Pomeranian Dog

The Pomeranian  with its fluffy coat, alert expression, and charming attitude — is one of the world’s most loved toy dog breeds. It belongs to small breeds of dogs but grand in spirit, the Pom has been a favorite of royals, families, and city dwellers for centuries. But beyond the adorable looks lies a bold, intelligent, and surprisingly complex little dog.

Let’s explore everything you need to know about the Pomeranian, from its history and temperament to grooming, training, and the latest scientific discoveries about its health.

Breed Overview

Characteristic	Details
Group	Toy Group
Height	6–7 inches
Weight	3–7 pounds
Life Expectancy	12–16 years
Recognized by AKC	1888
Popularity (2024)	#22 of 202 breeds (AKC)

A Royal History

The Pomeranian traces its roots to the spitz-type sled dogs of the Arctic, bred down in size in the Pomerania region  now parts of Poland and Germany. Despite its small stature, the Pom retains that confident, big-dog spirit of its working ancestors.

The breed’s popularity skyrocketed in the 19th century thanks to Queen Victoria, who fell in love with the breed and bred smaller versions of her own. Ever since, the Pomeranian has reigned as a royal favorite and family companion.

Personality and Temperament

If you want a dog with energy, intelligence, and sass, the Pomeranian delivers in abundance. Known for being lively, bold, and inquisitive, this breed thrives on attention and loves to entertain.

• Affectionate but Independent: Poms adore their humans but enjoy moments of independence, too.
• Excellent Watchdogs: Despite their small size, they’re alert and quick to announce visitors.
• Best with Older Kids: They’re great with gentle, respectful children but may be too delicate for toddlers.
• Social but Selective: Early socialization helps them get along with other pets and people.

They’re happiest when they’re the center of attention and with their charm, it’s hard not to give it to them!

Grooming: That Signature Pom Coat

The Pomeranian’s magnificent double coat is one of its most defining features. The thick undercoat and fluffy outer coat give that iconic puffball appearance — but they do require care.

Grooming Tips:

• Brush weekly with a pin brush and slicker brush, reaching all the way to the skin to prevent matting.
• Professional grooming (bath, trim, nails, ears, and anal glands) every 4–6 weeks is recommended.
• Dental hygiene is crucial; small breeds are prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
• Keep nails short and check for tangles around the neck and behind the ears.

With consistent grooming, your Pom will stay fluffy, healthy, and fabulous.

Exercise & Training

Though small, Pomeranians are active and curious. They love short walks, indoor games, and even agility exercises.

• Exercise Needs: A few short walks and play sessions per day.
• Watch for Escape Artists: Their tiny size makes them masters of squeezing through fences or being targeted by birds of prey always supervising outdoors.
• Training: They’re quick learners but can be a bit stubborn. Use positive reinforcement and consistency.
• Housebreaking: Requires patience and routine — crate training works well.

Avoid letting them jump off furniture, as fragile bones can easily be injured.

Nutrition

Feed your Pomeranian a high-quality diet suitable for their age (puppy, adult, or senior). Feed the puppy according to the puppy nutrition guide. Due to their small size and fast metabolism:

• Divide food into 2–3 small meals daily to prevent hypoglycemia.
• Monitoring weight carefully  obesity can stress their joints and heart.
• Limit treats and avoid toxic human foods (like chocolate, grapes, or onions).
• Provide fresh water at all times.

Common Health Issues in Pomeranians

While generally healthy, Pomeranians are prone to several genetic and breed-specific conditions. Responsible breeders screen for these, but awareness helps every owner take better care of their pup.

1. Alopecia X (Black Skin Disease)

A cosmetic but distressing condition causing hair loss and darkened skin.

• Research Insight: A recent veterinary case report described a neutered female Pomeranian who regrew her coat after treatment with a deslorelin acetate (GnRH analog) implant, after melatonin therapy failed.
• Takeaway: Hormone-modulating treatments show promise; the condition is non-life-threatening but may take months to improve.

2. Chiari-like Malformation (CM) and Syringomyelia (SM)

• Recent Study (2015–2023):
  A landmark international study of 796 Pomeranians found:
  • CM prevalence: 54.9%
  • SM prevalence: 23.9%
• Common Symptoms:
  • Scratching at the neck or ears
  • Air licking or phantom scratching
  • Spontaneous pain or yelping
  • Head shaking or paw licking
• Risk Factors: Age, body weight, pedigree, and country of origin.
• Diagnosis: Requires MRI, symptoms alone aren’t reliable.
• Importance: Early recognition and screening can help prevent pain and improve quality of life.

3. Methaemoglobinemia (CYB5R3 Gene Mutation)

• New Research (University of Adelaide, 2021):
  Scientists discovered a defective CYB5R3 gene in Australian Pomeranians that causes congenital methemoglobinemia, reducing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
• Symptoms:
  • Blue or blue-brown tongue
  • Fatigue during exercise or stress
  • Increased risk during anesthesia
• Inheritance: Autosomal recessive — both parents must carry the gene.
• What’s Being Done: The University of Adelaide is collecting DNA cheek swabs from Pomeranians to develop a genetic screening test to help breeders eliminate the mutation.
• Takeaway: If your Pom shows a bluish tongue or tires easily, talk to your vet — this could be a hidden genetic issue.

4. Other Health Conditions

Below are clear, practical explanations of each condition, how it typically shows in small dogs like Pomeranians, how it’s diagnosed and treated, what you can do at home, and what to expect long-term.

Luxating patella (slipping kneecap)

What it is:
A luxating patella occurs when the kneecap (patella) moves out of its normal groove on the femur. It’s common in small-breed dogs and can be intermittent or permanent.

Signs to watch for:

• Occasional “skipping” or sudden lifting of a hind leg when walking.
• Intermittent lameness, especially after exercise.
• Reluctance to jump or run, hind limb stiffness.
• In more severe cases, persistent lameness and reduced activity.

How it’s diagnosed:
Veterinarians perform a physical ortho exam (manually luxating the patella) and may take X-rays to rule out concurrent issues or assess anatomy. Advanced cases sometimes need CT or gait analysis.

Treatment options:

• Conservative: rest, weight control, joint supplements (glucosamine/chondroitin), NSAIDs for pain as prescribed. Works for low-grade (I–II) luxations.
• Surgical: recommended for recurrent lameness or grade III–IV luxations — procedures realign the patella groove and supporting tissues. Post-op rehab (controlled exercise, physiotherapy) is important.

Prognosis:
Good for many dogs, especially with appropriate treatment. Surgery often restores normal function, though arthritis can develop over time.

Prevention/management:
Avoid high-impact activity that stresses knees in young dogs, maintain healthy weight, and choose breeders who screen for orthopedic issues.

Collapsed trachea

What it is:
A weakening and flattening of the tracheal rings causing the airway to partially collapse, reducing airflow. Small breeds — including Pomeranians — are predisposed.

Signs to watch for:

• A persistent, dry “honking” cough (often worse with excitement, pulling on a collar, or in hot/humid weather).
• Gagging or retching, exercise intolerance, and in severe cases, noisy breathing or difficulty breathing.

How it’s diagnosed:
Physical exam and history. X-rays of the neck/chest can show collapse; fluoroscopy (dynamic X-ray while breathing) is more sensitive. Rule out heart disease and other respiratory causes.

Treatment options:

• Medical: weight loss if needed, avoid collars (use a harness), cough suppressants, bronchodilators, short courses of corticosteroids if inflamed, antibiotics for secondary infections.
• Environmental: reduce irritants (smoke, aerosols), keep calm during walks, avoid overheating.
• Surgical/interventional: in severe cases, tracheal rings, prosthetic rings, or stenting may be considered — these carry risks and are typically for life-threatening obstruction.

Prognosis:
Variable. Many dogs do well with medical management for years; severe collapse has a guarded prognosis and may require advanced intervention.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

What it is:
CHF is the result of progressive heart disease (commonly mitral valve disease in small breeds) where the heart can no longer pump effectively, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs or abdomen.

Signs to watch for:

• Persistent coughing (often worse at night), shortness of breath, rapid breathing.
• Fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, fainting episodes.
• Swollen abdomen (ascites) in advanced cases.

How it’s diagnosed:
A vet will listen for heart murmurs and abnormal lung sounds, take chest X-rays, perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to evaluate valves and function, and may run bloodwork including cardiac biomarkers.

Treatment options:

• Medications: diuretics (e.g., furosemide) to remove excess fluid, pimobendan to improve cardiac output, ACE inhibitors, and other heart medications as indicated.
• Diet/management: low-sodium diets, strict weight control, and activity modification.
• Monitoring: regular rechecks and adjustments to medication as disease progresses.

Prognosis:
CHF is usually progressive but manageable. With appropriate medical therapy and monitoring, many dogs maintain good quality of life months to years after diagnosis.

Hypothyroidism

What it is:
Underactive thyroid (low production of thyroid hormone). Middle-aged dogs of many breeds can be affected; signs often develop gradually.

Signs to watch for:

• Weight gain despite normal appetite, lethargy, cold intolerance.
• Symmetrical hair loss, thinning coat, poor hair regrowth, dry or flaky skin.
• Occasionally behavioral changes or decreased activity.

How it’s diagnosed:
Blood tests measuring total T4, free T4, and sometimes TSH — plus ruling out other illnesses that mimic hypothyroidism. A vet will interpret tests in the context of clinical signs.

Treatment options:
Daily oral thyroid hormone replacement (levothyroxine). Most dogs show improvement in energy, weight, and skin over weeks to months. Regular monitoring of blood levels is required to adjust dose.

Prognosis:
Excellent with lifelong medication and monitoring — many dogs lead normal lives after treatment is started.

Seizures

What it is:
Seizures (convulsions) are episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Causes include idiopathic epilepsy (often inherited), metabolic disturbances, toxins, brain tumors, or infections.

Signs to watch for:

• Sudden collapsing with rhythmic paddling/twitching (generalized tonic-clonic seizure).
• Focal seizures (limited to one part of the body), sudden confusion, drooling, or circling.
• Post-ictal phase: disorientation, blindness, pacing, exhaustion after an event.

How it’s diagnosed:
Start with a thorough history and physical exam. Bloodwork (CBC, chemistry, thyroid, bile acids) to rule out metabolic causes; advanced diagnostics (MRI, CSF analysis, or referral neurology) if structural brain disease is suspected.

Treatment options:

• Emergency care: if seizures are prolonged (>5 minutes), repeated with no recovery (cluster seizures), or status epilepticus — immediate veterinary emergency treatment is required (IV anticonvulsants, stabilization).
• Long-term: anticonvulsant drugs (common choices include phenobarbital, potassium bromide, levetiracetam) to reduce frequency/severity. Monitoring blood levels and liver function is essential with some medications.
• Identify and treat the underlying cause when possible.

Prognosis:
Highly variable — dogs with idiopathic epilepsy often live many years with medication and monitoring. Prognosis worsens with progressive structural brain disease or uncontrolled, frequent seizures.

General guidance for owners

• When to see the vet: any new lameness, persistent cough, sudden breathing difficulty, unexplained weight gain or loss, collapse, or any seizure should prompt veterinary attention. Emergency care is needed for labored breathing, prolonged seizures, or collapse.
• Preventive steps: maintain ideal body weight, schedule regular wellness exams (including heart checks and dental care), use a harness instead of a collar (helps trachea), and choose breeders who screen parents for hereditary problems.
• Medication & monitoring: many of these conditions require lifelong medication and periodic bloodwork or imaging — follow your veterinarian’s monitoring schedule closely.
• Quality of life: with early detection and proper treatment, many Pomeranians live comfortable, active lives despite chronic conditions.

Living with a Pomeranian

Pomeranians are adaptable, they’re as happy in a small city apartment as they are in a large suburban home. They just need:

• Regular affection and engagement
• A safe, secure environment
• Mental stimulation through toys and training

They’re loyal, expressive, and love to be close to their humans, truly the perfect companion in a tiny package.

Fun Facts About Pomeranians

• Queen Victoria’s Pom “Marco” helped popularize the smaller size we see today.
• Pomeranians come in nearly 20 colors, though orange and red are most common.
• They often think they’re much bigger than they are — and will act like it!
• A Pom named Boo was once called “the world’s cutest dog,” with millions of followers on social media.

Final Thoughts

The Pomeranian is proof that good things come in small packages. With proper care, grooming, and attention to health, this cheerful little breed can bring joy and laughter for well over a decade.

Recent advances in veterinary genetics and neurology like studies on Alopecia X, Chiari-like malformation, and the CYB5R3 gene are helping breeders and vets better understand the Pom’s unique health landscape.

Owning a Pomeranian means more than having a pet, it means sharing your life with a tiny, loyal, and endlessly entertaining friend.

Frequently Asked Questions