Rebecca's Pomeranian's

Health Matters:
Toy breeds are generally a very healthy, hardy, and long lived breed. Often, Toy Breeds live 15 or 16 years. However, There are certain problems that may be encountered.

The most commonly occurring problems involve the teeth which if not scrupulously cared for and maintained through frequent cleaning, can fall out at a relatively early age, possibly causing heart problems.

Endocrine Dermatitis:  Less common, and is sometimes referred to as black skin disease.  This condition affects a number of different breeds, and while it involves some (usually temporary) coat loss, it is more of and aesthetic than a health related condition.

Luxating Patellas:  Another more common problem in most toy breeds involves the knees. Although common, it is generally not a problem, that frequently requires surgical intervention.  

Collapsing Tracheas:  Another common problem found in pomeranians. If your pom makes a honking noise or sounds like he/she is coughing up a hair ball, the problem may be his trachea. It can be diagnosed with an X-ray and usually medication is prescribed to reduce coughing. 

Hypoglycemia,  Low blood sugar,  Is a disorder that occurs mainly in small breed puppies between six and twelve weeks of age.  It is often precipitated by stress and can occur without warning.  It might appear after the puppy has gone to a new home, missed a meal, chills, becomes exhausted from playing, has been over handled, or has a digestive upset.  These upsets place and added strain on its energy reserve and bring on the symptoms.

Hypoglycemia is a real threat to these tiny puppies, watch for your puppy to become tired or droopy.  The first sighs are those of listlessness and depression.  They are followed by muscular weakness, tremors, and later convulsions, coma and even death.  The puppy may be found in a coma.

If your puppy has any symptoms of hypoglycemia you must act fast.  If the puppy is awake, give it nutrical, nutri-stat or karo syrup by mouth.  You should see sighs of improvement in thirty minutes, if no improvement , then call your veterinarian at once.

Prevent hypoglycemia from happening by allowing the puppy to get enough sleep, do not allow the puppy to be overtired or over handled at first.  Supervise closely with children to make sure the puppy is getting enough rest.  Keep puppy warm, don't let it become chilled.  Your puppy is a house dog and should not be living outdoors.

Prevent attacks by feeding a high quality diet.  See that the puppy is eating often. just because the food is there doesn't mean he/she is eating it.  Keep dry food and water available at all times.

Thing you should no: Any Pom owner should all ways have Nutri-stat/cal or Karo syrup on hand in case any of these symptoms occur. (Nutri-stat/cal can be found at Pet-smarts)

Temperamant & Characteristics
pomeranian make a wonderful pet & are intensely loyal and protective towards there owners.  They are energetic and like going for short walks, there size makes them an ideal house dog & because they are small size they make a good apartment dog, since they dont require a lot of exercise and they can be easily paper trained.  Their intelligence and reasoning powers are almost uncanny and they can seem to understand your every word.  They spend long periods asleep or dozing and dont make many demands on their owners.  They require relatively little feeding but food and water dish should be left out at all times as they only nibble hear and there.  Some will chase strange cats, given hafe a chance, but they will get along with cats and other pets that live in same house they love to have a friend to play with.  Although certainly not a guard dog size wise, they can be vary defensive when anything unusual occurs. They are fearless when it comes to strange dogs, and will become vary protective against ones many times there size they are little big dogs and are generally not frightened of even the largest great dane.  They make good watchdogs and will bark a warning when anyone approaches the home poms are vary quick to learn and should be discouraged from senseless barking.  They are highly intelligent and this makes them easy to train.  Many have competed successfully in obedience trails while other have been trained as hearing assistance dogs.  Still other have been trained in search and rescue for use on sites where a small-dog is necessary and/or advantageous (e.g; earthquake sites).  Pomeranians have also been used very successfully as therapy dogs and may often be seen consoling the sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes.