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The Pomeranian is a small dog with a medium energy level. Like most canines, they are active in their younger years and slow down in old age. This is why it's important to find the best dog food for Pomeranians for every stage of their lives.
Pomeranians, or “Poms,” are a toy breed weighing in at about 4-8 pounds. They have a characteristic long, fluffy “pom-pom” hair coat that is very thick and soft. The most common coat color is a reddish-blonde apricot, but many coat colors are possible, including tri-colors and merles.
Poms are a bright, funny, energetic breed. They have a bold, cheerful personality, don’t take up much space, and have a medium activity level. For these reasons, they make the perfect pup for almost any family.
As a licensed veterinarian, I've worked with countless Pom owners over the years. Today, I'll share my picks for the best dog food for Pomeranians in every stage of life. Below is a quick look at the five brands I discuss most often.
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
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Royal Canin X-Small Adult Dry Dog Food, 14 lb bag | 1,147 Reviews | Check Price |
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Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Light,... | 555 Reviews | Check Price |
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Hill's Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Small... | 1,109 Reviews | Check Price |
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Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Healthy... | 2,991 Reviews | Check Price |
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Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility,... | 558 Reviews | Check Price |
Best Dog Food for Puppy Pomeranians
Before switching your dog to any new diet, always consult with a veterinarian. Remember that no article on the internet, including this one, can replace a consultation with a vet.
Pomeranians are super tiny at birth and don’t reach their adult size until about 8 months of age. It is important to feed Pom puppies 3-4 times a day until they are about 8-12 weeks of age.
Royal Canin X-Small Puppy Formula
These tiny pups can easily suffer from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if they don’t eat frequently enough. Tiny mouths need equally tiny kibble to chew on. That's one of the reasons that I highly recommend the Royal Canin X-Small Puppy Formula.
Royal Canin has been committed to quality, evidence-based clinical nutrition for over 40 years. They provide balanced nutrition in specially designed tiny bite dry kibble that will allow your Pom to pick it up and chew easily.
Compared to other breeds, toy breeds like the Pom reach maturity quickly. This means their food needs to contain a high amount of calories and a proper mineral balance for joint and bone development.
Purina Pro Plan Focus for Puppies
Some Poms have a hard time grasping and chewing even the tiniest-sized kibble, especially before 10 weeks of age. If your Pom is having a hard time transitioning to hard food, consider a quality canned diet. If this is the case, I would recommend Purina Pro Plan Focus for Puppies as the best dog food for Pomeranians to meet your pup's needs.
Purina Pro Plan is Purina Pet Food Company’s “premium” line, and it does not disappoint. Even the pickiest or tiniest of Poms won’t turn up their nose to this canned offering.
It contains protein-packed chicken, salmon, and mineral-rich liver. It is a complete diet for puppies that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food to ease that transition.
Best Dog Food for Adult Pomeranians
Pomeranians become adults around 10 months of age. They are one of the longest-living breeds out there, living on average 12-14 years. Veterinarians and nutritionists recommend feeding an adult formula diet from 10 to 12 months of age until 7 or 8 years of age.
When making the transition from puppy food to the best dog food for Pomeranians in the adult stage of life, it is important to do so slowly. A quick change in foods, even within the same brand, can cause digestive upset. Take care to mix the old food and the new food together for 4-5 days before solely feeding the new adult food by day 7.
Royal Canin X-Small Adult Formula
For healthy, normal body-weight Pomeranians, my top pick is the Royal Canin X-Small Adult Formula. Royal Canin is again one of my favorites for Pomeranians due to its quality, consistency, and commitment to nutritional standards. Plus, it is easy to stick with the same brand, if you can, throughout your dog’s life stages.
The adult formula has fewer calories than the puppy meal and contains a unique ingredient to enhance your dog’s digestion – chicory root. Chicory root has been used as a holistic food-based medicinal for centuries, as it contains high levels of prebiotics and has mild anti-inflammatory action.
Another benefit to Royal Canin’s X-Small line is the detail that they provide for feeding instructions. You can feed your Pomeranian very specifically based on their activity level. If your Pom is a little on the lazy side and the only exercise they are interested in is rushing to the bowl for dinner, it is best to pick a ration on the low end for their size range.
Overweight Adult Pomeranians
Pomeranians are one of the more common breeds to become overweight or obese. Sometimes, this is due to simple over-feeding. Unfortunately, feeding extra to show your love can have negative effects on your Pom’s health.
If you have tried reducing the amount of your Pom’s regular adult food and weight loss is still a mystery, talk to your veterinarian and consider switching to the best dog food for Pomeranians in this category. For my Pom patients struggling with weight loss, I recommend Hill’s Science Diet Small Bites Adult Light Formula.
Hill’s Science Diet, like Royal Canin, is another top-tier pet nutrition group that has been producing quality pet foods since the 1930s. This “small bites” food stands out due to its kibble size and low-calorie formula.
It is the ingredients that make this food work for many dogs: whole-grain corn, pearled barley, peas, flaxseed, and oat fiber. Research has shown that dogs that eat low-glycemic-load carbohydrates in their food, such as pearled barley, can help your dog maintain a steady blood glucose level after a meal.
There is a common relationship between poor glucose metabolism and obesity in pets. Corn and barley are most associated with keeping blood glucose levels consistent in dogs, which may help to reduce or prevent obesity.
Adult Pomeranians with Dental Disease
Pomeranians are one of the breeds most likely to suffer dental disease as adults. Veterinarians recommend daily dental care starting in puppyhood. Daily brushing and routine veterinary care are ways to keep your Pom’s teeth as healthy as possible.
If your Pom is starting to show signs of dental disease, even with daily care, it may be necessary to try a dental-specific diet to extend the life of those “pearly whites.” For this matter, I recommend Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Small Bites as the best dog food for Pomeranians with dental disease.
Hill’s dental diet t/d has been improved vastly over the past decade, and they now offer a small bite version for small and toy breeds. This food has a specifically designed kibble that collapses onto the tooth when your dog bites down.
As your dog continues to chew, the kibble helps to remove plaque from the surface of the tooth and gum line. It contains balanced nutrition for adults, so you don’t have to supplement with any other food. Hill’s boasts a 100% money-back guarantee.
Joint Care Diet for Adult Pomeranians
Pomeranians can suffer from joint issues even if they are otherwise healthy. They are prone to kneecap problems, otherwise known as “floating kneecaps” (patellar luxation). While this condition is usually present in puppies, it is often not diagnosed until Poms are young adults.
Over time, the abnormal sliding of the kneecap can cause painful arthritis and difficulty walking. Mild to moderate cases can be managed with anti-inflammatory care, supplements, and diet. Severe cases often require surgical correction.
Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility Small Bites
If your veterinarian has diagnosed your Pom with kneecap issues, talk about starting him on one of the options for the best dog food for Pomeranians with joint problems. My recommendation is Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility Small Bites.
Hill’s is the only dog food company out there that offers a small-baked formula that contains a supportive amount of joint health-boosting ingredients. Most of the others (Royal Canin and Purina included) only make large-size kibble formulas, which can be difficult for Poms to eat. This formula boasts omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility
Another great option for the best dog food for Pomeranians with joint concerns is Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility. Hill's again outshines the competition by being the only company to offer a veterinary-exclusive canned diet for dogs.
This food makes prescription nutrition accessible to tiny breeds and those with dental issues. The Metabolic + Mobility formula helps overweight Pomeranians to lose weight while supporting joint health.
Even if your Pom doesn’t need to lose weight, talk to your veterinarian about using this food – as it may help them to maintain their healthy weight and improve their mobility without medications.
This prescription canned diet has the highest level of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on the market. Hill’s also boasts that you will see an improvement in your dog’s mobility in as little as 21 days.
Best Dog Food for Pomeranian Seniors
Pomeranians ease into their senior years at around 8 or 9 years old. By this time, many have some difficulty with mobility or dental issues. It is common for Poms to lose quite a few teeth by this age.
Royal Canin’s X-Small Mature 8+
If your Pom is a generally healthy 8-10-year-old, it is a good idea to continue with the excellent nutrition provided by Royal Canin’s X-Small Mature 8+.
Pomeranians can become picky eaters as they age. It is important to be aware if their appetite is dwindling or if they have difficulty picking up hard food. If you have concerns about your Pom’s appetite, talk to your veterinarian, as it can be a sign of internal organ trouble.
If everything checks out with the vet, consider switching to Castor and Pollux Organix Tiny Feasts Organic Chicken, Quinoa, and Carrot Stew. Castor and Pollux create tiny portioned wet food for adult dogs that is perfect for older Pomeranians.
It contains tasty gravy that will entice even the pickiest of eaters. Flaxseed and vegetables help to provide the fiber needed for proper digestion, and individual portions make it easy to keep track of how much your Pom is eating.
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