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Feeding a Pomeranian

Overview

Proper feeding is vital for your dog's health and well-being. Pom puppies need proper nutrition to grow, adult Pomeranians need a great diet to maintain health, and seniors need the best food possible to meet the changing needs of an older dog.

Your Pom's diet should be monitored and reassessed often to ensure that you are staying on track; sometimes things can veer off course.

While it may seem a bit overwhelming to find the right food for your particular Pomeranian, this section will cover everything you want to know.

Don't need all the details and are just looking for recommendations? Jump to: Recommended Food for Pomeranian Puppies and Dogs.

Switching Food for a New Pomeranian Puppy

The food that a pup was given by the breeder or former owner is usually not the one that you'll chose for your Pom. So, this inevitably means making a switch. This should be done gradually; if it's done too fast, it can cause intestinal distress. You can make a slow and steady change-over in the following way:

Week 1: Meals consist of 1/4 new food, 3/4 old, mixed well.

Week 2: Meals consist of 1/2 new, 1/2 old, mixed well.

Week 3: Meals consist of 3/4 new, 1/4 old, mixed well.

Week 4: The Pomeranian puppy is now fully on their new food that you have chosen to meet their nutritional needs

How Often to Feed a Pomeranian

How many meals you give to a Pomeranian each day will depend on their age.

Brand new puppies - For the first month, it is recommended to free-feed. This means that fresh food is left out at all times. This is because with young pups, blood sugar can drop quickly, and one cause of this is not eating often enough.

Many new puppies will need to be reminded where their food bowl is. And be sure to replace the food (not just top it off) throughout the day, to avoid kibble from getting stale and less palatable.

Puppies 3 months to 12 years - Feed your Pomeranian puppy 3 meals per day, and several dry snacks. If you will be gone during the day for the mid-meal, this can be given via a treat dispensing toy like the PetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Dog Toy .

Poms 1 year and older - Some adult Pomeranians still do best with 3 meals per day, especially if they are home by themselves and others may be happy with 2 meals per day. In either case, dry snacks should also be given.

How Much to Feed a Pomeranian

Feeding a Pom the right amount of food can be a bit tricky.

One of the biggest elements that can throw owners off is that Pomeranians, and especially those that are standard size (3-7 lbs.), do not eat a lot of food. After all, this toy breed's daily intake will be significantly smaller than what humans eat or what larger dogs consume.

Each Pomeranian's food requirements will be unique to that dog and are dependent on exact age, health status, activity level, and individual metabolism. This said, puppies in general require 55 calories per pound of body weight and adults require 40 to 45 calories per pound of body weight.

To help you feed your Pomeranian the correct amount:

Weigh your Pom. Serving size is almost always based on age and weight. So, do not guess what your Pom weighs; know this figure at least within 1 pound.
Follow the feeding instructions on the packaging of the food that you are offering. Note that this will usually be per DAY (not meal) and that it is assumed you are also offering several in-between-meal snacks.
Exact servings size will vary depending on the type of food that a dog eats, for example dry vs canned and high-quality (no fillers) vs low-quality (fillers).
Keeping the above factors in mind that can affect serving size, most Pomeranians eat between 1/3 to 1 cup per day.
When a puppy is going through a growth spurt, his appetite may increase and therefore he may need slightly larger serving sizes. So, if your pup appears to want more after finishing their meal, feel free to offer a 2nd serving. It is almost impossible for a growing Pomeranian puppy to eat too much.

To summarize, the amount of food that you feed your Pomeranian will vary quite a bit, depending on all of the above elements. The feeding instructions on your chosen brand, which is based on weight and age, will be within the correct range.

Be sure to use common sense when feeding. You can use the above as a guidelines; however if your Pom walks away from the bowl after 5 minutes, baring any health issues or weight loss, this means he or she is full. And if your Pom eats what you give to him within 10 minutes and looks to you for more, offer another 1/8 cup.

The Change-over From Puppy to Adult, and Adult to Senior Food

Pomeranians are officially adults at the one-year mark; however, the age to switch a Pomeranian from puppy food to adult food can be a bit earlier, at the 9 to 10-month mark. Growth is notably slowing or has stopped by this age and puppy formulas have a bit too much fat content at this point.

At about the 8 to 9 year mark, you will want to start thinking about switching your Pomeranian over from an adult variety to a senior variety.

Do keep in mind that some brands are appropriate for both adult and senior dogs. One of the biggest elements will be a need for increased omegas and glucosamine. These can be found in sufficient amounts in some food or can be given as supplements.

Wet Dog Food Vs Dry Dog Food

In general, if you are feeding your Pomeranian a commercial dog food, you will want to stick with the dry formula. A continual diet of manufactured wet food can lead to runny bowels and is not beneficial towards maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

This said, some Pomeranians balk at dry food, so you can do a few of things to make it more appealing:

You may wish to:

Blend in just a small amount of canned food (stick with the same brand, if possible)
Drizzle a bit of low-sodium chicken or beef broth over it and mix it very well
After adding some moisture, warm the food in the microwave. Mix it well and check the temperature before feeding it to your Pom

Grain-free Vs Grains

The reason for grain-free dog foods:

Though it is often widely exaggerated how many are affected, some dogs have sensitivities or allergies to some or all grains. Symptoms of an intolerance or allergy include itching, skin irritations, and breathing-related problems. There may also be stomach and digestive-related issues including gas, flatulence, and bloating.

In many cases, it is grains such as wheat and rye that have high levels of gluten that cause issues. Yet, going grain-free is a simple method to wipe the diet of all potential triggers and allergens.

In the last few years, reports started to come in that some dogs that were breeds not prone to the heart issue of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were developing the disease and the connection was made of those dogs being on a grain-free diet.

In December of 2018, as published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, a report by Dr. Lisa Freeman and several other experts showed a suspected link between DCM and not just grain-free dog food but specifically a BEG diet which stands for special boutique brands that had exotic meats (like alligator, ostrich, or kangaroo) along with being grain-free and having peas, legumes, lentils, and/or potatoes as a top 5 ingredient. The FDA was still investigating and there were no dog food recalls associated with this.

On June 27, 2019, the FDA issued an alert. They identified 16 grain-free dog food brands as being the most commonly seen foods that dogs that developed DCM were eating (appearing 10 or more times in reports). The brands are as follows (keep in mind it is just the grain-free recipes):

Acana (67 reports)
Zignature (64 reports)
Taste of the Wild (53 reports)
4Health (32 reports)
Earthborn Holistic (32 reports)
Blue Buffalo (31 reports)
Nature’s Domain (29 reports)
Fromm (24 reports)
Merrick (16 reports)
California Natural (15 reports)
Natural Balance (15 reports)
Orijen (12 reports)
Nature’s Variety (10 reports)
Nutrisource (10 reports)
Nutro (10 reports)
Rachael Ray Nutrish (10 reports)

Note that some, but not all, brands had the exotic meats seen with BEG diets. For example, Zignature with kangaroo was seen quite a bit but also appearing was Acana chicken and beef recipes.

The reported cases between 2014 and 2019 were 524; this includes mostly dogs and just a few cats. It's important to keep in mind that this is a very small number compared to the 77 million dogs that are living in the US. Of the 524 incident reports, 3 involved Pomeranians.

Currently, there are no recalls yet and there are still numerous more studies that need to be done. For now, many veterinarians are recommending to owners of breeds prone to DCM to switch to a diet that has some healthy grains if there are no known allergies. The Pomeranian is not prone to DCM (which is true for most toy and small breeds).

The question of having a Pomeranian on a grain-free diet or one with grains does not have a quick 'yes' or 'no' answer.

If there is a known allergy that has been confirmed via allergy testing, of course the allergen should be avoided.

If a sensitivity or allergy is merely suspected, you may want to see how your Pomeranian does with no gluten (no wheat, no rye), but with some healthy gluten-free grains like brown rice, white rice, oatmeal, or quinoa (technically a seed) and/or other grains like barley that dogs tend to tolerate well.

And, if you choose to offer a grain-free diet, it's generally recommended to avoid exotic meats and stick with traditional proteins such as chicken, turkey, beef, or fish.

Ahead, we will show recommendations for the best foods for Poms both with and without grains.

Elements to Think About When Choosing a Dog Food

There are an incredible amount of options in regard to dog food and it may seem overwhelming at first. In addition, some popular brands (which you would assume are a good choice) are not good at all. They get by on name recognition and it really is a shame.

First, it is important to understand why some dog foods can be so detrimental to a dog's health.

Inferior foods often contain:

Fillers - Many dog food brands (some quite well-known) are packed with fillers. These are ingredients which have little to no nutritional value and simply 'bulk up' the dog food to make it appear as if there is more to it. These fillers pass right through the body since there is nothing of significance to be adsorbed. This can lead to nutritional deficiency and also behavioral issues such as eating grass or eating feces.

You will want to avoid any brand that contains such things as husks (corn, peanut, or any type), hulls (oat, peanut, rice, or other), corn (ground, corn gluten, corn bran, or corn germ meal), or mill run (soybean, wheat, or other).

By-products - The term 'by-product' may not sound so terrible. However, by-products are animals parts that are not fit for human consumption. This includes necks, intestines, spleens, bones, heads, and even undeveloped eggs.

Generic meats - Be very aware of this one; it can be deceiving. If a dog food lists 'poultry', this can be any sort of bird: geese, buzzards, seagulls, former pet birds that were euthanized at shelters, etc.

Any other listing of simply 'animal' in the term usually refers to meat from '4D livestock' which is dead, dying, diseased, or disabled animals.

Chemical flavoring or coloring and synthetic preservatives - These may very well be the most important elements to avoid when choosing the right food for your Pomeranian. Artificial chemical additives can do a real number on a Pom.

Some are agents used in pesticides, or to make rubber. Some have been proven to cause both liver and blood issues. And all are known for causing terrible allergic reactions. This can include skin reactions such as itching, rash, blisters, welts, bumps, hives, drying, peeling, and/or fur loss. And/or it may cause a Pomeranian to have an gastrointestinal distress (upset stomach, runny bowels, diarrhea, nausea).

Some of the common additives to avoid include glyceryl monostearate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and propyl gallate. But, there are many others.

Coloring dyes are horrible and are a common trigger of allergies including intense itching and some are known carcinogens. Steer very clear of Yellow #5, Red #40, Blue #2 and Yellow #6.

Also note that many dogs are sensitive to soy.

Good food choices contain:

Essentially, the best foods will have none of the elements that we've covered. It will have:

No generic meats; only wholesome real meat sources such as chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, rabbit, and fish.
No by-products
No fillers
No harmful flavoring, coloring, or chemical preservatives that can cause issues
Is all-natural; will use a vitamin mix (often listed as mixed tocopherols) to preserve the food sometimes along with certain plants like spearmint and peppermint.
Offers wholesome vegetables and fruits
Offers good fiber levels and extra bonuses like omega-3 sourced from fish oil, probiotics, antioxidants, and may have supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin.
Is both sourced and made in the USA or North America (which includes Canada). One notable exception to avoiding overseas dog food ingredients is New Zealand, which has strict guidelines equal to those in the US.

Dog Food Brands to Stay Away From

The list of dog foods rated 1 to 3 stars (out of 5) is incredibly long. However, many of the brands that bring about immediate recognition are the worst offenders. They are often the ones stacked up high in pet supply stores and supermarkets, and many are the ones that air TV commercials.

The go-to source for rating dog food, Dog Food Advisor, rates brands from 1 star to 5, based on a large number of factors, including whether or not there are any nasty preservatives or additives, fat-carb-protein ratios, levels of corn, soy and other cheap fillers, and fiber content.

They also investigate ingredient sources, keep track of which brands have had recalls, and even look into whether or not a company has an animal nutritionist to help create healthy recipes.

Some of the dog foods to stay away from that range from a terrible 1 star to a 'just okay' 3 star include but are not limited to:

Back to Basics (grain-free, dry), Beneful, some formulas of Blue Buffalo, Defender, some formulas of Diamond, some formulas of Eukanuba (the breed specfic formulas, dry), Evolution, Full Balance, some formulas of Hill's Science Diet, many formulas of Iams, some formuals of Natural Balance, Purina, Rachael Ray Nutrish (dry), and Royal Canin.

Recommended Food for Pomeranian Puppies and Dogs

Now that we've covered what to avoid and what you want, let's look to some dog food brands that fit the bill.

With Healthy Grains:

1. Merrick Classic Small Breed Recipe.

This is an excellent choice for lots of reasons. The base of this wholesome recipe is chicken and turkey and the grains in this blend are the type that are healthy and usually very well tolerated: quinoa, oatmeal (easy on the tummy), brown rice, and barley.

There is also chicken liver, salmon, apples, blueberries, carrots, and chia seeds. The rest of the ingredients are either to naturally preserve the food or are added extras like probiotics, vitamins & minerals, and omega fatty acids (great for the skin and fur). This also has excellent levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which is a fantastic joint and hip supplement that most Poms can use (due to being prone to knee and elbow issues).

This is sized perfectly for little dogs like the Pomeranian and it's made in the USA.

2. Wellness Complete Health for Toy Breeds.

The Wellness company's commitment to offering a superior food is strong (also see their CORE formula below for a grain-free option). This is designed specifically for toy breeds with a base blend of chicken, turkey, rice (brown and white) and oatmeal (again, great for the tummy).

Other wholesome ingredients include peas, carrots, spinach, apples, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and flaxseed. This formula contains healthy omegas for good skin and coat health, probiotics, and good levels of fiber.

There is no corn, wheat, soy, by-products, nasty fillers, or artificial ingredients. It is preserved using mixed vitamins (mixed tocopherals) and plants like green tea and spearmint. There is also added extras like glucosamine and chondroitin. This is sized ideally and is made in the USA.

3. Halo Holistic Natural for Small Breeds.

Halo's focus is on offering holistic recipes, meaning organic (antibiotic-free, hormone-free, cage-free, non-GMO) and locally grown wholesome and non-processed foods, and they do an amazing job.

They offer several base recipes including grain-free game bird (turkey, duck, and goose) and grain-free fish (salmon and whitefish), but we'll focus on chicken since this section is for kibbles that do have some grains and it should be noted that poultry is usually one of the most well-tolerated proteins for toy breeds.

The ingredients include chicken, chicken liver, eggs, and peas. The grains are oatmeal and pearled barley. There is also blueberries, cranberries, sweet potato, and carrots. The remaining ingredients are to naturally preserve the food or are added extras like flaxseed (for omega-3) or probiotics.

As the name implies, this is sized specifically for small dogs and this is made in the USA.

Grain-free:

Please note: If you have questions about choosing a grain-free vs grain formula, please read over the previous section in this article: 'Grain-free Vs Grains'.

1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry for Small Breeds.

Wellness makes our list both in the previous 'With Healthy Grains' kibble via their Complete formula and here in the Grain-free section with their CORE formula. Please note that kibble size is essentially the same with both the 'Toy' and 'Small Breed' formulas.

This blend is near ideal, with ingredients that you want and none that you don't. Wholesome ingredients include chicken, turkey, salmon, peas, carrots, spinach, lentils, potato, sweet potato, apple, and blueberries.

There are also guaranteed levels of omega-3 fatty acids from both salmon oil and flaxseed (important for both skin and coat health), good levels of glucosamine and chondroitin (for joint health), good levels of fiber (for good digestion), and lots of probiotics and antioxidants.

Going even a step above, Wellness uses filtered water as they prepare the food. This is 100% free of grains, corn, soy, artificial coloring or flavoring, synthetic chemicals, and animal by-products, and is made in the USA.

2. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free for Small Breeds.

This kibble, made by Merrick, is generally classified as a 4-star food, which is a good rating, and is geared for the more budget conscious. So, if you find that money is very tight but you still want to ensure that you're feeding your Pomeranian a good food without detrimental ingredients, you can opt for this and not feel guilty.

You may wonder what the trade-offs are. The most notable difference is that there are limited ingredients, so you'll see fewer wholesome fruits and veggies. However, this does contain all needed vitamins and minerals and importantly does not contain any of the nasty things that dog foods can have.

There are 3 recipe blends: salmon & whitefish, chicken, and pork, beef & lamb. In looking at the salmon & whitefish recipe, ingredients include salmon, potatoes, chicken, peas, whitefish, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.

There is no corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives and this is made in the USA.

Whole Earth Farms also has a wide range of wet stews (beef, chicken, duck, lamb, salmon, or turkey), if your Pom prefers a mix of both dry and wet food.

Home Cooking

You may wish to opt to home cook for your Pom, and this can be a good choice if you like to stay busy in the kitchen, and if you take the time to carefully choose good ingredients. Some people find that this saves money, especially if food is bought in bulk.

Some of the ingredients that you will want to use are:

Proteins: This includes white chicken meat or turkey (de-boned, no skin, baked or broiled), lean beef, fish (mackerel, whitefish, salmon, herring, walleye, flounder), lamb, bison, gizzards (liver, beef, or chicken), and/or pork (should not be the main protein source, but can be blended into meals). Other sources include beans such as lima beans, kidney beans, and butter beans (must be cooked).

Vegetables: This includes peas, carrots, spinach, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, and butternut squash. You can also offer asparagus, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli (in moderation since these foods can cause gas,). Pumpkin in moderation is fine but typically reserved to help ease upset stomach issues. Canines can eat tomatoes; however, this is typically used as an ingredient in mixed meals, to add flavor.

Grains/carbs: This includes oatmeal (plain), white or brown rice (if no intolerance), quinoa, potato, and/or sweet potato.

Fruit: This includes blueberries, raspberries (both are low calorie, high in antioxidants, and water-packed), strawberries, huckleberries, banana, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mango, kiwi, pear, peaches (no pit), plums (no pit), nectarines (no pit), fresh pineapple, and apple (no core, no seeds). Dogs can also have watermelon and oranges in moderation.

Added extras: This includes cottage cheese, plain whole white yogurt, eggs (most dogs do best with scrambled eggs vs. boiled eggs), and peanut butter.

Read more about homemade dog food for Pomeranians including reasons to make the switch, top benefits, and a 40-recipe cookbook with some incredible dishes (and step-by-step photos).

Particular Food Ingredients - We have sections regarding certain food items:

Can a Pomeranian eat Broccoli - This is a great food for humans, but what about dogs?

Cheese - Are you a cheese fanatic? If so, you may be wondering if your Pom can eat some too. There are some types that are okay to give.

Eggs - This is a great source of protein,and a reasonable amount of eggs (most often scrambled egg) can be added to meals for a bit of a boost.

Oranges - This popular fruit is indeed healthy and is not toxic to dogs; but, it does contain quite a bit of sugar. See how to offer the right about to your Pom.

Peanuts - If you're munching away on peanuts and want to see if you can safely give a few to your Pom, this article is for you.

Popcorn - Are you about to watch a movie, have prepared a big bowl of popcorn for yourself, and are wondering if it's okay to give a serving to your Pom? If so, you'll find this article to be of interest.

More Feeding Particulars

About Protein Levels - Quite a few dog owners began worrying when studies were announced that a high protein diet for dogs was dangerous. However, those studies were done on rats and are not related to dogs at all. Your Pomeranian's diet should consist of about 30 - 40% or more protein. Meat should be the main ingredient of meals.

Making Sure Nutrients are Absorbed | Tummy Woes - Even if you feed your Pomeranian the best food available or the most nutritious home cooked meals, your Pom's body may not be absorbing the protein, minerals and vitamins. A low level of (normally occurring) enzymes can cause much of those needed elements to pass right through the body without being absorbed.

If you find that your Pom is not gaining weight as he should be or seems to have a lot of tummy troubles, you may want to speak to your vet about adding a Prozyme enzyme to your Pom's food like Trophy Prozyme Powder for Pets .

Odd Eating Habits - Pomeranians can have funny quirks like moving their food to a new location or only eating if they are being watched. To learn about this and other strange habits, read Odd Eating Habits.

The Best Supplement for Poms - If you have chosen a high quality food for your Pomeranian, there are no health issues or conditions, and your little guy or gal is under the age of 6, you do not need to offer any sort of additional supplements.

That said, there will be some times and instances in which you will want to consider a supplement:

If you are home cooking
If there are skin or coat issues
For adults 6 years or older
If there are previous or current hip, back, knee, or elbow issues

Read more about Supplements for Pomeranians.

Choosing Snacks for Your Pom - What you choose to give as snacks and treats is just as important as what you offer for main meals. These play an important role in a dog's diet and should be held to the same high standards.

Read more about choosing the best treats for Pomeranians

Choosing the Bowls & Dishes - It's really important to choose the right bowls for your Pom; it will have an impact on how comfortable a dog is and their ability to reach their food and also includes hygiene elements.

For Poms that are Missing Teeth - If a Pomeranian is missing several premolars and/or molars, it may be time to make changes to ensure that eating is comfortable and safe. Read Feeding Tips for Poms with Missing Teeth for all the details of meals and treats.