When it comes to choosing a dog, Pomeranians are a popular breed due to their affectionate, playful, and curious nature. As a Pomeranian owner, you’ll likely find yourself constantly entertained by your pup’s mischievous antics and goofy behavior.
However, Pomeranians can also be prone to certain health problems, some of which come directly from their breed-specific characteristics.
In this article, you’ll learn about the most common (and not-so-common) health issues in Pomeranians, including the causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Pomeranians Health Problems
If you’re the proud owner of a Pomeranian (or thinking about getting one), it’s important to know that these active and inquisitive dogs can come with a unique set of health problems.
While regular check-ups with your vet are essential for any pet, there are particular health issues specific to Pomeranians that could cause potential problems in the future if not addressed correctly and in a timely manner.
To help gain a better understanding of these, I’ve put together this list of 21 Pomeranian health problems based on many years of my own and other Pomeranian owners’ experiences.
Read on to find out more about each one.
Dental Disease:
Pomeranians are prone to dental problems such as tartar buildup and tooth decay, leading to bad breath, gum inflammation, and difficulty eating.
Causes:
- poor oral hygiene,
- tartar buildup, and tooth decay
Symptoms:
- bad breath,
- tooth loss,
- gum inflammation,
- difficulty eating
Treatments:
- regular dental care,
- teeth cleaning,
- professional scaling,
- potential tooth extraction
Luxating Patella:
This condition involves the dislocation of the kneecap from its normal position, causing limping, reluctance to walk or run, and sometimes pain.
Causes:
- a congenital condition where the kneecap dislocates from its normal position
Symptoms:
- limping,
- skipping steps,
- reluctance to walk or run
Treatments:
- medication for pain management,
- physical therapy,
- surgical correction if severe
Hypothyroidism:
Pomeranians may experience an underactive thyroid gland, resulting in weight gain, lethargy, hair loss, and intolerance to cold temperatures.
Causes:
- insufficient production of thyroid hormones
Symptoms:
- weight gain,
- lethargy,
- hair loss,
- cold intolerance
Treatments:
- hormone replacement therapy (medication),
- regular monitoring,
- dietary adjustments
Allergies:
Pomeranians can develop allergies to environmental factors like pollen or dust mites, as well as food allergies, leading to itching, scratching, sneezing, and skin irritations.
Causes:
- reactions to environmental factors (pollen, dust mites) or food allergies
Symptoms:
- itching,
- excessive scratching,
- sneezing,
- skin redness or irritation
Treatments:
- allergen avoidance,
- medication (antihistamines, corticosteroids),
- hypoallergenic diet
Collapsed Trachea:
This is a common issue in Pomeranians where the tracheal cartilage weakens, causing coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and a honking-like sound.
Causes:
- weakness in the tracheal cartilage, often due to genetic factors
Symptoms:
- coughing,
- wheezing,
- difficulty breathing,
- honking-like sound
Treatments:
- weight management,
- medication to alleviate symptoms,
- surgery in severe cases
Heart Murmurs:
Pomeranians may have abnormal blood flow through the heart valves, resulting in irregular heartbeats, fatigue, coughing, and reduced tolerance for exercise.
Causes:
- abnormal blood flow through the heart valves
Symptoms:
- irregular heartbeat,
- fatigue,
- coughing,
- exercise intolerance
Treatments:
- medication to manage symptoms,
- regular cardiac monitoring,
- surgery if necessary
Eye Problems:
Pomeranians are susceptible to eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, dry eye, and infections, leading to vision loss, cloudiness, redness, and discharge.
Causes:
- progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA),
- cataracts,
- dry eye,
- or eye infections
Symptoms:
- vision loss,
- cloudiness or opacity in the eyes,
- redness, discharge
Treatments:
- medication for symptom relief,
- eye drops,
- surgical interventions for certain conditions
Epilepsy:
Pomeranians can experience abnormal brain activity resulting in seizures, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and muscle twitching.
Causes:
- abnormal brain activity, often with a genetic predisposition
Symptoms:
- seizures,
- convulsions,
- loss of consciousness,
- muscle twitching
Treatments:
- anticonvulsant medication,
- seizure management,
- regular veterinary care
Hypoglycemia:
Due to their small size, Pomeranians are prone to low blood sugar levels, causing weakness, shivering, disorientation, seizures, and even collapse.
Causes:
- low blood sugar levels, common in small breeds like Pomeranians
Symptoms:
- weakness,
- shivering,
- disorientation,
- seizures,
- collapse
Treatments:
- immediate administration of sugar (e.g., honey),
- diet adjustments,
- frequent feeding
Obesity:
Overfeeding, lack of exercise, and genetic factors can contribute to obesity in Pomeranians, leading to weight gain, mobility difficulties, shortness of breath, and joint problems.
Causes:
- overfeeding, lack of exercise, and genetic factors
Symptoms:
- weight gain,
- difficulty moving,
- shortness of breath,
- joint issues
Treatments:
- controlled portion sizes,
- regular exercise,
- balanced diet,
- weight management programs
Skin Conditions:
Pomeranians may suffer from allergies, bacterial or fungal infections, and parasites, resulting in itching, redness, hair loss, scabs, rashes, and flaky skin.
Causes:
- allergies,
- bacterial or fungal infections,
- parasites
Symptoms:
- itching,
- redness,
- hair loss,
- scabs,
- rashes,
- flaking skin
Treatments:
- medication (antifungal, antibiotics),
- allergen avoidance,
- topical treatments,
- proper hygiene
Patellar Luxation:
This condition involves the kneecap slipping out of place, causing lameness, hopping on the affected leg, and pain.
Causes:
- abnormal knee joint structure or trauma
Symptoms:
- lameness,
- hopping or skipping on the affected leg,
- pain
Treatments:
- medication for pain relief,
- physical therapy,
- surgical correction if severe
Alopecia X:
Pomeranians, particularly those that are spayed or neutered, can experience hormonal imbalances leading to patchy hair loss, thinning coat, and dry skin.
Causes:
- hormonal imbalance, primarily affecting spayed or neutered Pomeranians
Symptoms:
- patchy hair loss,
- thinning coat,
- dry skin
Treatments:
- hormone therapy,
- dietary changes,
- supplements,
- regular grooming,
- addressing underlying causes if possible
Bladder Stones:
Pomeranians may develop crystallized mineral deposits in the urinary tract, leading to symptoms like frequent urination, blood in the urine, straining to urinate, and pain.
Causes:
- crystallization of minerals in the urinary tract
Symptoms:
- frequent urination,
- blood in urine,
- straining to urinate,
- pain
Treatments:
- medication to dissolve stones,
- dietary adjustments,
- increased water intake,
- surgical removal if necessary
Heart Disease:
Pomeranians can be prone to various heart conditions, including congenital defects, valve problems, and age-related issues, leading to symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and reduced appetite.
Causes:
- congenital heart defects,
- valve problems,
- or age-related conditions
Symptoms:
- coughing,
- difficulty breathing,
- fatigue,
- decreased appetite
Treatments:
- Medication to manage symptoms,
- dietary changes,
- regular monitoring,
- surgery in certain cases
Digestive Issues
Pomeranians can experience gastrointestinal problems such as food allergies, infections, or dietary indiscretion, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
Causes:
- food allergies,
- gastrointestinal infections,
- or dietary indiscretion
Symptoms:
- vomiting,
- diarrhea,
- flatulence,
- abdominal pain,
- loss of appetite
Treatments:
- dietary adjustments,
- medication for symptom relief,
- probiotics,
- deworming,
- addressing underlying causes if possible
Joint Problems:
Pomeranians may develop joint issues, including genetic predispositions, obesity-related problems, or injuries, causing limping, stiffness, reluctance to move, and difficulty climbing stairs.
Causes:
- genetic predisposition,
- obesity,
- or injury
Symptoms:
- limping,
- stiffness,
- reluctance to move,
- difficulty climbing stairs
Treatments:
- weight management,
- medication for pain relief,
- physical therapy,
- joint supplements,
- surgery in severe cases
Ear Infections:
Due to factors like moisture buildup, ear mites, or allergies, Pomeranians can develop ear infections, leading to symptoms like scratching at the ears, head shaking, foul odor, redness, and discharge
Causes:
- moisture buildup,
- ear mites,
- or allergies
Symptoms:
- scratching at the ears,
- head shaking,
- foul odor,
- redness,
- discharge
Treatments:
- medication (antibiotics, antifungals),
- cleaning the ears,
- ear drops,
- addressing underlying causes if possible
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Disease is a health problem that can affect Pomeranians. It involves avascular necrosis of the femoral head, which means that the blood supply to the hip joint is disrupted, leading to the death of bone tissue. This condition primarily affects small dog breeds.
Causes:
- avascular necrosis of the femoral head (hip joint)
Symptoms:
- lameness,
- pain,
- muscle atrophy,
- reluctance to move
Treatments:
- surgical intervention (femoral head ostectomy),
- pain management,
- physical therapy,
- exercise restriction during recovery
Liver Shunt
Liver Shunt, also known as portosystemic shunt (PSS), is a health problem that can affect Pomeranians. It occurs when there is an abnormal blood vessel that diverts blood flow around the liver instead of through it. This condition can be congenital, meaning it is present at birth. The liver plays a vital role in filtering toxins from the blood, and when a shunt bypasses the liver, toxins accumulate, leading to various symptoms and complications.
Causes:
- abnormal blood flow bypassing the liver, often congenital
Symptoms:
- stunted growth,
- poor weight gain,
- neurological issues,
- urinary problems,
- behavioral changes
Treatments:
- medication to manage symptoms,
- dietary adjustments,
- surgical correction,
- lifelong monitoring and management
Don’t worry, it’s not all bad…
Despite the potential health challenges that Pomeranians may encounter, they are an extraordinary breed that brings immense love and joy to their owners.
With proper care and attention, Pomeranians can lead healthy lives comparable to other popular dog breeds.
Celebrate the distinctive qualities that make your Pomeranian truly special, and cherish every precious moment you spend together. Each wag of their tail and every playful bark serves as a heartfelt reminder of the unwavering love and loyalty your Pomeranian has for you.
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