Feeding your Pomeranian, Keeping your Pom Healthy, Pom Health

Raw Food Diet for Pomeranian Dogs

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Last Updated on 29/11/2023 by Dochlaggie. Post first published on November 1, 2020.

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding a raw dog food diet for Pomeranian dogs. However, the popularity of a Pomeranian raw diet is increasing. The types of foods in this diet include: vegetables and fruits, bones and raw meats. Sled dogs and greyhounds have enjoyed raw dog food for many years.

What Is A Raw Diet for Dogs?

A Pomeranian raw diet uses a variety of meat, uncooked bones, a small amount of organs and small quantities of vegetables and fruits. This diet is one of the best food for Pomeranians. A raw food diet for Pomeranian dogs is a healthier food than a kibble diet.

As a Pomeranian is a small, man-made dog, modifications are required to most raw food dog diets to better suit a Pom dog.

A raw dog food diet generally contains a mixture of any of these foods:

  • Muscle meat (which can be left on the bone).
  • Ground or whole bones.
  • Organ meats such as kidneys and livers.
  • Raw eggs.
  • Certain dairy foods including yogurt.
  • Apples and other fruits.
  • Vegetables such as celery, spinach and broccoli.

If you start feeding your Pomeranian dog raw dog food, the first difference you would notice is that his stools would improve because it’s easier to digest raw food.

Other benefits include:

  • Raw foods are enjoyable for dogs to eat.
  • They’re far more palatable than manufactured food.

What Are the Benefits of Raw Dog Food?

The main reason why owners feed their dog a Pomeranian raw food diet is to replace highly processed canned foods and kibble with healthier, homemade, all-natural foods.

There are plenty of benefits of raw feeding for dogs including:

• Better digestion.
• Fresher breath and cleaner teeth.
• Better control of weight.
• Stools smell less, and are smaller and firmer.
• Better bowel, pancreas and liver health.
• Coat and skin are healthier and shinier.
• Greater stamina and energy.
• More mobility in older dogs.
• Reduced allergy symptoms.
• Stronger immune system.
• Saving money because there should be fewer vet trips.

Pomeranian Behavioral Problems

Aggression and other behavioral problems can be caused by a low-quality diet so if you

Aggression and behavioral issues can also be linked to poor diet, so swapping your pet to a raw dog food diet could have a major positive effect on his behavior.

These are typical problems that could be linked to having a low-quality diet:

  • Chewing – perhaps your dog is hunting for things containing nutrients absent from his food.
  • Frequent digging in your garden – this might also be because he’s searching for nutrients in soil that may be lacking in his diet.
  • Stealing food. Your dog could feel hungry or is missing nutrients from his regular meals.
  • Jumping up. If your dog is jumping up, it can cause him to vomit and/or regurgitate food. What is he telling you?
  • Hyperactivity. A diet loaded with colorings, flavorings, chemicals and additives may cause a higher amount of negative energy in your dog.

I’m positive you’ll find other types of bad behavior in your dog that could be related to his poor diet. which might be linked to a poor diet.

Pomeranian Dogs with Chronic Health Problems

I mentioned earlier that natural, fresh, raw dog food can greatly improve the health and well-being of your dog. The good news is that it also can help with some chronic health problems. When feeding some dogs a raw food diet, there has been remarkable improvements in some dogs.

The raw dog food diet has demonstrated positive effects on dogs with these ailments: diabetes, skin allergies, obesity, degenerative diseases, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritic conditions, gingivitis, reproductive health, and many more.

Raw Dog Food Risks

Making changes in your Pomeranian’s diet, especially if you’re introducing raw foods, is often an issue due to the onset of gastrointestinal problems. If you change the diet too fast, it may also cause diarrhoea. The way a dog’s body processes kibble is vastly different from raw foods.

Kibble is recognised as a starch by your dog’s metabolism. On the other hand, raw food is treated as if it’s a protein and is kept in the stomach for an acid bath. If you combine dry foods with raw foods, your dog’s digestive system can become confused and he may become gassy and belch a lot.

If your Pom has a healthy gut and you want to try out new food of any kind, it’s ideal to trial it for a day as a “treat” and watch his stool for any changes over the ensuing days.

Slowly after the initial first day (if there are no visible changes), increase the “new treats” and keep an eye on his stool. After a couple of days without problems, replace one of his meals with the new food. Continue this for another couple of days and then (as long as there are no side effects) you can safely use only new foods.

If your Pomeranian has only ever eaten one type of kibble in his life, you may have to take weeks or perhaps months to change his diet so patience is required. In the initial stages of feeding your Pom raw food, you need to vary his diet to ensure he’s getting a healthy balance of vital nutrients.

Pomeranian Raw Diet
Pomeranian Raw Diet

Calcium and fat levels are critical to monitor. Any imbalances may cause health problems. Other issues may occur if the food you use contains bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes or salmonella.

Raw foods have a greater chance of containing bacteria than processed foods and kibble. The good news is that your dog’s digestive system can handle bacteria better than humans as their system isn’t as acidic or as long as the human digestive processes.

Talk to Your Vet Prior to Feeding Pomeranians a Raw Food Diet

Keep in mind that your vet may try to send you home with the brand of dog food he’s currently selling. So don’t blindly take his advice. Do your own research and ask questions and get his help to find the ideal balance and see whether it does match his ideas or not.

The majority of vets won’t suggest a raw food diet for puppies because the correct balance of phosphorus and calcium is hard to achieve. It may cause deformities and, if your dog has cancer, he certainly shouldn’t be on such a diet.

Raw Food Diet for Puppy Pomeranians

My answer to the question should puppies eat raw meat is no. A raw food diet for puppy Pomeranians should be avoided.

Puppies must be fed the correct ratio of Calcium and phosphorus for puppies. The correct ratio for Pomeranians under 12 months of age is 1.4 parts calcium for each 1 part phosphorus (1.4:1) (see our article on Pomeranian Puppy Care)

For this reason I do not recommend feeding Pom pups raw meat diet. A commercial diet is best for Pomeranians until 12 months of age.

Can puppies eat raw meat ? An occasional small piece of raw meat as a treat will not cause any harm.

The best Pomeranian puppy food is a quality tinned puppy food for small dog breeds, together with a similar kibble.

Calcium and Phosphorus for Adult Pomeranians

Calcium and phosphorus should be maintained at a ratio of 1.2:1 for adult Pomeranians. Tripe is a great food for both minerals. Bones are low in phosphorus while meat is high in it. This doesn’t automatically mean you need to give him 50% bones in his diet. It means you need to feed him the same amount of both minerals. 

How Much to Feed a Pomeranian?

Most adult Poms should eat approx 2 – 4% of their body weight each day. That’s the correct amount for Pomeranians. Other dogs may have different percentages. Pom puppies may need up to 10% of their body weight each day while they’re growing.

An Example of How Much to Feed a Pomeranian

The recommendation is amount of food is calculate on the weight, age and activity levels of the dog. This means as an example a Pomeranian weighing 3kg, has his weight multiplied by 30 calories = 90 calories plus 70-100 calories depending on how active the dog is.

Minimum for any Pomeranian is 160 per day. Extra calories are required by active Pomeranians who do lots of exercise and growing Pomeranian puppies.

All Pomeranians are individuals and if your unsure on the amount of food to fed. Or would like assistance on what the correct weight your Pom should be  check with your Vet or your breeder.

What to Feed a Pomeranian

Raw Food Diet for Pomeranian Dogs
Raw Food Diet for Pomeranian Dogs

Raw is…uncooked fresh meat.

Dogs are carnivorous. Raw feeding is feeding fresh wholesome food, not food out of a packet, and lots of raw meat.

Meat in a Pomeranian Raw Food Diet Can Be:

Turkey, chicken, duck, lamb, beef, rabbit, venison or offal (but sparingly for the offal).

Organ Meats in a Pomeranian Raw Food Diet:

You can feed your Pomeranian Dog organ meats but they should only comprise 10% of his diet. They’re ok for one or two meals per week or as an addition to meals with other foods. Dogs love liver but too much in the diet can result in runny stools.

Vegetables in a Pomeranian Raw Food Diet Can Be:

Carrots, cauliflower, green beans, okra, peas, pumpkin, squash, celery, sweet potato and parsley.

You could also add a little fruit like apple, banana, pear, strawberries or blueberries.

Other foods in a Pomeranian Raw Food Diet Can Include:

Tinned fish, cheese, yoghurt, whole grain and pasta.

Feeding Your Pomeranian

It’s advised that you use raw meaty bones and meat that’s human-grade. Certain pet bone products, meat rolls, meat and mince may contain harmful preservatives. (e.g. sulphite preservative which can cause a deficiency of thiamine, a condition that can be fatal.) Sausage meats, sausages and manufactured cooked meats can also have sulphite preservatives as well.

Chicken feet and tripe may sound foul to you but your pet likes any meat, regardless of what it is. It’s cheaper to buy these types as well.

Add these to the shopping list : testicles, tails and beef trachea and beef feet which they also love. You should feed your dog muscle meats to make up 75% of his diet. You can get such meats from most animals including: cows, chickens, duck, deer, rabbit, turkey, lamb, beef and goat.

An Example Of a Raw Diet Pomeranian Meal

Mince steak with either home cooked, pureed veggies. e.g. potato, pumpkin, carrot, cauliflower, beans, broccoli or, if in a hurry, tinned pureed baby food veggies.

Give him bones to chew on. That helps increase his calcium intake as well as keeping him occupied for a while. Large meaty beef bones from your butcher are a great choice.

Whole chicken frames are another great tasty treat, but should be fed under supervision. Under no circumstances should chicken wings, necks, tips or legs be fed in any shape or form; too many Pomeranian have lost their lives choking on these items.

I feed minced chicken frames (i.e. the mince contains finely ground bones as a source of calcium) to lactating Mums and their pups. Raw bones can be placed in the freezer for a few minutes prior to feeding to your Pomeranian.

Don’t ever feed your dog cooked bones because these can cause serious harm if they splinter and get swallowed. They can block your dog’s insides or cause cuts and abrasions as they go down. 

Include Extra Nutrients Required By a Pomeranian for Good Health

Raw Food Diet for Pomeranian Dogs
Raw Food Diet for Pomeranian Dogs

The other aspect of your Pom Dog’s diet should be foods such as grains, fruit and vegetables. Vegetables can be prepared in advance and stored in meal-sized portions in your freezer to be used as required.

Always process vegetables before adding them to your dog’s food because it helps extract the most nutrients. Steam for a few minutes and puree them. The ideal choice are dark, leafy greens.

Never wash meat. While the temptation may be there, it just spreads around the existing bacteria. It can be splashed on surfaces around the sink, and that’s a potential for more problems.

Always cook grains prior to feeding them to your dog.

  • Green Beans: Overweight Poms will benefit from having the green vegetable percentage of their diet increased. Pureed cooked green beans are an ideal diet if they are carrying extra weight.
  • Pumpkin: is a great vegetable to help regulate your dog’s system.
  • Wholegrains are best: Grains, however, are completely unnecessary since commercial pet foods are always grain-based diets. Many people are used to the idea that their dogs need grains but it’s just not true. Some of the positive effects of feeding raw foods are related to eliminating grains from your dog’s diet.
  •   Apple Cider Vinegar: Add half a teaspoon of vinegar to meals each day.
  •  Fish Oil  or Flax Seed Oil: to give him sufficient omega-3 fatty acids. Better still, add a tablespoon of tinned salmon 3 or 4 times a week to his diet and you’ll soon notice the startling improvements to your beloved pet’s overall health and well-being. Never feed uncooked fish to your Pom.
  • Coconut Oil: can be added daily. Add a teaspoon mixed into the food.
  • Calcium: in the diet can be increased with the addition of a little plain yoghurt, cottage cheese, or dried, ground eggshells. Use ½ a teaspoon per pound of meat in your dog’s meal.
  • Eggs: Avoid feeding him raw egg whites because they have enzyme inhibitors that may cause digestive issues, particularly in young puppies and senior dogs. Boiled eggs, including the egg shell chopped and added to a Pomeranian’s food is a nutritious meal. Alternatively egg yolks may be fed raw to Pomeranians. 

Always Use Safe Food Handling Practices

All utensils used on your dog’s raw food must be kept completely separate from all other utensils. Use hot soapy water when cleaning them properly or place them in your dishwasher. Disinfect all surfaces that the food may have touched.

Toxic Food For All Dogs 

NEVER, EVER feed your dog anything on this list of toxic substances. This isn’t a complete list so always be careful.

The List of Food Toxic to Dogs Includes:

chocolate, garlic, onion powder, onions, avocado and stones, caffeine products such as coffee, sultanas, raisins (including cakes with them as an ingredient), grapes, currants, all nuts (including fruit stones), compost, spilt or mouldy foods, bread and yeast dough, mushrooms, toothpaste, baking goods, lollies, apricot stones, mango seeds, corn cobs, fruit seeds, green unripe tomatoes, too much fish, cooked bones, tiny bits of raw bones, salt, fatty foods and trimmings, Xylitol (a sugar in certain products including some sugar-free gums).

Avoid letting your Pomeranian dog have the string wrapped around meat, or absorbent pads often under meats that are wrapped on trays. 

Clean Hands Are a MUST When Touching Food

After touching all types of dog foods, particularly raw foods, you MUST thoroughly wash your hands in warm soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds. Clean underneath your nails as well.

Final Thoughts on a Raw Food Diet for Pomeranian Dogs

The bottom line is that, regardless of what food you give your dog, do your due diligence and make sure it’s as safe as possible. After all, harming your dog is the last thing you would ever want to happen, even accidentally. The best Pomeranian food is a raw or home cooked diet. 

Please note: while I do discuss health, care, and behavioral issues, you should never use this information as a replacement for advice from qualified veterinarians, diagnoses, or recommended treatment regimes. If you have any worries about the health of your Pomeranian, your first contact should be your regular vet or, if you don’t yet have one, a vet that works locally. Never ignore or avoid treatment and advice from your vet because of a piece of information you have read on any website.

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References and Further Reading:
[1] Denise Leo “The Pomeranian Handbook”.

The Pomeranian Handbook

About

Denise Leo

Pomeranians are my passion, and I have shared my life with these darling little dogs for many decades. The creator and face behind this website is published author and Pomeranian breed authority Denise Leo of Dochlaggie Pomeranians.

Denise Leo
Denise Leo