Feeding a Pomeranian can be tricky; hence, if you’re planning to get one, you should consider learning about the ins and outs of Pomeranian.
For starters, you should choose the right kind of diet for your Pom. You should also know how often and what are the best times to feed a Pomeranian puppy.
If all of these are new to you, this article should equip you with everything you need to feed the Pomeranian dog. This way, the experience of feeding becomes a fun activity for you and your puppy.
Pomeranian Feeding Chart by Age: How Much to Feed Your Pomeranian?
The amount of food you should feed your Pomeranian will depend mainly on its age. For puppies, the recommended amount is roughly ⅓ to ½ cup. For adults, the ideal amount is around ½ to ⅔ cups. Meanwhile, senior Pomeranians only eat the same amount as puppies at around ⅓ to ½ cups daily.
Remember that consulting a professional vet about the appropriate feeding amount for your Pom is still the best way to go. This is because several factors influence your Pom’s diet, including age, weight, activity level, and gender.
For example, male dogs are actually more playful than female Poms. Hence, they might have a higher activity level and require more food.
That said, a veterinarian can assess and recommend a diet that will best fit your Pom. However, if you just want to know what a healthy diet looks like for a Pomeranian, check out the feeding guidelines below.
Pomeranian Puppy Feeding Chart (2 to 12 months)
The first four months of your Pomeranian puppy’s life are considered its nursing stage. Breastmilk from its mother is ideal at this stage.
Before feeding your puppy any kind of dog food, you should first know that puppies go through a weaning stage. This is the stage where they slowly transition from breast milk to actual puppy food.
Once your dog has gone through weaning, it is then that a dog food-centered diet is recommended.
On that note, here is a chart containing useful information on how much to feed your Pomeranian puppy:
Toy breeds, such as the Pomeranian, reach their full-size sooner compared to large breed dogs. This means that small breed dogs will require the right nutrition to fully support their fast growth spurt. As you can see from the tables above, protein and fats are essential for a Pomeranian puppy’s growth. This supports their rapidly growing muscles and bones.
Aside from giving food, you should also provide your puppy with plenty of water. This will keep your pooch healthy and well-hydrated throughout the day.
Here is a cute video of a Pomeranian puppy while eating its food:
Feeding food to my Pomeranian puppy | My Oreoo Story Part 5<a href="https://youtu.be/6rJKcJvSaaM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F6rJKcJvSaaM%2F0.jpg" alt="Feeding food to my Pomeranian puppy | My Oreoo Story Part 5" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Adult Pomeranian Feeding Chart (1 to 7 years)
Normally, Pomeranians shift to adult dog food from puppy food when they reach a year old. One way to tell if your Pomeranian puppy is becoming an adult is when its puppy teeth are falling off and replaced with adult teeth.
Adult Pomeranian puppies would normally require 30% of protein and, at most, 20% of fats. Adult Poms will also need more cups of adult food compared to puppy Poms.
For a more detailed guide, here’s a chart on how much adult dog food to feed a Pomeranian:
As you may notice, the protein and fat requirements for your adult dog’s diet are still significantly high. They need these nutrients to sustain their energy as they become more playful and active at this age.
As part of the toy breed family, Pomeranian adult dogs should eat food that can help them regulate their metabolism more effectively. This will help them replenish their strength, as they are high-energy breeds.
A high protein diet with balanced calorie intake is the best-recommended diet for your Pom. This will regulate its adult weight while ensuring that it receives a nutritious diet.
Mobility is also important in adult Pomeranians at this age. Hence, you should include more carbohydrates in your puppy’s diet.
Fresh food high in omega fatty acids, like fish oil or salmon oil, is also recommended for adult Poms.
Senior Pomeranian Feeding Chart (8 years and above)
When your Pomeranian reaches the age of eight years, it is now considered a senior dog.
At this age, your dog will use less energy and only want shorter walks. As a result, less food is required in your Pomeranian’s diet.
This chart will help you determine how much food your senior Pomeranian dog should eat:
It is important that the food for senior dogs should have enough glucosamine and omega fatty acids. These ingredients are common in recommended senior dog foods.
These nutrients will also help your dog to strengthen its immune system and are also healthy for the skin and coat. Moreover, additional calories are not recommended anymore.
As you can see, the amount you need to feed a Pomeranian puppy changes as it grows into an adult. Keeping a well-balanced diet will keep your Pomeranian in good shape and health, no matter the age.
Pomeranian Feeding Frequency: How Often Should You Feed Your Pomeranian?
Generally, a Pomeranian puppy from 0 to 12 weeks should feed three to four times daily or through free feeding, while puppies from 3 to 12 months should feed thrice daily. Moreover, adults 1 to 6 years must be fed thrice or twice a day, while seniors would only require feeding once or twice a day.
Your individual Pomeranians may also tend to their own nuances with regard to feeding, so observing your dog’s behavior with food is a must to ensure that you are able to adjust to giving them sufficient food and nutrition.
Here is a table that shows the recommended feeding frequency for Pomeranian puppies:
Younger puppies should always have access to their food. However, free-feeding may cause obesity and bloat for smaller breeds, so make sure to always monitor your puppy should you decide to practice free-feeding.
When they turn 3 to 12 months old, it is recommended that you feed them three times a day. You can also use dog treats, but only sparingly and for training purposes only.
For dogs aged one year and above, you can feed them three or two times a day, depending on their needs. Meanwhile, for senior dogs, a feeding frequency of once or twice a day will suffice.
Optimal Feeding Times for Pomeranians
Pomeranian puppies up to 12 weeks old may have 5-hour intervals in between feeding times. Meanwhile, puppies below 1-year-old may have up to an 8-hour feeding interval. Further, adults may follow a 12-hour interval, while seniors may be fed every 12 hours or only once in the morning or evening.
The Pomeranian is a small, highly energetic toy breed. Maintaining regular intervals of feeding times will keep their energy levels consistent throughout the day.
The table below shows a sample chart with the optimal feeding guidelines for a Pomeranian:
Puppies aged 0 to 12 weeks may be fed up to 4 times a day, but free feeding may also be considered. This is a critical stage for them, and they will need all the nutrients they can take.
However, be careful when free feeding because Pomeranians’ blood sugar levels can easily increase.
When they reach 3 to 12 months old, they may be fed early in the morning, at noon, and around dinnertime.
When a Pomeranian reaches adulthood at 1 to 7 years of age, it is recommended to feed it only twice a day — once in the morning and in the evening. This should be enough to provide them with their daily nutritional needs.
For senior Pomeranians seven years and up, you can feed them once in the morning or evening, depending on your preferred schedule.
It is also important to note that sticking to a strict feeding schedule will make Pomeranians accustomed to it and develop discipline.
Best Dog Foods for Pomeranians
A Pomeranian puppy’s digestive tract is small and sensitive because it is a tiny dog. Because of this, selecting among the best and high-quality dog food is critical.
Like in human consumption, home cooking is one of the best ways to ensure that your dog eats the healthiest food.
If you don’t have time, plenty of high-quality commercial puppy food is available in your local pet stores.
Giving them grain-free kibble and wet foods are also appropriate for their sensitive stomach.
Below is a list to help you pick the best dog food for your pet Pomeranian:
Wet Food: Opting to choose wet food to feed your puppy is best when your puppy has weak teeth or is not in good condition to eat. Pomeranians can be a bit picky with their food, so choosing to feed them wet food, in this case, is a wise decision. Wet dog food is more costly, but you may mix it with other dog foods to extend it.
Dry Food: Ensure that the dry food you give is easy to chew because they have small digestive organs. Dry dog foods normally contain omega-fatty acids, vitamin E, and other nutrients essential for your dog. Also, dry kibble promotes stronger teeth for your dog. Ultimately, dry dog food is more convenient and accessible in local pet stores.
Raw or Biologically-Approved Raw Food Diet (BARF) Diet: Raw or BARF diet means giving your puppy a bunch of raw foods, including but not limited to raw meat, crushed bones, raw eggs, and some fruits and vegetables. However, most giving a raw food diet is not always safe for your puppy. Thus, consulting your vet about this diet is critical to your dog’s health.
Homemade Diet: Some commercial dog food contains fillers in them. Opting to prepare your puppy food at home means avoiding an upset stomach, especially since fillers are inappropriate for a Pomeranian’s digestive system. Choosing a properly planned homemade diet will ensure that your puppy gets all the necessary vitamins and nutrients.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), a homemade diet can cause nutrition deficiency for your Pom, especially if you will not consider its health requirements.
Thus, make sure to always research first everything that your Pom eats.
Understanding dog food labels will assist you in selecting the best food for your puppy. Take your time learning the ingredients, nutritional value, and other important information before letting your Pom puppy eat.
Also, keep in mind that having veterinary guidance about your dog’s diet will allow you to choose the best foods among these options, especially since Pomeranians are sensitive when it comes to food.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pomeranian
The next thing you know, your Pomeranian is already behind you when you’re preparing something in the kitchen, asking for a bite. However, there are certain foods that you should avoid feeding your Pomeranian.
To avoid feeding toxins to your Pomeranian, having knowledge about toxic food for dogs is necessary.
Avocados have been proven to be toxic for a Pomeranian diet. It contains persin, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and bowel movement problems in your puppy.
Sometimes, you would want to spoil your Pomeranian with some tasty treats. However, candy and gums contain a highly toxic substance known as xylitol. It is known to raise your puppy’s insulin level, which causes liver problems.
Most dog owners are already aware that feeding chocolate to their dogs is hazardous to their health. Even a small amount of theobromine in chocolate can cause your dog to vomit, have diarrhea, or die.
You should also keep your dog away from caffeine-containing foods. Caffeine causes various issues in most dogs, including anxiety, breathlessness, and even bleeding.
Grapes and raisins are also harmful to a Pom’s diet. According to research, they cause kidney problems in your puppy. Even a small bite can make them sick and cause symptoms such as vomiting and anxiety.
It is always best to seek veterinary advice about which foods should your Pomeranian puppy eat and which should be avoided. To avoid confusion, request a comprehensive list of these foods if possible.
It is your responsibility as a dog owner to be aware of which foods to avoid for your Pomeranian. Make sure that the items on this list are out of reach of your Pomeranian puppy.
How to Transition Your Pomeranian to a New Food
Transitioning to new foods can cause health problems to your dog if done abruptly. Hence, the transition should be gradual while monitoring its effects on the dog.
In order to help you in transitioning your Pomeranian to a new food, here is a guide:
However, because some Pomeranians tend to have more sensitive digestive tracts, transitioning them to new foods may take longer. Always track the effects of the transition to know if it’s effective for your dog.
For smaller dogs, a minimal change in their diet can already impact their body weight. As much as possible, you want to familiarize your Pom with the same food unless a change is inevitable.
If your dog experiences problems like vomiting or diarrhea while in transition, that’s when you know it has allergic reactions.
Feeding an Overweight Pomeranian
Pomeranians are not immune to gaining excessive weight, even if they are small dogs. Hence, knowing how to treat a Pomeranian that has gained too much weight is essential.
You can continue to feed your dog regular food, but reduce the kibbles and substitute lower-calorie ingredients. A good tip is to take out at least ¼ of the kibble of what your Pom eats and replace it with low-calorie vegetables.
You can also reduce your dog’s calorie intake by reducing the snacks you give. These treats account for approximately 10% to 30% of your dog’s calories, and significantly decreasing these will aid in weight loss.
You also must ensure that you make your Pom’s diet light yet nutritious. They are a small breed, and to achieve a healthy weight, foods rich in protein and essential fatty acids are necessary.
Aside from these feeding options, you can gradually increase your Pomeranian’s exercise time. Adding five minutes to a dog’s daily walk can have a significant impact, especially if it’s a small breed.
After you’ve tried these options, keep a close eye on your dog’s weight. Ask your doctor to provide veterinary advice right away if you notice a significant decrease in its weight.
As you don’t want your Pom to be overweight, you also want to avoid it being underweight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Pomeranian Not Eating?
There could be a number of reasons why your Pomeranian isn’t eating. It could be because it has a dental problem that makes chewing or eating painful. Young puppies and senior dogs experience this more often.
Aside from that, the weather can influence Pomeranians’ appetite. In the summer, they typically eat less, with a 10% to 20% reduction in their normal diet.
However, if your dog experiences severe symptoms such as vomiting, anxiety, or difficulty breathing, it is most likely due to more serious health issues or excessive stress. When this occurs, contact your veterinarian.
Do Pomeranians Eat a Lot?
Because a Pomeranian is a small dog, it tends to eat more frequently than larger breeds. This is because it needs to replenish its energy every once in a while. Hence, It is also essential to monitor the amount of intake to prevent obesity.
However, the amount of food your Pomeranian should eat depends on several factors such as age, weight, activity level, and more.
Can Pomeranians Eat Bones?
Pomeranians can chew raw bones. Bones are high in minerals and nutrients that benefit your dog. Raw bones are also known to keep their teeth clean.
However, several veterinarians are opposed to feeding bones to dogs because it may cause serious health problems. As a result, you should exercise extreme caution whenever you want to feed your puppy with some bones.
Can Pomeranians Be Vegetarians?
Dogs can be vegetarians, in general. In the case of Pomeranians, however, you should be cautious about the vegetables you feed them because some may be harmful. Examples of these are onions and garlic.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for playful toy breeds, or small breeds perfect for apartment living, then Pomeranians can be the perfect best friend. However, feeding them can include several factors that you should take note of.
Overall, Pomeranians have a very sensitive digestive system. Thus, properly knowing how much food your dog eats is essential.
Feeding Pomeranians might be a little bit confusing at first. As small dogs, it is thought that they don’t eat as much as larger breeds.
However, their high activity level requires one to feed them more frequently than other large dogs.
If this guide has helped you with your Pomeranian feeding in any way, please leave us your thoughts in the comment section below!
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