FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have any questions you don't see answered here, please feel free to contact me at catherine@pacificnorthwestpomeranians.com

QUESTION: Do I need to have acreage for my pomeranian to be able to get enough exercise?

ANSWER: Pomeranians don't need a lot of space to get adequate exercise.  They will run around in whatever space they have -- this is referred to as the "zoomies." They fit in your car easily, they can join you on a bike ride in the basket, most also love swimming, hiking, and kayaking.  Strenuous exercise, however, should be postponed until they are full grown, or at least 8 months old -- as while their bones are growing, conditions like luxating patella can be exacerbated or even initiated.

QUESTION:  I've been reading up on temperament to make sure we're adopting a puppy that will fit in with our family -- and I think we may actually want to go with a male pom -- what are your thoughts on male vs. female as a family pet?

ANSWER:   Temperament is going to vary from puppy to puppy, and we watch them closely to find the puppy that we feel will match the energy and needs of the adoptive family.  As far as gender is concerned, in the pomeranian breed, in my experience, a girl will Love you... a boy Will Fall In Love With You.  

QUESTION: What's your process like for reaching out to potential families, and families on the wait list?  Do you just kind of let everyone know that the puppies are here around the same time?

ANSWER:   You have to be pretty proactive about getting the deposit placed.  

I post on my website, but people who are seriously interested keep in touch, and reach out pretty often about the progress of the pregnant dam, and ask questions about how to best prepare, and these are the first to know when the puppies arrive, simply because they are probably already calling when the puppies are born!!  I like to send puppies to homes of people who are already familiar with pomeranians and their needs or who are reading up and preparing their homes and their lives for the arrival of their little one. 

QUESTION: Are the puppies health checked, up to date on shots, and chipped when they go to their new homes?

ANSWER: Yes, and we also send them home with a bag of items to help ease the stress of transitioning to a new home, this includes a blanket that smells like mom and littermates, a toothbrush, toys, a small bag of food, a syringe of karo syrup in case of hypoglycemia, water, baby wipes, and puppy pads for the drive home.

QUESTION: What is hypoglycemia in pomeranians?  Should I be concerned? How will I know the signs?

ANSWER:  I'm not a vet, and this is just information that I have learned through experience...  If your puppy is sick, the first thing you should do is call your vet.  

Hypoglycemia, better known as low blood sugar, is common in toy breed dogs and puppies.  Because pomeranians don't have much body fat or reserves, if they become stressed, miss a meal, play too hard, etc....they might have a drop in glucose (sugar) in their blood.  This drop causes the puppy to become weak, lethargic, nauseous, and generally unwell.  You might see drooling, head bobbling, and a staggering walk.

Hypoglycemia leads to death if left untreated.  If your puppy becomes lethargic, you need to  step in and get its blood sugar up and stabilized.  When a pomeranian has a hypoglycemic episode, its brain is literally starved for glucose, and the puppy's brain begins shutting down.

Hypoglycemia is not a disease and its not contagious, its a condition that can happen to any small dog, regardless of health or age. It's most common in puppies up to six months old and up to a year old if the puppy is exceptionally small.

SYMPTOMS: You might notice some or all of the following: weakness, disorientation,  or unresponsive when you call the puppy's name.  There might be vomiting.  Your puppy might not be able to stand up or walk well.   The most common symptoms are listlessness and lethargy.

Advanced hypoglycemia can include seizures, brain damage, loss of consciousness, and if left untreated, coma and death.

Most hypoglycemic cases can be treated at home, but if the puppy loses consciousness, experiences a seizure, is non-responsive to at home treatment, or if you don't know the cause of the episode, you must seek veterinary care.

If you know that your puppy missed a meal or was over exercised, then providing at home care is fine -- as long as the pom responds immediately.

AT HOME TREATMENT:  Do Not Panic -- these little dogs bounce back fast when treated properly -- so keep calm.  It can be scary to see your little puppy suffering from low blood sugar, but they recover very quickly in almost all cases.

It is important to keep instant glucose gel on hand at all times, and with you when you travel with your pom.  You can also use any color Karo Syrup, and Nutrical also works  - and can be given in advance of a hypoglycemic episode if you know your puppy is under stress, not eating well, or was overexercised. 

Keep your puppy warm and put several drops of gel in its mouth every 15 minutes or so until the puppy "perks up."  You should see a huge improvement within 30 to 60 minutes.

If the puppy is conscious, then offer soft food such as diced hot dogs or scrambled eggs -- something soft and tasty to entice it to eat.  He will not want hard food as he isn't feeling well at this point.  If the puppy won't eat, but is seeming perkier, give it some time and glucose -- he may still be nauseous from the hypoglycemia.  Its okay if the puppy vomits up the food at first, but he should be able to keep it down within the first few hours.  Monitor the puppy closely, continue to keep it warm, and see how he does.  If there is no improvement, take the puppy to your vet.

If the home care is effective, you'll see your puppy 'perk up,' eat the soft food, and begin acting normal again within a couple hours.  Do not let the puppy run around or exercise for a day or two, keep him warm, calm, quiet, well fed and montiored very closely for a relapse.  Keep the puppy with you when you sleep (in a box or basket by your bed) and check on him or her every couple of hours. 

QUESTION: Do I need puppy insurance?

ANSWER: YES!  Covid brought about a surge in pet ownership, and vets are overburdened by the increased demand.  As a direct result, the price of veterinary care for your pet has increased exponentially.  Puppies get into things, they run out in traffic, they leap off of furniture! If you cannot afford a 2,000 dollar emergency care and treatment bill, you absolutely must have pet insurance, at least for the first year of your pomeranian puppy's first, fragile year.

QUESTION: Is there a charge if someone wants to reserve pick of the litter or first female?

ANSWER: The best way to get pick of the litter is to keep in touch closely enough to know when they are born, and to place your deposit on the one you want.  But if you don't have time to keep in touch daily, I do take a 100 dollar deposit to reserve pick of the litter.  The only exception to this is if the puppy you want is merle or pure white, because I will want to evaluate it for keeping in my lines.  If you don't get your pick - I will (of course) refund your deposit.