Do You Know the Age of Your Pomeranian?

Your dog will of course, age much faster than you.  Each Pomeranian, just a humans, will age differently.  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.

Understanding How Old Your Pomeranian Is

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 until he/she is approximately 12 years old.  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.  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 a guideline of Pomeranian to Human years.

Elder dogs need different care than younger dogs. There are signs that you can look out for to know that your Pomeranian is starting to grow old.  When your Pomeranian is entering the senior years, you will want makes some changes such as what they eat, needed exercise and health warning signs to look out for.

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 mean that your dog is getting old.   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 gets old is the need to take them to the vet more often.  Old dogs need to been seen every six months.  It is recommended to begin a geriatric screening for your Pomeranian beginning at 9 to 11 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 and action to take if you notice these changes in your Pomeranian:

• Sudden loss of weight can be extremely serious. Take your Pomeranian to the vet as soon as possible

• Serious loss of appetite, to the point that your dog is eating almost nothing. See your vet right away.

•  If your Pomeranian has an increased appetite but does not have an increase in weight this may point to diabetes. Get to the vet as soon as possible.

•  Diarrhea or vomiting, if it lasts more than a day can be a sign of many problems. Don't hesitate to see the vet.

• Increased thirst, without a change in activity level, and increased urination are other signs of diabetes. Your Pomeranian should be tested as soon as possible

• Tiring more quickly than when younger is normal as a dog ages, but 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.

•  Coughing and excessive panting may indicate heart disease. If these symptoms persist even after you've modified your dog's exercise program, visit the vet.
  
•  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.

•  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 he no longer seems able to hear you.

  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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