Pomeranian Insurance, Care and Health Advice
Ready to meet the fluffy toy breed with a huge personality? Wrapped up in all that fur with a sweet teddy bear face, Pomeranians are used to turning heads wherever they go. But behind all that fur there’s a smart and friendly small dog that's more than willing to find their place in a wide range of home environments.
Cute as a button, it's no surprise you're thinking of welcoming a Pom dog into your life. And if you want more information about their temperament, feeding habits and even how much they cost, this is the Pomeranian dog breed guide for you.
Pomeranian Facts
Is a Pomeranian Right for Me?
If you’re looking for a devoted little dog who is low maintenance on the exercise front, the Pomeranian can fit the bill perfectly. Their size means that they can also settle in nicely in smaller homes and flats.
Although curious and playful, Pomeranians can be possessive (especially when it comes to their toys and doggy bowl!). They can also get a little distressed if other people or animals are getting lots of attention. This means they’re not exactly a first choice for young families. That said, they can usually make friends with older children easily, providing the kids know how to respect their boundaries.
What Are Pomeranian Puppies Like?
Pomeranian puppies are super cute, friendly and love to be cuddled. As with all puppies they can be lively and nippy, but if training starts early this will prevent defensive or overly confident behaviour. It’s important to teach puppies good behaviours early on in life.
Life with a Pomeranian
These guys also have a tendency to bark if someone’s at the door - or even if something interesting catches their eye out of the window. If you’re looking for a strong, silent type of dog, the Pom probably isn’t for you. That said, there are certain strategies you can follow to turn down the volume a little, and our guide on how to stop dog barking is definitely worth a look!
With a toy dog like this, it can sometimes be really hard not to mollycoddle them, to just scoop them up and carry them around; trouble is, this can cause a Pomeranian to become highly strung and a lot more nervous around other people and animals. For a confident, chilled pup, it’s better to have your Pom walking on a leash than inside a carry bag.
Caring for Your Pomeranian
It’s important to follow the vet’s instructions on both the volume and the type of feed to give to your Pomeranian. Rather than gulping it down in two fixed meal sittings, these guys sometimes like to nibble a little at a time. This is usually fine, so long as you keep track of how much they are eating in total - and have a word with the vet in the event of weight loss or loss of appetite.
Regular brushing of their coat two or three times a week will help to spread their natural oils and keep their thick coat nice and shiny. It will also help to pick up loose hair, resulting in fewer hairs to pick up from your furniture and floors. At times of heavy shedding though, they will probably need brushing every day to avoid any knots or tangles. For super fluffy Poms, regular trims every couple of months will also help to keep their coats in great condition.
Baths are on an “as and when” basis, when the coat looks obviously dirty or when there’s a slight smell. For some Poms this might be once a week or so; others a month or more! If the coat looks in bad condition very soon after a bath, it could be a sign of an underlying health problem, so it’s worth checking it out with the vet.
Teeth brushing twice a week helps to prevent dental problems later in life (for more on this, check out our guide). Ears and the area around the eyes should be cleansed with a cotton bud once a week and checked for signs of infection. Nails generally need trimming around once a month.
Pomeranians are savvy enough to take on board basic training but here’s the flipside: they’re also smart enough to give you the complete run-around if they think they can get away with it! Positive reinforcement is the way forward for teaching your Pom basic puppy commands such as Sit, Stay, Down, Leave it and Bed. The aim is to show them who’s in charge - without scaring them or making them nervous.
Exercise-wise, a fully grown Pom usually needs no more than 30 minutes walking each day split between a morning and evening walk; with much younger or older dogs this is likely to be a bit lower. Overdoing it can put pressure on your buddy’s joints and bones, so always follow the specific exercise advice of your vet.
Pomeranian Insurance
Protecting your pup's paws should always be high on your agenda, and once you're done Pom-proofing your home, you should start thinking about Pomeranian insurance. Everypaw's Dog Insurance is there to help look after your pup if they suffer from a new illness, or take a little tumble and hurt themselves.
Everypaw's Lifetime Dog Insurance has a range of cover levels for you to choose from, so you can take comfort you'll find a level that's right for you and your pet. But Everypaw isn't just about the vet fees, every policy comes with a range of additional benefits to help you when you need it. From 24/7 vet advice with Petcall to Third Party Liability, we're there for those paws.
Common Pomeranian Health Problems by Vetstream
Luckily, Pomeranians are generally a healthy breed, but there are a few conditions that Pomeranian owners should be aware of. Everypaw has teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream to explain some of them.
A luxating patella is where the kneecap jumps out of the groove that it’s supposed to slide into. It’s usually caused by a fall or knock, but some dogs are born with a groove that is too shallow or has a ligament that is attached in the wrong place.
Affected Poms will be reluctant to use the leg, will hop and hold the leg up. The dog will be in discomfort, and if not treated, the muscles in the leg will become weak and they will eventually end up with arthritis.
With cage rest, sometimes the kneecap will pop back into place on its own. But in most cases, surgery will be needed to fix it. The outlook after surgery is generally good, especially with regular physiotherapy.
The trachea (windpipe) is covered by tough rings of cartilage. Pomeranians are prone to being born with soft rings of cartilage which don’t hold the trachea in the correct place. This means the trachea can collapse and narrow the airways.
Poms with a collapsed windpipe make a ‘goose-honking’ noise, especially if they’re excited or are pulling on their lead, this is because they’re having difficulty breathing. Due to the narrow airways they’re not able to take in enough oxygen which can result in collapse.
In most cases, the condition can be managed with restricted exercise on a harness. In severe cases, surgery can resolve the problem. This involves replacing the damaged rings with artificial ones. Surgery is difficult and risky, but it may be the only option.
This hair loss condition causes patchy fur or complete hair loss. Affected Poms have a hormone imbalance but the cause of this is unknown. It’s often hereditary and can affect dogs around 1-3 years old, but can also affect dogs up to 10 years old.
Treatment involves neutering to resolve the hormone imbalance, followed by medication for around 2-9 months. Other treatments are available, but they have much lower success rates.
Cataracts cause sight loss that can progress to complete blindness. Affected dogs will have a cloudy lens which is normally clear, this prevents light from passing through it, and reduces the dog’s vision.
The development of cataracts can be caused by diabetes, glaucoma, a nutritional imbalance, poisoning, or following severe eye inflammation. Cataracts can also be hereditary.
One of the most popular treatments for cataracts is known as phacoemulsification. This surgery uses ultrasound waves to break up the cataract. Fragments of the lens are then removed through a small incision in the eye. Eye drops are then given for several months after the surgery.
Quick Pomeranian Q&A
Pomeranians are a pricey breed! You can expect to pay anywhere from £500 for an unregistered puppy and up to £5000 for a rare coloured registered Pom. So if you’re looking for one, start saving!
Small breeds always live that little bit longer, and Pomeranians are no different. You can expect your Pom to live well into their teens. On average they live to around 16 years old.
Like most dogs, they shed lightly all year round. Seasonal, heavy shedding usually occurs a couple of times a year and this is when they will need brushing a little more often to avoid knots and tangles.
Unfortunately, no dog breed is completely hypoallergenic because they all shed to a certain degree. Poms only shed lightly most of the year, so if you are allergic to dogs, this breed is less likely to set your allergies off!
This breed is quite happy playing with older kids. But don’t forget to remind them that Poms are only little, and aren’t quite as robust as larger breeds, so they need to be handled gently.
That’s All You Need to Know About Pomeranians
With their distinctive fox-like features and fluffy coats, Pomeranians are small in size but big in personality. Their coats need regular grooming, and they can be a bit yappy and possessive with their food and toys. They also have a jealous streak if they think other animals and people are getting too much attention! Despite this, Poms are a lively, loyal breed, that don’t need a lot of exercise which makes them ideal for less active households.
Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis
Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.
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