Do you know why it’s important to take care of your Pomeranian’s teeth? This cute dog breed is prone to dental disease and plaque accumulation due to their small mouths.
Without proper cleaning routine, Pomeranians can lose some of their teeth before they’re three years old. But that’s not the worst that can happen.
Surprisingly, one of the main reasons for chronic kidney failure in dogs is bad teeth. So, dental disease can damage your Pomeranian’s internal organs.
To help you take the best care of your Pomeranian’s teeth, I’ve prepared 12 tips for healthy teeth. Just keep on reading.
12 Pomeranian Teeth Care Tips
1. Brush Your Pomeranian’s Teeth
The best Pomeranian teeth care advice that I can give you is to brush your Pom’s teeth as often as possible.
Brushing removes the accumulates plaque from the surface of the teeth and any food stuck in the mouth. In addition to this, it freshens your Pomeranian’s breath and gets rid of the accumulated bacteria.
Most specialists recommend that you clean your Pomeranian’s teeth at least thrice a week. However, depending on your Pomeranian’s overall oral health, you might have to brush daily to keep the teeth healthy.
Getting the right tool to clean your Pomeranian’s teeth is as important as the brushing itself. For starters, you need a toothbrush for small dogs that can fit in your Pom’s mouth. Human toothbrushes are too rough for your Pomeranian’s gums and might damage them.
Moreover, you should get toothpaste suitable for dogs because the human one is toxic. Find one that your Pomeranian likes, and it will make brushing an easy job.
2. Start Brushing Your Pomeranian Teeth Early
A lot of owners are convinced that brushing their Pomeranian’s teeth is an impossible task. That’s because an adult dog is twice as hard to get used to a cleaning routine than a puppy.
But Pomeranian puppies are open to new experiences, and they can get used to brushing pretty quickly. The best tip I can give you is to make your Pomeranian comfortable with your hands around their mouth. Then you can work on introducing the toothpaste and toothbrush.
Remember to praise and reward your Pomeranian puppy a lot. You want to make brushing a positive experience and something they look forward to.
3. Improve Your Brushing Technique
As strange as it sounds, there is a right way to brush your Pom’s teeth, and there’s a wrong way. Most specialists recommend that you place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your Pom’s teeth. Then use small, circular motions to clean the surface of the teeth.
Don’t try to force your Pomeranian’s mouth open. That never ends well and will make brushing a negative experience for your dog. Instead, use one hand to keep your Pom’s mouth close and gently lift the lips with the other.
4. Learn the Signs of Dental Disease
The bad thing about gingivitis and periodontal disease is that these conditions don’t have a lot of visible symptoms. Usually, the first signs are so subtle that they often get overlooked. By the time it’s obvious that something is wrong with your Pomeranian’s mouth, the teeth probably need extensive treatment.
So, I always advise Pomeranian owners to learn the symptoms of dental disease so that they can act on time. Look for:
- Bad breath. It’s not normal for your Pomeranian’s breath to stink. That usually means poor oral health and overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth.
- Excessive drooling. As a whole, Pomeranians aren’t prone to drooling, so any drooling should raise your suspicions.
- Inflamed gums.
- Mild bleeding.
- Sores inside the mouth.
5. Examine Your Pomeranian’s Teeth Weekly
Another important aspect of your Pomeranian teeth care is to examine your Pom’s teeth weekly. Gently lift the upper lips and take a look at the gums. They should be pink, not red or white. Red means inflammation, while white gums might be a sign of anemia.
Furthermore, your Pomeranian’s gums shouldn’t have any brownish tartar, and there shouldn’t be any swelling.
6. Feed High-Quality Dog Food
My next Pomeranian teeth care advice is to choose a high-quality dog food for your Pom.
Low-quality food usually contains a lot of artificial ingredients, fillers, generic meat, and meat-by-products. This food doesn’t have the necessary vitamins and minerals your Pomeranian needs for healthy teeth.
That’s why you should look for Pomeranian dog food that has natural ingredients, good fiber and protein content, and omega-3-acids.
7. Provide Dental Treats
Besides brushing your Pomeranian’s teeth, you should also provide dental treats to keep their teeth healthy. Dental chews work by scraping plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach places.
They’re also helpful for controlling bad breath and cleansing your Pom’s mouth from bacteria and food. So, they’re an excellent addition to your brushing routine.
8. Give Vegetables and Fruits as Treats
When it comes to treats, owners often make two mistakes. First, they feed their Pomeranian table scraps. Don’t do that. Not all human food is safe for Pomeranians, especially cooked bones and salty/spicy dishes.
The second mistake is that owners often rely too much on commercial treats. You have a lot of safe vegetables and fruits that can feed your Pomeranian. For example, carrots and apples are low in calories, and their texture is suitable for cleaning your Pomeranian’s teeth.
If you feed your Pomeranian commercial chews, you should make sure that they contain natural ingredients without any added sugar. Moreover, they shouldn’t be more than 10% of the daily calorie intake of your Pomeranian.
9. Consider Water Additives and Teeth Wipes
Unfortunately, some Pomeranians don’t take brushing very well. But don’t despair. Here’s another tip for Pomeranian teeth care – use water additives. These substances are designed to dissolve plaque and tartar when consumed. Moreover, they protect the teeth from plaque accumulation.
Besides water additives, you can also give teeth wipes a go. You can use them instead of a toothbrush to clean your Pomeranian’s teeth. They’re easy to use and allow you to reach the tiny crooks and nooks.
10. Don’t Feed Wet Food Diet Only
Some owners think that wet food is more suitable for their Pomeranian. However, most specialists don’t recommend wet food only diet for Poms. That’s because wet food is more likely to stick to your Pomeranian’s teeth than a dry one and might cause tooth decay.
In addition to this, chewing on dry food is another natural way for Pomeranians to clean their teeth. But if you have a capricious Pom at home, you can try mixing dry and wet food.
11. Get Appropriate Chew Toys
Are you ready for another great tip for Pomeranian teeth care? Find suitable chews toys for your Pomeranian. The chewing motion not only removes plaque, but it also stimulates the saliva flow to clean the mouth.
You don’t have to have tons of chew toys but a few that do excellent work. In general, KONG never disappoints with their quality, and they make sturdy toys suitable for small dog breeds such as Pomeranian. You can also try Nylabone.
12. Regular Vet Visits
The last Pomeranian teeth care tip is the most important one. Don’t skip vet visits. You might not be able to recognize some mouth problems that would be obvious to your vet.
Moreover, the earlier you catch any teeth issue, the easier it would be to treat it. Once periodontal disease has affected the bone structure of the mouth, it can be very hard to save the damaged teeth.
Professional dental cleaning might also be necessary every couple of years or yearly to ensure that your Pom’s teeth remain in perfect condition.
Closing Thoughts
As a responsible owner, it’s your job to clean your Pomeranian’s teeth regularly. Find the right time to do it so that it doesn’t feel like a chore and establish a good cleaning routine.
