A lot of Pom owners complain about the fact that their Pomeranian has teeth problems.
So, it’s understandable if you’re asking yourself…
Do Pomeranians have bad teeth?
Here you’ll learn…
- The correlation between diet and bad breath.
- Chew toys and other effective tools for removing plaque.
- How the bacteria that builds up in the mouth can threaten your Pom’s health.
- And more…
Table of contents
Do Pomeranians have bad teeth?
Pomeranians do have bad teeth quite often. This is something specific for the breed and should be expected. Inflammation, bad breath, tooth loss, and pain are just some of the issues periodontal disease can cause.
The bacteria that build up in the mouth can reach and damage the lungs, kidneys, and heart.
Luckily, with the right maintenance methods, your Pom’s breath could stay fresh and he could flash you with that 24-carat smile that Poms are famous for.
Indication of Pomeranian teeth issues
Bad breath
If your dog has bad oral hygiene or periodontal disease, it will result in bad breath. Much like with humans, if the teeth aren’t cleaned regularly, plaque will start to build up and eventually harden into tartar.
While plaque is colorless, tartar is easy to spot thanks to its yellow or brown color. It could be seen just above the gums.
Once you see it, it’s time to pay your vet a visit. Only they will be able to remove it.
Sores on the tongue or gums
If you notice any sores on the tongue or gums, it’ll be very helpful to let your vet know what behavior is accompanying these symptoms. Whenever you clean your dog’s mouth, make sure to look for any abnormalities.
Weak or broken teeth
Neglecting your Pom’s teeth could lead to shaky or broken teeth. This is not only painful but will also change the way your Pom intakes food.
Saliva with blood
If you find blood in the saliva of your Pom, this could mean gum disease. The places you could find the mix of saliva with blood is your Pom’s water bowl or chew toys.
Even though this is painful for your Pomeranian, he will probably not stop eating, so it might be hard to spot this sign at first. This condition might be accompanied by strange noises while chewing.
Why do Pomeranians have teeth problems?
Pomeranians as a breed are highly predisposed to dental issues.
Other reasons why your Pom has a dental disease could have to do with home care, genetics, and diet.
It’s curious that the Pomeranian’s mouth is significantly small in relation to the teeth.
This might lead to overcrowding. From there on gum issues could be expected as food can get easily stuck. When it does, plaque and tartar are bound to follow.
Does your Pomeranian like to have a bite of food he finds on the street ?
Maybe he eats the poo of other dogs or his own one. Then it should come as no surprise his breath stinks. It’s much needed to be able to determine whether the bad breath is caused by actions such as these or a serious health problem.
Here are some of the most common and dangerous health conditions that result in bad breath:
Canine diabetes
Other indications besides sweet or sweet-sour smell can be increased water consumption and urination, lethargy and change in appetite.
Liver disease
This could be the case if the breath smells like urine and you notice weight loss, decreased appetite, increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea or/and difficulty walking.
Kidney disease
This causes the breath to smell extremely bad. This could be accompanied with lack of appetite which will lead to weight loss. Consider other signs like vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and/or depression.
Respiratory illness
A bad breath could be an indication of a lung condition. Anything wrong with the lungs can cause bad breath.
With this in mind, a full vet exam can help you know the overall health condition of your Pomeranian. A veterinarian can check the liver and kidneys by running a test.
How to prevent bad breath and teeth problems with Pomeranians
Regular check-ups at the vet
Regular vet visits are the best way to ensure everything’s fine or detect some emerging issues on time before they become worse or unfixable.
For extra security, you can ask your vet to monitor the teeth and gums of your dog during every check-up. This will help determine if there’s tartar build-up.
Dental cleanings at your vet
If your vet detects too much tartar has accumulated, a cleaning will be required. To do this in the best possible way for your dog’s health and safety, your Pom will be anesthetized. That’s why it’s advisable to do this infrequently.
Diet
A good healthy diet can prevent diabetes.
Feed your Pom a diet appropriate for his age. Give him high-quality easily digestible food with no artificial coloring.
Dry food is better than moist or canned. Food that has a lot of starch or sugar should be avoided.
Dry crunchy do food is better for your Pom’s teeth than soft food. There’s a bigger chance that soft food will stick to your pom’s teeth and lead to decay.
Reading tip: Prepacked dog treats aren’t as healthy as a lot of people think. Fruit and veggies can be a healthy alternative. Here you’ll discover which fruits a Pom can eat. And here you’ll learn which veggies.
Exercise
Exercising is no less important than keeping your Pom’s teeth clean.
Plus, how active your dog is during walks, play and in general, is an important indicator of how the overall condition of his health is.
That’s why it’s your responsibility to give your Pom plenty of exercise. This, in combination with a balanced diet, will keep him in top shape.
Make sure to gradually build exercise and play sessions up. This way you won’t risk overdoing it.
If your Pom is not into exercising or acts wary, then something might be off. It’s worth checking if this behavior is connected to a possible diabetes, kidney or liver disease.
Remember – this alone is not enough to make conclusions. To be absolutely sure what’s happening, give your vet a visit.
Reading tip: In this article you’ll discover if Pomeranians can swim.
Give chew toys that will help the Pom clean his teeth while chewing
Disclaimer: this is, by all means, no substitute for vet check-ups, consultations and teeth cleaning.
This is recommended because chewing acts as a natural tooth brushing.
There are special durable toys with an abrasive surface that grind away plaque. The most effective toys have a course surface that removes food fragments easily.
Brush your Pom’s teeth
Toothbrushing is tricky but doable.
It has to happen on a daily basis. Ideally, once per day. This is key for preventing infections and gym disease.
It’s advisable to brush your Pomeranians teeth with a toothpaste that meets the needs of your Pom (consult with your vet).
Warning: Don’t ever use human toothpaste. It has fluoride and can be toxic to dogs. It produces foam which can choke your Pom.
A suitable toothpaste will be fluoride-free and without any foaming agents. Dogs swallow their toothpaste and that’s why it’s so important to pick a safe one.
Be careful when choosing the tooth brush. It should be designed for toy breed dogs. A three-sided one can scrub all exposed sides of the teeth at once.
If your Pom reacts badly to the canine toothbrush, you can try a finger one. It’s small and easy to fit in the Pom’s mouth.
If your Pom is not used to brushing and won’t let you near, then you can get tooth spray instead.
Give a daily dental treat
At least with this one there is no possibility of your Pom running away in terror by just the sight of it (like with the brush, for example). Plus, it’s good for chewing, so chances are he might enjoy it.
Dental treats help remove debris and plaque. And a big bonus is that they freshen up the breath of your dog.
These come in various sizes so you can choose the best one for your Pom.
Use oral spray
A bit easier to apply to your Pom’s teeth than the toothbrush and an alternative to it.
Still, be prepared that if your Pom isn’t used to this since puppyhood, he is likely not to be thrilled and could want to run away when you’re trying to apply the spray. You should apply oral spray to both the teeth and the gums.
Add a dental supplement to your Pom’s water
Warning: This cannot and must not be used as a substitute for brushing.
A water additive is a great way to ensure your Pom will be taking this since he needs his amount of water during the day. This is a great way to prevent tooth decay.