POMERANIAN
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
by Lee Weston

     The Pomeranian breed is a very healthy dog, however, the buyer must be familiar with some of the most common ailments that can occur within any breeding program.  The buyer needs to see at least one parent, hopefully, the dam (mother).  Sometimes the sire (the father) is not available due to a variety of reasons, however, check with the breeder about the pedigree of both parents.
     In general, a responsible breeder will not purposely breed for a “teacup” size Pom. These tiny dogs are prone to serious medical and disposition problems.  Not all, but the majority of the tiny dogs can cost an owner a lot of money for medical treatment.  If you are interested in showing in conformation, a teacup Pom is extremely difficult to finish.
     If you are considering the possibility of starting a breeding program, it is important that you realize that these dogs are not prolific.  An average litter size is one to three puppies.  Another consideration is the cost of a stud fee, and veterinarian bills.  We do not recommend that dog breeding be attempted by anyone other than those with extensive knowledge, and a dedication to the improvement of the breed.
     Some other conditions that a new owner of a Pom should know about are:
 

        Luxating Patellas (Slipping Kneecaps)
        Luxating patellas is a common fault in Pomeranians.  This condition can either be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (trauma induced).  Be sure that both parents are certified "clear" of this condition, and that care is taken with the puppy to avoid damaging its knees.

For more information please see: Medical Index/Luxating Patellas.

        Hypothyroidism
        A simple blood test will determine the existence of the condition.  The symptoms can include skin and coat problems, sudden onset of aggressive behavior, itching, lethargy, musky odor, and many more to keep it simple.
 More information may be found in the Medical Index (Hypothyroidism).
 

        Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitus sicca) :

       While normal dog eyes are lusterous - dogs with dry eye have eyes  lacking in luster and appear  textured.   This condition is caused by the lack of tear production.  This can be due to lack of nerve stimulation of the tear glands, failure of the tear glands, or blockage of the ducts that carry the tears to the eyes.  Full diagnosis can only be performed by a Veterinarian to determine the cause.  Treatment will be dependant upon the cause and severity of the condition.
For more information please see : Medical Index/Dry Eye

        Hypoglycemia
        Hypoglycemia is commonly referred to as low blood-sugar. Dogs that go into hypoglycemia suffer from weakness, they can collapse, and/or go into seizures.
For further information please see : Medical Index/Hypoglycemia.

        Open Fontanel
        Some puppies are born with what is called, "open fontanels".  The fontanel is the location on the skull where all of the skull plates join. It is the "soft spot" at the top-center of a baby's head.
For further information please see : Medical Index/Open Fontanels.

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