| A healthy Pomeranian has a life span of up to 15 years. These little dogs are not as delicate as some other toy breeds, however still have their breed specific health conditions. TEETH The biggest health concern with Poms is their teeth. Poms are prone to early tooth loss so care must be taken to maintain good oral health. Feeding a good quality dry food will help to keep teeth clean and small bones such as chicken necks act as a natural tooth brush and should be fed regularly. Bones should always be fed raw as cooked bones cannot be digested and may lead to serious problems. Reducing the amount of bacterial buildup by brushing your dogs teeth and using an antibacterial specially designed for dogs (available from your vet) will also assist to keep your Pom's teeth healthy. Have your vet clean and scale your dogs teeth when necessary. COLLAPSING TRACHEA. If your Pom seems to cough a lot, especially when excited, he may have a collapsing trachea (windpipe) which is not uncommon in this breed. An Xray will tell you if this is the case and your vet will usually subscribe medication to reduce coughing. LUXATING PATELLA Like many small breeds, luxating patellas (knee that slips out of place) is quite common and may eventually need surgery. HYPOTHYROIDISM This is an under active thyroid gland and may lead to other health problems if not detected. The thyroid gland produces hormones that affect the metabolic function of all organ systems and is necessary for the body to function normally. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism are lethargy, hair loss or excessive shedding, weight gain, high cholesterol and anemia. There are several tests your vet can perform to diagnose this condition and the good news is that it is easily treated with the administering of synthetic hormones for the duration of the dogs life. HAIR LOSS Some Poms begin to lose patches of fur as they age. This usually starts at the back and makes it's way forward. |