Frequently asked questions about feeding

What should I feed my new Pomeranian puppy?

We feed all our Pomeranian puppies Purina Pro Plan puppy Toy breed formula dry food. We have fed this formula for many, many years and have found it to be the very best food for tiny growing puppies.

Click here to buy on Amazon or it an be purchased at large specialty pet stores.
For the best transition home you must feed your new puppy this food for a minimum of the first 2 weeks after your puppy as arrived home.

How much food do I feed?

We feed all our Pomeranian puppies FREE CHOICE meaning we keep their food out and available day and night to be eaten whenever they are hungry.
When your new puppy arrives home, make sure it is actually EATING its food! Your Pom should eat small amounts of food throughout the day and take frequent rest periods. It is also important to provide a quiet, out of the way place where your Pomeranian can rest and eat undistracted. Make sure not to overtire a small dog and watch your Pomeranian closely for signs of hypoglycemia if it has not been eating like it should.

If your puppy has been eating a specialized diet while in our care we will provide you with more detailed information on the care of your new puppy.

What about canned food?

We try to not regularly feed canned food to puppies. However it has it’s place especially for very young and very small puppies.
The canned food we generally use is Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food Starter Mousse Chicken Entree Wet Dog Food.

We also like Royal Canin Canine Health Nutrition Puppy Loaf in Sauce Canned dog food.

We recommend having a couple of cans of wet food on hand when your new puppy comes home. It can be used in the event a puppy is not eating well. If they won’t eat the canned food when offered they probably are not feeling well and you need to monitor them very closely and or contact your vet for instructions. You can buy it by the case on Amazon or single cans at Petsmart.

An entire diet of canned food is not generally recommended because it can have detrimental effects on the health of the teeth. Toy breeds are known to have a high incidence of dental disease.

 If you decide to feed a complete diet of soft food, make sure your Pom has regular veterinary dental care and brush its teeth daily and provide plenty of chew toys.

What if I want to switch to another brand of food?

If you want to switch to another brand of food DO NOT change your brand of food abruptly. DO NOT change food formulas for at least 2 weeks after your puppy has arrived home.
If a change of food is desired after the initial 2 week period, mix the Purina Pro Plan Toy Breed Formula with your new brand for at least a week, gradually increasing the amount of the new brand until the switch is made.
Switching foods abruptly can cause a puppy to stop eating or get an upset stomach.
Promptly treat any signs of diarrhea (which can be a sign that the new food is not being tolerated well) in the manner recommended by your vet.
Watch closely to make sure your new puppy is eating.

If you choose to switch to a different brand make sure and READ THE INGREDIENTS LABEL!!! Don’t just rely on advertisements that attempt to paint a picture of their food being superior to all others with no testing to back up their claims.
Many inferior and some high end dog foods are loaded with ingredients you don’t want your dog eating! Make sure you know what the ingredients are on the ingredient list. Dogs are omnivores and are designed to eat a balanced diet which can include corn or vegetable produces but their main diet should be meat based. Also know what kind of meat you are getting, if they don’t tell you what kind of animal the meat came from it could be anything. High quality food will typically have lamb, chicken, beef or salmon as their main ingredient.
Chicken or lamb or Salmon tend to be easier to digest, and generally the highest quality. But the other named meats are ok too. Most low end and even name brand dog food is mostly corn and bi-products not actual meat.
Pomeranian puppies are small and need the maximum nutrition available. Never feed a generic brand food or one that does not bear the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) seal of approval.

What about grain-free dog food?

We do NOT recommend grain-free dog food. The FDA has linked grain-free dog food diets to serious heart disease in dogs.

What if I want to feed a raw or homemade diet?

We do not recommend feeding raw or homemade diets to puppies. These diets nearly always lack the minerals and vitamins necessary for proper growth and can cause severe complications and permanent bone damage to a growing puppy.

Can I feed table scraps?

Table scraps usually contain way too much salt, sugar and preservatives to be healthy for a dog. If you feel you must feed table scraps while eating, feed only plain unseasoned meat or vegetables to your dog. It can be helpful to have a separate bowl on the table for your dog with “dog friendly” scraps so you can feed tidbits from the table with without all of the harmful human additions. Before feeding any human food make sure it is dog safe. Some human foods such as grapes are poisonous to dogs!

What treats should I feed?

While living with us your new puppy was not fed treats. This is because some new owners don’t prefer to give treats to their dogs and it’s easier not to start than to try and stop.
Our adults love Bil-Jac Little-Jacs Training Treats

These treats are perfect for Pomeranians. They are soft, very small and irresistible!
Treats are very beneficial for training and encouraging good behavior.
Pomeranians are usually food motivated and learn quickly how to behave to win a treat. Just make sure you don’t give too many treats and not leave an appetite for their complete nutrition dog food.

What about water?

We live in a rural area out in the countryside and have a deep private well. We drink this untreated water and find it more appealing than any bottled water. Our water is considered hard water due to the natural high mineral content.
If you live in a city with chemically treated water you may prefer to filter your puppy’s water for taste and palatability. If you don’t drink your own tap water your puppy may not want to either! Filtered water may also help prevent tear staining on light colored dogs.

Always use stainless steel, glass or ceramic water bowls. Plastic can harbor bacteria. Change and clean water bowls daily.

You only have one chance to grow your puppy into a healthy adult!
Feed them well!

This page includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.