| Care for Your Pomeranian - Feeding, Grooming, | | | | sociable and likes to spend time with humans, personal |
| Exercise and Potential Health Issues | | | | attention and involved activity is a must for proper |
| Sometimes called the Pom-Pom or Pom for short, the | | | | stimulation. |
| Pomeranian is a Spitz type toy dog. This breed has a | | | | Special care and health concerns |
| soft downy coat and needs extensive grooming every | | | | With a life span of anywhere between 12 to 19 years, |
| day if you want it to continue to look nice and clean. | | | | Pomeranian's are generally healthy dogs. However |
| Grooming can take a lot of time and this is an aspect | | | | there are some potential health issues that may arise. |
| that needs to be thought about before actually opting | | | | - Hip dysplasia - A dislocation of the hip bone and |
| to get home a Pomeranian. | | | | socket joint that can be caused due to hereditary |
| Feeding and Grooming | | | | factors or environmental accidents or injuries. |
| Most breeders today use and recommend fresh | | | | - Patent ductus arteriosus - A congenital heart disease |
| homemade food as against commercial foods that are | | | | that can be tested for before bringing a puppy home. |
| available. While raw meat is not recommended, lean | | | | - Collapsing trachea - A serious condition that can |
| meat cooked at home with vegetables is the best | | | | cause sever breathing problems. |
| choice. If commercial food is what you are opting for, | | | | - Skin diseases - Grain (wheat, soy or cereal) |
| make sure that the brand that you choose is | | | | intolerance can cause skin diseases in a Pom. |
| approved and a reputed one. This breed is also prone | | | | Additionally, unless the long coat is groomed properly |
| to skin allergies and breathing problems that are | | | | every day, ticks, matted hair and other skin diseases |
| caused due to grain intolerance. | | | | can manifest themselves. |
| Brushing a Pomeranian daily is essential if you want to | | | | - Follicular dysplasia - A specific skin disease also |
| keep the hair from matting. Brushing also activates | | | | called alopecia X can result in chunks of hair falling off. |
| glands and keeps the skin from getting dry. Many | | | | - Hypoglycemia - A poor diet can result in extremely |
| Pomeranian owners give their pets a nice 'puppy cut' | | | | low levels of blood sugar. If the levels plummet, your |
| which is essentially a short coat. Ear and nail inspection | | | | pet can actually go into coma. |
| daily should also be part of the grooming routine. It is | | | | - Hypothyroidism - Caused by an underactive thyroid |
| not required to bathe your Pom more frequently than | | | | gland, low levels of thyroid hormones can result in |
| once in a fortnight since bathing and shampooing can | | | | many typical symptoms. |
| devoid the skin of essential oils. This breed is also | | | | - Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) - A degenerative |
| prone to dental issues like tartar, plague and bad | | | | eye condition that can lead to total blindness. |
| breath and therefore the teeth should be brushed at | | | | - Dental issues |
| least once in a week. Vitamin and dental treats can | | | | - Luxating patella - A slipping kneecap, this condition is |
| help in managing dental problems better. | | | | generally caused due to some injury or excessive |
| Exercise | | | | exercise or running. |
| Even though a Pomeranian is an active breed, its size | | | | - Black skin disease - Usually present in the male of |
| does not necessitate outdoor exercise. A short walk | | | | the breed, the black skin disease is one where |
| for fun or indoor activity is enough. Since the breed is | | | | shedding is not necessarily followed by regrowth. |