First, and foremost, before addressing
the health issues of the POMERANIAN, we will discuss selecting a veterinarian for your POM.
Your veterinarian is your number one partner in the care of your POM, so PLEASE don't
take selecting one lightly.
You and your POM will be making regular, routine visits to your veterinarian throughout
his lifetime, so the vet you choose should be someone that you and your POM can feel comfortable with; one who
takes the time to communicate with you, and who is knowledgeable about POMERANIANS. You should feel that
he could be trusted with your POM, if needed, for an extended period of time, as this may become an issue
sometime during your POMS lifetime.
If you are not familiar with the veterinarians in your area, it is very possible that
your breeder knows of a good, reputable vet in your area. Also, you can talk to other POM owners in your area.
Word of mouth is usually a good place to start. Listen closely to what people say about their experiences with
local veterinarians.
Your selection of a veterinarian should not be based solely on his personality and abilities
with small breed dogs, but also with the close proximity of his office to your home. You should select a vet who
is reasonably close to your home because you might have an emergency or need to make a number of visits for treatment of some
illness or condition. You might want to select a vet who offers services beyond regular check-ups and vaccinations;
especially if you have a Special Needs POM, or a Senior POM, as these require more specialized care than normal, healthy puppies
or young adults.
Useful things to know about a veterinarian when selecting one for your POM:
1. Does he provide emergency and after-hours services? If he
doesn't provide these services, where are you to go if your
POM gets sick or has an accident after the office closes?
2. Is he a "FULL SERVICE" veterinarian? Does he handle a
broad spectrum of services? If so, what are the
services he
offers?
3. Does he specialize in any special areas of veterinary
medicine, such as: heart problems, teeth and gum
problems, eye problems, bones and muscle
problems, or urinary problems. Also, ask him if he
is able to process x-rays, perform ultrasound tests,
and provide dental care to your POM. If he doesn't
provide these services, ask him what veterinary
hospital and vet would he be referring your POM to
for
these services, should they become necessary.
Often new pet owners have no idea where to find a veterinarian. Vetlocator makes
this task much easier. Simply click on the home page, enter your zip code, list the distance you're willing
to travel, and you will find veterinarians in your area. This site doesn't endorse specific veterinarians---it simply
lists them. It is then up to you to do your homework. The website address is: www.vetlocator.petplace.com
CHOOSE A VETERINARIAN BEFORE YOU NEED ONE!!!
Now we will touch on a few of the health conditions you may encounter with your POM. Sometimes
POM puppies will retain their puppy teeth which will need to be pulled so that his adult teeth can form correctly and come
in normally. Some POMS will develop thyroid problems, which can affect their ability to breed and may interfere
with their activity level; some may develop lameness, (which may be caused by patellar luxation) and
some may develop baldness. Most of these conditions, except the baldness, can be controlled or corrected by
good diet and good veterinary care. I am only listing these conditions because they are common conditions affecting
POMERANAIANS. Most POMS don't experience any of them and remain healthy and happy and live 15 to 20 years.
The information on these conditions is included as a guide to help you choose a healthy puppy
and how to keep him healthy.
ANESTHESIA AND YOUR POM
The POMERANIAN, like other Toy breeds, doesn't tolerate anesthesia very well,
especially when more than one procedure needs to be done while the dog is under anesthesia. Isoflourane, a relatively
new anesthesic, works safely on the POM, and most veterinarians are now using it. Ask your vet if he uses
it and if he doesn't, ask him what is his anesthesia of choice for POMS.
For some reason, most deaths of POMS while under anesthesia seem to happen when more
than one procedure is done while under anesthesia. Make your concerns on this matter known to your vet at an early visit,
so that if surgery is ever needed, he will be able to accommodate your anesthesia requests.
HYPOGLYCEMIA AND YOUR POM
All of the Toy breeds are prone to hypoglycemia, especially when they are small puppies,
and even a few young adults up to about the age of 2. The definition of hypoglycemia is simply low blood sugar,
similar to diabetes in humans. The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are weakness, listlessness, sluggish
in movement, lack of coordination, seizures, nervousness, tremors, and hunger. In severe
cases, the POM may become unconscious. Because of the POM'S small size and high energy level, and in case
of illness or stress, which would include changes in diet, weaning, vaccinations, or a new home,
they can be pre-disposed to hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia tends to be a problem when POMERANIAN puppies are being weaned from their mother.
It is very important to monitor each puppy to make sure that each one of them is eating well and doesn't begin to show signs
of weakness, sluggishness, or listlessness. If you see that one or more of the puppies are holding back
and doesn't want to eat with his siblings, and only wants to continue nursing from the mom, you may need to supplement
the puppy with NUTRI-CAL or KARO SYRUP or PEDIALYTE. It is very important to have these items readily available at all
times, because during a hypoglycemic episode, you need to raise the blood sugar level in the puppy QUICKLY!
You also need to give the puppy fluids. There are many products available in pet supply catalogs, or local pet
stores that offer electrolyte/dextrose packs that you can mix with water that are used to replace fluids due to dehydration
a puppy suffers when it is affected with hypoglycemia. Most breeders of POMS have used these electrolyte/dextrose mixtures
while weaning their puppies and some breeders use them regularly with their puppies until about 3 months of age or the puppy
is completely weaned and doing well on puppy food. These products can be mixed into their food, but for ease of
use, I prefer to use pure meat baby food to mix them in and it is easier for the puppy to digest.
If you find your puppy in a serious hypoglycemic episode, including unconsciousness,
now is the time to rub NUTRI-CAL or KARO SYRUP on their gums. When the puppy has been revived completely, use
a 3 cc syringe (needle removed) to put a small amount of PEDIALYTE in the corner of his mouth, but ONLY when he
is fully conscious, otherwise he may choke on the liquid. I also give small amounts of baby food meat from the
syringe. I don't recommend using canned puppy food because it doesn't do well in the syringe, but baby food seems
to work just fine in the syringe. After the puppy has drank these fluids and eaten the food, I then place
the puppy away from the other littermates in a box, and keep him warm and quiet. I use a heating pad, on
the lowest setting, covered with a towel. Put the heating pad in ONLY half of the box, giving the puppy
a place to escape the heat if he gets too warm. To keep the puppy quiet, I put a towel over the top of the box.
It is not unusual for the puppy to develop diarrhea as this is also a symptom of hypoglycemia. It will go away when
the puppy's blood sugar level returns to normal.
You might want to confine and isolate the puppy until he is eating and drinking normally
again. Normally, when they have recovered and are returned to their littermates, they will do just fine.
The trick is to keep the puppy warm and give him a small amount of electrolytes until his blood sugar level is back to normal.
If you can't provide this treatment at home, take the puppy to the veterinarian for an IV solution of Ringers.
HYPOTHYROIDISM AND YOUR POM
Hypothyroidism is a common hormone disorder found in many of the Toy breeds. The thyroid
gland secretes two hormones that regulate the metabolism of most cells in the body. When thyroid hormone production
becomes inflamed, or is compromised in some way, the result is a deficiency that causes such signs as mental dullness,
lack of energy, unwillingness to exercise, and weight gain. Poor skin condition, hair loss,
a dull coat, and scaliness are some other signs of this condition too.
The condition is diagnosed through physical examination, medical history,
and blood tests for thyroid hormone concentrations. A daily dose of synthetic thyroid hormone given for the rest of
the dog's life usually stablilzes the dog. Your veterinarian can diagnose this treatable condition with a blood test.
PATELLAR LUXATION AND YOUR POM
A condition in which the kneecap slips out of its groove, luxation is common in the
Toy breeds. It is usually an inherited disorder but can also be caused by an injury. The degree of luxation varies
from a mild case that barely affects the dog to a severe case that requires surgery. Don't let the diagnosis of luxation
discourage you from adopting a POMERANIAN. The majority of POMS that have this condition, live normal,
happy lives and if your POM'S luxation is severe, surgery can correct it.
SIGNS OF PATELLAR LUXATION
In mild cases, the foot of the affected leg toes in, and the hock points out.
When the knee pops out, the dog will stretch his rear leg along his side; with his paw pointing toward his nose,
and he will experience considerable pain. Take your POM to the veterinarian and ask hikm to teach you how to put the
knee back in place at home.
NOTE: A POM with patellar luxation should NOT be bred. Be sensible and train your
little POM not to do any strenuous jumping, especially off of high places, as this can result in injury to the
knees. Also, do not allow your POM to become overweight, as this is likely to aggravate the problem.
DIARRHEA AND YOUR POM
Diarrhea is a common problem of puppies and young adult dogs. A dog who is vomiting
and has diarrhea can quickly become dehydrated.
Loose or liquid stools characterize diarrhea. Most often, diarrhea occurs when
the dog ingests something indigestible that irritates the stomach or bowel. Other times the irritant is a food to which
the dog is sensitive, such as certain meats, spices, fats, milk products, and grains.
Each dog is different, so its hard to say exactly what might cause a bout of diarrhea. Internal parasites,
anxiety, or excitement can cause diarrhea. The reason the stool is runny or liquid is because the food passes
rapidly through the bowel before it has time to eliminate the water.
If diarrhea is a problem, be prepared to tell your vet its color (yellow, green, black,
bloody, light or gray), consistency (watery, foamy, mucuslike), and odor (foodlike or rancid).
Mild cases of diarrhea can be treated at home by withholding food for 24 hours while still giving the dog plenty of water
to drink. Take the dog to the veterinarian if diarrhea contines for more than 24 hours, the stool looks bloody
or black and tarry, the dog is also vomiting, or the dog seems weak or has a fever.
Another at home treatment of diarrhea is to use an oral syringe and give your POM 1/4 teaspoon
of KAOPECTATE per 5 pounds of body weight. Repeat this dose several times a day. Do not feed for 12 hours,
then feed a mixture of baby cereal and turkey or beef baby food. Keep the POM on this diet for two or three days.
For young puppies, also give 1/4 inch of NUTRI-CAL three times a day. Call the veterinarian if the stool shows
blood, the dog has a fever, the diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours or the dog becomes dehydrated.
VOMITING AND YOUR POM
Vomiting is a common problem in puppies and young dogs. The brain has a vomiting center,
and the dog's center is highly developed, making it easy for a dog to vomit. The usual suspects behind vomiting
are indigestible substances, eating too fast, being too active, anxiety of excitement, and infections
or chronic illnesses.
Should you be concerned about vomiting? That depends on certain factors such as how
often your dog vomits, whether the vomiting is violent (projectile), and whether the vomited matter contains blood,
worms, or other foreign matter. If your dog is healthy and the vomitus doesn't appear abnormal, simply withhold
food and water for 12 hours to give the stomach a rest. Then give him a small bland meal of rice and boiled hamburger
meat, cottage cheese, or chicken and rice soup. Feeding your dog one or two tablespoons of this diet every
few hours is enough. If he is able to keep the food down, you can gradually return him to his regular diet.
Take your POM to the vet right away if the vomiting continues, even though your POM hasn't eaten for several hours,
the vomitus contains blood, or the dog seems weak and listless.
SIGNS OF ILLNESS IN YOUR POM
If you've grown up with pets, chances are you've developed a sense of knowing
when your pet is under the weather. You've seen him at his best and you know when there are any disturbing
changes. But if you're a first-time pet owner, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the most common
signs of illness.
Keep in mind, that a healthy POM has a normal body temperature of 101-102 degrees F;
a respiratory rate of 15-20 breaths per minute; and a heart rate of 80-120 beats per minute.
Some of the most common signs your POM may exhibit if he is not feeling up to par:
Difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, abnormal temperature, disorientation,
weakness or sluggishness, lack of interest in his surroundings, hiding in a dark place, scratching or chewing
at his feet, skin, or coat, persistent coughing or gagging, discharge from ears, or eyes, inflamed
or cloudy eyes, weight loss, persistent diarrhea, difficulty walking, walking in circles, persistent
head shaking, persistent ear scratching, unpleasant breath odor and/or swollen gums, harsh-feeling coat,
coat with a dull texture, dull and flaky skin, potbelly, soft foul-smelling stools, blood in the urine,
pale mucus membranes, mucus or blood in the stool, repeated vomiting (more than 24 hours), and unusual lumps under
the skin.
If your POM exhibits any of these signs, call the vet and tell him. He may want
to see your POM to do further tests to find out what is happening.
