Pomeranians are playful and loyal toy dogs. They can go from calmly curling up on your lap for a nap to promptly alerting you of potential intruders to your home. Pomeranians enjoy being active and are a common show dog breed. When caring for a Pomeranian, consider their diet requirements such as types of food to provide, feeding amounts, frequency of feeding and foods to avoid.
Importance of High Quality Food
Dry foods, such as the bagged products found in pet and grocery stores, contain many essential nutrients but also sometimes contain harmful byproducts and fillers. These fillers are of little nutritional value to your Pomeranian and will not help keep him full or provide him with energy. Eventually, a poor commercial food diet will cause your Pomeranian to have nutrient deficiencies, and he will resort to eating grass or even feces.
Raw Food Diet
If you prefer to feed your Pomeranian a raw food diet, consider some of these Pomeranian favorites. Organ meats such as livers and kidneys, lean meats like chicken and fish, starches such as rice and pasta, and vegetables like baby carrots, potatoes, zucchini and spinach are just some of Pomeranians' favorite raw food choices. Proteins should make up at least 40 percent of your Pomeranian's diet. Store raw-prepared meals in your refrigerator or in your freezer for extended keeping.
Feeding Amounts and Frequency
Growing Pomeranian puppies have high energy demands. One-and-a-quarter cups of food per day at 5 pounds or 2 cups of food per day at 6 pounds is appropriate. As adults, a quarter-cup to one-half cup of adult food per pound of weight is ample, but give less if your Pomeranian walks away from his food for more than five minutes. Pregnant and inactive Pomeranians have special diet concerns. Pregnant Pomeranians require puppy food for the added nutrition; inactive Pomeranians require reduced-fat diets.
Feeding Frequency
Pomeranians burn calories at a much faster rate than some other breeds due to their small size and high energy levels. To continue to provide them with much needed energy, divide your Pomeranian's food amount for the day into three or four servings; feed the growing Pomeranian these smaller servings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't feed right before bed. As your Pomeranian stops growing at adulthood, so do his metabolic demands. His daily intake can remain the same but may be split in to two meals per day at breakfast and dinner.
Foods to Avoid
In addition to foods such as chocolate, caffeine, onions, garlic, coffee, raisins, grapes and macadamia nuts, which are toxic to dogs, some some foods are not for a Pomeranian's consumption. Do not give a Pomeranian rawhide bones, as they will damage your Pomeranian's small teeth and jaw. Rawhide bones are known to cause allergic reactions in Pomeranians. Also, do not feed your Pomeranian spicy foods, which cause stomach aches.
