Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog
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The Age of Your Pomeranian
Do You Know the Age of Your Pomeranian?
Your dog will of course, age much faster than you. The old saying that a dog ages 7 years for each human year is not exactly true.
Each dog breed ages differently. With literally hundreds of dog breeds, the scientific community needed a simple and easy way of approximating a dog's age Therefore, the basic rule of 1=7 became popular.
The truth is that small breed dogs age much differently than medium breeds or larger breeds. Because of the makeup of their bodies, they will grow older at a slightly different rate.
Your dog will of course, age much faster than you. The old saying that a dog ages 7 years for each human year is not exactly true.
Each dog breed ages differently. With literally hundreds of dog breeds, the scientific community needed a simple and easy way of approximating a dog's age Therefore, the basic rule of 1=7 became popular.
The truth is that small breed dogs age much differently than medium breeds or larger breeds. Because of the makeup of their bodies, they will grow older at a slightly different rate.
As your Pomeranian ages, their needs will change. Just like humans, dogs are very individual in the way in which they age. Smaller dogs, such as the Pomeranian generally live longer than larger breeds. A Pomeranian may not show signs of aging anywhere as early as 7 and as old as 12 years.
In the 1930’s the life span of a dog reached its peak at 7 years! Today, with proper care, a Pomeranian may live well into its late teens if not longer. Many vets judge the real human age equivalence of a dog based on its weight. With Pomeranians weighing less than 20 pounds, the following is the Pomeranian Age Chart.
In the 1930’s the life span of a dog reached its peak at 7 years! Today, with proper care, a Pomeranian may live well into its late teens if not longer. Many vets judge the real human age equivalence of a dog based on its weight. With Pomeranians weighing less than 20 pounds, the following is the Pomeranian Age Chart.
| Pomeranian Years | Human Years | Pomeranian Years | Human Years | Pomeranian Years | Human Years |
Pomeranian Years | Human Years |
| 5= | 30 | 6= | 40 | 7= | 44 | 8= | 48 |
| 9= | 52 | 10= | 56 | 11= | 60 | 12= | 64 |
| 13= | 68 | 14= | 72 | 15= | 76 | 16= | 80 |
| 17= | 84 | 18= | 88 | 19= | 92 | 20= | 96 |
One of the first signs of a dog aging is slowing down. Your Pomeranian will take longer to go up the stairs, get up from a lying position, etc. Never assume that a change automatically means it is a sign that your dog is getting older. Loss of mobility can be caused by many medical issues including thyroid conditions and arthritis. With the right medication, some issues can be resolved and your Pomeranian will be back to normal.
One of the biggest changes you will need to make when your Pomeranian is a senior dog is the need to take them to the vet more often. Older dogs need to been seen every 6 months. It is recommended to begin a geriatric screening for your Pomeranian beginning at 8 years old. Basically, a geriatric screening for a dog will be one that includes a full physical exam, blood tests and possibly an electrocardiogram. Specialized tests may be done for your Pomeranian depending on their health history.
One of the biggest changes you will need to make when your Pomeranian is a senior dog is the need to take them to the vet more often. Older dogs need to been seen every 6 months. It is recommended to begin a geriatric screening for your Pomeranian beginning at 8 years old. Basically, a geriatric screening for a dog will be one that includes a full physical exam, blood tests and possibly an electrocardiogram. Specialized tests may be done for your Pomeranian depending on their health history.
In between visits to the vet and annual geriatric screenings, you can stay alert to behavioral changes and other signs of aging. Here are some things to watch for. Take your Pom to the vet right away if you notice:
Behavioral changes that you may see in your older Pomeranian dog include:
o Separation anxiety. You may note that when you leave your older dog alone, he/she become destructive or barks or whines or loses control of elimination
o Uncharacteristic aggression. This may be due to painful joints, a drug reaction, or intolerance for new people and new circumstances; your older Pomeranian will like things to remain the same
o Confusion, lack of attentiveness, disorientation, roaming in circles, withdrawn
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Sudden loss of weight - This can be extremely serious.
- Serious loss of appetite, to the point that your dog is eating almost nothing.
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If your Pomeranian has an increased appetite but does not have an increase in weight this may point to diabetes.
- Diarrhea or vomiting, if it lasts more than a day can be a sign of many problems. t
- Increased thirst, without a change in activity level, and increased urination are other signs of diabetes.
- Tiring more quickly than when younger is normal as a dog ages, however this may also be a sign of disease affecting the heart or lungs. Be alert to your dog becoming excessively out of breath after minimal exercise. Have your vet check for cardio-pulmonary problems as soon as possible, if you notice such symptoms. If the vet determines all is normal, you can continue an exercise program, but modify it in order not to overtax your Pomeranian.
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Coughing and excessive panting may indicate heart disease. If these symptoms persist even after you've modified your dog's exercise program, this must be diagnosed.
- Difficulty in getting up from a lying position or other problems with moving may indicate arthritis. Your vet will be able to advise you on ways you can relieve your dog's discomfort and lack of mobility. Medication can relieve swelling in joints, supplements may help to lubricate joints and an orthopedic bed works well to help an older dog receive relief from sore muscles.
- Problems with vision and hearing are natural as a Pomeranian ages. Accommodate these changes as best you can -- by not changing the location of furniture, for example, or clapping instead of calling your dog's name when they have trouble hearing you. When hearing loss is gradual, you may find it very helpful to begin training your Pom to rely on hand signals instead of voice commands.
Behavioral changes that you may see in your older Pomeranian dog include:
o Separation anxiety. You may note that when you leave your older dog alone, he/she become destructive or barks or whines or loses control of elimination
o Uncharacteristic aggression. This may be due to painful joints, a drug reaction, or intolerance for new people and new circumstances; your older Pomeranian will like things to remain the same
o Confusion, lack of attentiveness, disorientation, roaming in circles, withdrawn
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