never been fed a poor diet. The diet that recoated him is Eagle Pack Holistic formulae. He is fed half of his daily ration their fish based formula and the other half alternates between their lamb or chicken formulae.
This set of recoated photos were taken in Aug 08. The change is even more evident in person than these photos indicate.
A similar case, which had not responded to a raw diet nor melatonin, successfully recoated when fed Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Allergy Formulae Diet of Duck & Potato. It is promoted as being free of wheat and other grains.
Shortie is a BIS Canadian and American Champion. His primary owner passed away in 2004 and her husband kept Shortie and another Pom as companions. The person that was to eventually recoat this dog groomed Shortie for him in Jan. 05; Shortie was still noted to be in full, gorgeous coat at that time. 
In Sept.05, the person who would recoat Shortie received both of these Poms. She was devastated to see him. His condition was very bad. He had no coat, had black skin, and was dirty and just so very sad. She noted, “There was no life in his eyes yet he was only nine years of age." First, his diet was changed to Canidae (a commercial dry food), with added Omega 3-6-9 and Salmon Oil. She began bathing him once or twice daily. She actually scrubbed his skin with a brush while he was wet. She used Tar-ific Shampoo and followed that sudsing with a very soothing shampoo. By just after Christmas, Dec. 05, he had fuzz. 
His coat kept growing normally thereafter. He even enjoyed a last fling in the ring as a Veteran. She believes that stress, lack of personal contact, poor food and dirty conditions all played a role in his coat loss. Her vet didn’t think it was Alopecia X, although he didn’t have any explanation for the coat loss. All Shortie’s blood work was normal. It was as if there was a greasy film on his skin that prevented the coat from coming through. When she brushed his skin, black flecks came off, pepper like. Later, pink skin began to appear. 
Whether this case is to be thought of as Alopecia X or not, the fact remains if seen at his worse, one wouldn’t be able to discern whether it was or wasn’t. “He was black - and bald - except for his head and a few tufts on his legs and feet.” Our highest regards go to this person for opening her heart and putting forth her effort in Shortie’s behalf. This last picture was taken hours before he passed away on May 24, 2008 at the age of 12.
This is a picture of the Pom as a puppy. He was born in Fall 04. 
His coat condition deteriorated over time. His worse is pictured here in Dec 07.
Dec 07 Profile
Dec 07 Rear view - Notice the lack of color tone on his legs even where there is coat.
The dietary change that began to recoat this Pom began in Jan 08. His coat 10 months later is lush and has more orange tone than any time previously. He had never been fed a poor diet. The diet that recoated him is Eagle Pack Holistic formulae. He is fed half of his daily ration their fish based formula and the other half alternates between their lamb or chicken formulae.
This set of recoated photos were taken in Aug 08. The change is even more evident in person than these photos indicate.