Pomeranian Puppy Care
Going Home:
When you first bring your new puppy home, they may experience some nervousness. Everything from new sights, smells and people can be peculiar or stressful to your new puppy. You should allow them to explore their new surroundings and encourage them to play. However, too much handling, traveling, or play time can sometimes lead to digestive problems and even diarrhea. Speaking quietly and calmly can help alleviate some nervousness and accommodate them to your voice. Also, having “treats”, or even dog food kibble, in your pocket at all times will help your puppy learn that you are their provider and a safe place to “come” to. (This particularly works well with dogs that you have to chase to get your hands on—make it a party when the puppy comes to you and reward BIG!) With a little patience, your new puppy will soon become acclimated to their new environment and your expectations, enjoying their new home.
We recommend crate training your new addition. There are lots of reasons why it’s good for the dog (you can find blogs and info all over the web), but the biggest reason to crate train is that it helps in the potty training process of your little one! Crate training provides a safe haven for your puppy without undue stress or serious wear and tear on your home and most dogs will seek out their crate to relax in after a few days. Initially, offer rewards for going in…DO NOT make the crate a punishment area or you will always have problems with reaping the benefits!
Feeding:
Always have fresh water accessible to your new pet!
Your new puppy will need to have fresh food two to three times a day. Once in the morning and again in the evening, at the very least! It is our recommendation that you leave enough food so that your puppy is able to “graze” during the day. As the puppy gets older, a schedule can be established and the puppy will acclimate to feeding times. As long as you are feeding them the nutrients they need, your puppy’s metabolism will acclimate at about 6 months.
Small-breed puppies have high metabolic requirements and require more protein and fat to support their energy needs. Be sure to use a quality brand (Nutro, Royal Canin, Eukenuba, or Science Diet) that is specifically formulated for a small breed dog based on the calories from protein needed for the appropriate protein-to-fat ratio. We feed our pack Nutro Natural Choice. We find it provides the dogs with the nutrients they need which means we see less waste and go through less food. Pay attention to the recommended daily amounts to feed, each brand is different!
DO NOT feed your puppy any milk, table scraps, or change your puppy’s diet with “people food” in any way.
This will result in diarrhea making your puppy very ill. If you have a pup that is experiencing diarrhea, or is finicky or depressed and not eating, try adding some boiled chicken & rice to their food (only when absolutely necessary).
Toys:
Never leave a puppy alone without toys. A squeaky toy, something to chew on, and a cuddle toy are recommended. Your puppy is highly intelligent, and will become easily bored and depressed with nothing to do. However, do not overly indulge your puppy with toys. If there are no limits your puppy will think everything is available to chewing: including clothes, shoes, furniture, children’s toys, etc.
Never give your small dog rawhide to chew on. This is proven to be difficult, sometimes impossible to completely digest. As it softens, it has the capacity to choke your puppy, and it has been known to create intestinal blockages that will cause much bigger problems, even death!
Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs. It helps keep the tartar from collecting on their teeth (preventing periodontal disease and dragon breath) and gives them immense satisfaction. And your puppy NEEDS to chew! Just make sure that you are offering your dog healthy and safe alternatives to rawhide.
We give our dogs bully sticks and cow hooves, but have also heard that Antlerz and pig ears are great! Another safe alternative for chewing is the toys offered by Kong, you can stuff a treat in the middle and watch your puppy work on getting it out for hours!
Injuries:
Small dogs are more fragile than their larger peers. It’s important for the new puppy owner to understand that a fall from your arms, a jump down from the bed or couch, or a game of wrestling with a child can end in serious, lifelong complications and/or consequences. Small dogs are also known for getting underfoot and being stepped on or tripped over by their owners. It is important to be aware of where your puppy is and how they are being handled at all times.
If you have small children, seriously consider how they will treat a tiny, fragile canine. Teach you children proper handling techniques and the consequences of being too rough with the dog.
If you are toting the dog often, we recommend you consider a papoose, stroller, or puppy purse for safe transportation. If your dog loves being on the furniture, providing steps for easy access will help protect their fragile legs from dangerous jumps.
Also, keep in mind that backyard fencing to contain a large dog may not be adequate for containing a small toy breed. There may be openings in the fence which a small dog can squeeze through, or think they can squeeze through, and then become injured by fence, another animal, or a vehicle.
Hypoglycemia:
Hypoglycemia is the sudden drop in the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood below normal levels. Although most commonly seen in puppies, adult dogs can encounter this problem if not properly cared for.
Your pup's body utilizes glucose as the main source of energy. As long as your puppy eats on a regular basis (see the section on feeding), their glucose levels should remain stable. However, certain events can speed up the onset of hypoglycemia such as stress, low body temperature, poor nutrition, change in food, and infections. Signs of hypoglycemia include laziness, lethargy, drowsiness, shivering, depression, and in severe cases, a coma like state. If preventative measures are taken, and instructions are read and followed, this shouldn’t be something you or your puppy experience! However, if you suspect that your pup may be dealing with this condition, check their gums. A healthy puppy's gums will feel warm and have a nice pink color. If your puppy's gums feel cold and look white, your puppy could be experiencing hypoglycemia.
If you notice any of the above mentioned symptoms, immediately feed them a high sugar supplement such as Karo syrup (which you can rub on their gums), Nutra-Cal or Nutri-Stat (puppy paste) which can be purchased at any pet store. Also, have them evaluated by a Vet immediately!
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