Our little friend can't look after his own health. His health and life is in our living hands. For this reason, it's important to know the most important things to focus on.

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1. Vaccinations

The first two vaccinations in the puppy's life are vital. Usually, the puppies go to their new homes having had their first vaccine. The second vaccine is done 4-6 weeks after the first. The whole time before the second vaccine, and even for one week after it is done, the puppy should not be brought to the park or out on the street where it could pick up an infection, because during this time the puppy's immune system is weaker.

Vaccinations should not be done if the puppy is not feeling well, if it has diarrhea, vomiting, fever, cough, ear infection, skin problems etc. The same applies when the puppy is taking a course of antibiotics or other medicines. In this case, vaccinations will weaken an already weakened immune system.

The puppy should be given a worming treatment 3 or 4 days before the vaccination.

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2. Ears

The dog's ears should be checked regularly for brown or black residue. If this residue is found, it could be due to an ear infection, ear mites or an allergy. If the dog is scratching its ears, shaking its head or lowering one of it's ears to the floor, or if you notice a smell coming from the ears, this could point to an infection. It is important to treat ear problems as soon as possible.

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3. Eyes

If our dog has teary eyes, it is important to remove the tear stains not only from the fur, but also from the skin under the eyes, and to completely dry the area. Tear stains dissolve very well in contact lens solution, and this makes it easier to then remove the dried discharge that has been buried in the fur. It's useful to have colloidal silver to use as eye drops.

If there is pus discharging from the eyes, you need to take your dog

to the vet for medication urgently.

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4. Nails

Pomeranians are small dogs who don't run large distances and don't dig holes. Their nails do not naturally file down like they do in working dogs. If the nails are allowed to grow too long, the Pomeranian's gentle toes will slide apart and the dog will not be able to hold them together like it should. The dog won't be able to put weight onto the ends of the toes and this could lead it to develop arthritis. As well as this, long nails will cause the dog to slide on hard floors, leading to falls and leg injuries.

It is essential to regularly trim your dog's nails, as well as the fur on the bottom of its feet. the nails should be short enough that when the dog runs on tiled or wooden floors, we should not be able to hear its claws clicking on the floor. The Pomeranian should be able to walk silently like a cat.

 

5. Knee joints

Pomeranians are prone to knee dislocations and hip dysplasia. This can be a genetic problem. However, even when both parents are in perfect health and the puppy didn't inherit this problem, caring for the puppy incorrectly could trigger a dislocation of the knee or hip joint.

Puppies should not sit or lie down for long periods of time. This is bad for joints. Puppies need to move a lot.

Running during independent play is good for the puppy. However, when the pup is younger than 4 months old, you should not throw toys or stick encouraging him to run after them. Running too fast at such a young age will injure his joints.

Puppies under 9 months old should not be allowed to walk on slippery floors. The puppy's nails and fur on the bottom of the foot should always be trimmed short so that the puppy doesn't slip and fall. Puppies should never be allowed to jump off sofas, stairs or other elevated objects, or to jump over obstacles. Puppies should not be overfed, because excess weight will first of all hurt the dog's

joints.

Long walks in the park are good for dogs. However, there are age restrictions:

- under 9 months old, walks should not be longer than 30 minutes per day.

- under 12 months, no longer than 1 hour a day.

- under 18 months, no longer than 1.5 hours a day.

After 18 months, you can walk your dog as long as you like. However, Pomeranians should never be made to run alongside a bicycle.

To help prevent hip dysplasia and knee dislocations, you should exercise your dog’s extensor muscles, without involving the flexor muscles. This is similar to a ballerina’s exercises: the dog should be encouraged to reach up. You could tie a piece of meat to a string and hang it up at a height where the dog can just about reach it, encouraging the dog to stretch up and jump slightly, trying to bite the meat. This is best done with the dog on its own, without the competition of other dogs.

Good exercises for the dog are running uphill and going up stairs. This will strengthen the muscles. However, it is harmful and dangerous to let the dog go down the stairs, as this can damage joints and ligaments.

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6. Overeating

Pomeranians love to eat and are susceptible to becoming overweight. Since they are always next to their owner, it’s

tempting to give them treats off your own plate. It is best not to do this. Dogs should eat twice a day, with small portions about the size of a tablespoon. Food should not be freely available throughout the day. Check your dog’s weight by feeling the ribs. They should be easy to feel under a very small layer of fat. If it’s difficult to feel the individual ribs under the fat, you should decrease your dog’s portions. Keep in mind that excess weight can lead to diabetes, heart disease and joint problems. If you feel like your dog looks too thin despite the ribs feeling normal, this means that the dog has underdeveloped muscles.

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7. Teeth

Pomeranians have difficulty losing their baby teeth due to their very long roots. You may need to bring the dog to a vet to help extract them.

Pomeranians are also prone to plaque, and plaque leads to tooth decay. In order to prevent this, it’s good to get into a habit of regularly brushing your dog’s teeth with a toothbrush and dog toothpaste.

In the wild, wolves keep their teeth clean by eating raw meat and raw cartilage. Of course, you could gradually accustom your dog to eating raw meat. Otherwise, you could try dry dog food that helps clean the teeth, or give your dogs dental chewing sticks. However keep in mind that dental chewing sticks are very high in calories.

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8. Worms

All dogs are inevitably infected with worms. All puppies get worms in the mother’s womb. Throughout its life, the dog will continue to pick up worms because it is in the dog’s nature to lick things and pick up objects in its mouth. In the wild, animals eat plants that help to expel parasitic worms. Our pets don’t have the ability to do this themselves, so it is vital to worm our dogs every three months (four times a year) and it’s essential to do this before vaccinations.

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9. Skin

Pomeranians have very thick and fluffy fur, which is one of the main things that these dogs are valued for, and is the pride and

joy of owners of this breed. However, poor care for their thick coat can lead to skin diseases.

If the Pomeranian was walking in the rain, running through puddles, or swimming in a pool, you should dry the fur with a hairdryer to the roots. It’s not always enough for the dog to shake itself dry. Fur that hasn’t been completely dried will stay damp at the roots. When skin stays damp for long periods of time the dog can develop various skin diseases such as dermatitis, fungal or bacterial infections, particularly on the chest, neck and at the base of the tail. Such infections can in turn lead to hair loss.

If your Pomeranian is lucky enough to live in a warm and humid climate, then drying the fur with a hairdryer and brushing the coat must become an essential daily routine.

 

It is vital to let your dog’s veterinarian know if you notice any of the following:

- The dog is drinking too much or too frequently

- Urinating puddles that are too big

- Colourless or bloody urine

- Diarrhea with foam, mucus or blood

- Loss of appetite

- Vomiting

- Shaking or trembling

- Hunching its back, pulling its head back into the shoulders

- Hiding in an inaccessible place

- Unnatural hair-loss, thinning coat

- Extreme scratching

- Unpleasant smell (from the mouth, ears, fur etc.)

- Coughing (this looks like the dog has choked)

- Breathing heavily, loudly, or with visible effort

- Blue or purple tongue

- Faster than normal heartbeat

- Agitation (can’t settle or find a comfortable position)

- Shaking its head, scratching the same ear over a long period of time

- Miserably whining, howling or growling