Let’s face it, whenever you see your Pomeranian gaining attention and start begging for food, it can be hard to resist. They’re so cute and cuddly that it’s hard to say no! While it’s best practice not to feed your dog human food, they can get a pass from time to time if give them healthy human for Pomeranians. This is especially true during the holidays and get-togethers.
Feeding Pomeranians human food can certainly be considered a way of spoiling their pallet causing them to no longer be interested in their dog food. However, it’s even worse if the food is bad for their health, leading to Pomeranian health problems that could’ve been avoided. There are a number of types of food to avoid feeding your Pomeranian, so I decided to compile a list based on my research from authoritative sources, such as Pet WebMD and Canine Journal, of all the worst things to feed your Pomeranian.
1. Avocados
Letting your Pomeranian eat avocados or anything made from them, like guacamole, can cause them to vomit, have diarrhea, or to become constipated. The problem with avocado is that it contains a substance called persin, which has been known to cause negative health effects for small breed dogs.
Not only can avocado cause dietary problems for Pomeranians, but there’s also a risk of them choking on the large pit found in the center. This pit can easily cause obstruction in your Pomeranians esophagus, stomach, or intestines. I fully advise that your Pomeranian avoid avocados completely.
2. Non-Ripe, Green Tomatoes
If your Pomeranian likes to eat red, ripe tomatoes, it’s completely a non-issue because there are no harmful substances inside them. However, if the tomatoes your Pomeranian aren’t fully ripe and show a bit of green, then those should be 100% off limits to your Pomeranian. The reason green tomatoes are dangerous to your Pomeranian is due to the fact that it contains a substance called solanine.
Solanine is found inside the leaves and stem of a tomato plant and can cause health issues with your Pomeranian including gastrointestinal problems, cardiac effects, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, tremors, and seizures. If you grow tomato plants in your house or garden, make sure your Pomeranian can’t get close enough to eat them.
3. Eggplant
While this is certainly not a common food for Pomeranians to eat, there are potentially dangerous health effects if your Pomeranian eats eggplant. The thing with eggplant is that it belongs to the nightshade plant family, which tomatoes are also a member of. This family of plants are known to cause allergic reactions in animals as well as humans, so if your Pomeranian consumes eggplant, keep an eye on how they react.
If your Pomeranian eats eggplant, make sure it’s an extremely low amount and to make sure they don’t start to itch, rash, or have an upset stomach. More serious reactions could include vomiting and facial swelling. This leads me to suggest that eggplant should be avoided at all costs and not even considered as a food to feed your Pomeranian.
4. Onions
There are more serious effects to eating onions than simply bad breath. When it comes to Pomeranians eating onions, the health effects can become rather serious. Sadly, onions contain a harmful substance for all dogs called N-propyl disulfide, which produces a red blood cell issue with your Pomeranian leading to anemia.
Every part of an onion is toxic for Pomeranians, including the layers, leaves, body, and juice. Not only that, but onion powder can also cause health issues similar to the plant. Be wary when feeding your Pomeranian human food that could contain onions since the negative health effects can be quite traumatic.
5. Shallots
Just like onions, shallots can cause the same health issues for Pomeranians due to the harmful substance they contain. Do yourself and your Pomeranian a favor and watch out for foods containing shallots.
6. Garlic
Similar to onions, garlic can be extremely toxic to dogs, which, of course, includes Pomeranians. When it comes to garlic, it’s known to be around five times as potent as onions, so it’s most definitely food to avoid feeding your Pomeranian.
While garlic is also known to cause issues with the red blood cells in dogs leading to being diagnosed with anemia, it can also cause even more health problems. Health issues including lethargy, pale gums, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, tiredness, and even collapse can occur, which I’d say are all serious issues.
7. Leeks
Leeks are known to produce similar health issues as onions, shallots, and garlic. When Pomeranians consume these types of ingredients, they’re likely to become ill and become anemic over time. Along with that, there are other health concerns that can lead your Pomeranian to live a difficult and unhealthy life.
8. Chives
Chives are also a health issue for Pomeranians similar to onions, shallots, garlic, and leeks. Strangely enough, you sometimes see chives being advertised as ingredients to certain dog food, so be wary with brands that do this. Just like the other ingredients that could lead your Pomeranian to become anemic, it’s important to keep human food containing these ingredients away from your Pomeranian.
9. Spicy Peppers
Some people, including myself, are huge fans of spicy food! The substance inside spicy peppers, including chilis, jalapenos, and habeneros, that produces this spicy effect is called capsaicin. When it comes to dogs, they actually are able to feel this spiciness effect much stronger than humans even though they have fewer taste buds. Humans have around 9,000 while our doggie friends have around 1,700.
Even though dogs are less sensitive to taste than people, they can feel the bodily effects of spicy food much more intensely than us. This can cause our Pomeranians to cry, sweat, cough, foam at the mouth, and cause harm to their esophagus and stomach. It’s never safe for any Pomeranian to consume spicy food, so be sure to keep them away from it.
10. Chocolate
We’ve all heard that we shouldn’t feed our Pomeranians chocolate, even though we also know that it tastes so good! Well, the main issue with feeding our Pomeranians chocolate is that they’re less able to metabolize the substance inside of chocolate call theobromine. Since they can’t metabolize it as fast as we can, it builds up to a toxic level and can produce numerous harmful effects.
If your Pomeranian eats a small amount of chocolate, most likely they’ll only vomit a little or get diarrhea. However, if they eat a lot of chocolate then the theobromine will build up causing your Pomeranian to have muscle tremors, seizures, an irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding, or even a heart attack. Your best bet is to keep your Pomeranian away from chocolate altogether.
11. Grapes
Literally, all dogs, including Pomeranians, should avoid eating grapes at all costs. The problem with Pomeranians consuming grapes is that they’re inherently toxic in nature for dogs and can cause acute kidney failure due to lack of urine production. While this is the worst case scenario, it’s certainly not uncommon.
Other symptoms Pomeranians will show after eating grapes includes vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, dehydration, passing a small amount of urine, bad breath, tremors, and seizures. While the toxin that produces these effects is strangely unknown to this day, it’s certain that grapes are not a good choice of ingredient for Pomeranians.
12. Raisins
Just like grapes, raisins should be avoided at all costs because they produce the same exact negative health effects. There’s no doubt that raisins are toxic for Pomeranians, which also includes jellies and jams made out of these ingredients. With that in mind, it’s best to avoid giving your Pomeranians any raisins.
13. Currants
Similar to grapes and raisins, currants are extremely toxic for Pomeranians and should be 100% avoided. Unfortunately, these ingredients can often be found in healthy human foods such as trail mix, bread, bagels, and other baked goods, so human food containing any of these ingredients should never be fed to your Pomeranian.
14. Persimmons
While persimmons are some of the tastiest and healthy kinds of foods you can eat, that’s not the case for Pomeranians. When it comes to Pomeranians eating persimmons, they’re not able to properly digest the seeds inside of them. This can cause inflammation in your Pomeranians small intestine.
On top of inflammation of the small intestine in your Pomeranian, persimmons can also cause intestinal obstruction. Also, the pit has been shown to contain traces of cyanide, which is poisonous to humans as well as dogs. It’s very important to not feed your Pomeranian persimmons.
15. Peaches
Just like persimmons, peaches are extremely toxic to Pomeranians due to not being able to properly digest the seeds inside of them. The same exact health issues can occur if your Pomeranian ingests peaches, so it’s best to avoid them at all costs.
16. Plums
Joining the list with persimmons and peaches, plums are also known to be toxic to Pomeranians due to the undigestable seeds inside of them. Be aware that not only are these fruits dangerous for your Pomeranian to ingest, but any jams or jellies that contain persimmon, peach, or plum seeds can also cause serious harm.
17. Nutmeg
When baking goods, it’s not uncommon to use nutmeg here and there. While nutmeg is completely fine for humans to ingest, it’s absolutely toxic for Pomeranians and dogs alike. The problematic compound found in nutmeg that makes it toxic for Pomeranians is called Myristicin.
If your Pomeranian consumes nutmeg, it’s likely to cause disorientation, hallucinations, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, dry mouth, abdominal pain, and potentially seizures.
A good rule of thumb is to simply not give your Pomeranian any baked goods since a lot of them can contain nutmeg. At small doses, nutmeg can cause mild vomiting and diarrhea, but none is surely better than some when it comes to nutmeg.
18. Salt
Salt is an interesting seasoning because, at low doses, it can be very healthy for people but not at high doses. However, for Pomeranians, it should be 100% off limits due to adverse effects it has on their bodies. Adding salt to your Pomeranian’s diet is completely unnecessary as they receive adequate amounts of sodium through their normal everyday food.
Pomeranians that consume too much salt can experience dehydration, which, over time, can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high temperature, and even seizures. This means your Pomeranian should not be fed human food with high amounts of salt, including salted peanuts, potato chips, pretzels, or anything similar.
19. Milk and Other Dairy Products
While some dogs are able to handle small amounts of milk and other dairy products, some cannot due to being lactose intolerant. Pomeranians are well-known for being lactose intolerant due to the absence of a crucial enzyme that properly breaks down ingested lactose.
Pomeranians that consume lactose-filled products can expect to experience vomiting, diareaha, and other gastrointestinal problems. Also, the high-fat content in dairy products can lead to pancreatitis, which is when a Pomeranian’s pancreas becomes inflamed. Your best bet is to make sure your Pomeranian doesn’t eat any milk, cheese, ice cream, and any other dairy product.
20. Rawhide Bones
When watching cartoons as a kid, I was always used to seeing dogs eating and playing with their bones. However, rawhide bones can cause health issues among dogs, especially small breeds like Pomeranians. The main issue with rawhide bones is not only that they can become contaminated with bacteria ultimately causing digestive irritation, but they can also cause severe choking.
Pomeranians should never be given rawhide bones due to the high risk of it getting stuck in their esophagus or other parts of their digestive tract. Sadly, this is not common knowledge and can lead to Pomeranians having difficulties breathing and potentially leading to long-term health damages.
21. Fatty Meat and Fat Trimmings
I used to think it was totally fine to feed my Pomeranians meat scraps whenever I’m cooking in the kitchen, but it’s come to my attention that this is absolutely not the case. Feeding your Pomeranian fatty meats and fat trimmings can lead to pancreatitis, which is when your Pomeranian’s pancreas becomes inflamed.
Pancreatitis can also be an issue if your Pomeranian consumes too much salt, as explained previously. The issue with fatty meats and fat trimmings is that they not only can cause pancreatitis alone, but they’re also usually heavy in sodium. This multiplies the effect, which is a good reason to avoid feeding your Pomeranian these types of foods.
22. Wild Mushrooms
While the vast majority of mushrooms are consumable for humans and dogs, wild mushrooms should be avoided at all costs. The issue is that Pomeranians, and other pets, are likely to adventure into nature and eat mushrooms they find here and there. And while some of these might not be toxic, some will absolutely be toxic leading to potential health issues for your Pomeranian.
There are too many wild mushrooms to list off that could cause your Pomeranian to suffer unnecessarily. However, common symptoms that occur after consuming them include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, yellowing of the skin, uncoordinated movements, excessive drooling, seizures, and even a coma.
If you notice your Pomeranian eating wild mushrooms, take them to your veterinarian as soon as possible with a sample of the mushrooms they ate.
23. Pecans
There are numerous kinds of nuts that Pomeranians shouldn’t be eating and pecans are surely one of them. The problem with pecans is that they contain a known toxin that can harm dogs called juglone. Pecans and other nuts might grow certain molds which can produce harmful effects for Pomeranians if consumed.
The most common symptoms of pecan poisoning in Pomeranians is seizures and tremors. It’s best to avoid giving your Pomeranian pecans in any case.
24. Walnuts
Similar to pecans, walnuts are known to cause health issues when ingested by Pomeranians. The most common issue is that walnuts, especially black walnuts, can produce a small amount of mold that, when consumed, can cause harmful effects similar to that of pecans. Neurological symptoms are common, so avoiding all kinds of walnuts is highly advised.
25. Macadamia Nuts
My favorite kind of nut to eat has to be macadamia nuts! Whether I’m eating the raw or inside white chocolate chip cookies, it’s hard to put them down. However, they should not be given to Pomeranians due to their high levels of fat. When Pomeranians consume macadamia nuts, they can get upset stomachs, leading to vomiting or diarrhea.
On top of that, if your Pomeranian consumes too many macadamia nuts, they’re likely to contract pancreatitis. As we’ve already learned, this is when the pancreas becomes inflamed, which is something surely to be avoided for our Pomeranians.
26. Cherries
While some fruits are safe for Pomeranian consumption, cherries are one of several fruits that should be 100% avoided. The issue with cherries is that their pits, stems, and leaves contain cyanide, similar to peaches, which is highly poisonous for humans and Pomeranians alike.
Cyanide poisoning is not uncommon among dogs, but another big risk when feeding them cherries is the pit can easily obstruct their airway, digestive tract, and intestinal lines.
27. Candy, Gum, Toothpaste, Baked Goods, and Most Sweets
Who doesn’t like a nice sugar rush from time to time? Well, we know that candy and other sugary treats aren’t the most healthy for humans, but that’s especially true for Pomeranians. The main issue with these types of treats is that they contain a substance called Xylitol, which is a common sugar substitute.
Xylitol is known to increase the amount of insulin moving through your Pomeranian at a much higher rate than natural sugar. This can cause harmful health effects including a dramatic drop in blood sugar and potential liver failure. There’s no reason to ever give your Pomeranian any kind of sugary treat.
28. Caffeinated Drinks
Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, soda, and energy drinks, seem to be the lifebloods of our modern daily activities when it comes to humans. However, these drinks can be harmful to Pomeranians and dogs alike due to a large amount of caffeine contained in them.
If your Pomeranian consumes too much caffeine, they’re likely going to show symptoms of restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, and fits. Even worse, very large amounts of caffeine consumption in Pomeranians can be fatal. Please be vigilant and don’t let your Pomeranian consume any caffeine ever.
29. Yeast Dough
Whenever I’m baking bread, I always have some leftover dough that I don’t really like throwing away. However, it’s better to toss it than feed it your Pomeranian since yeast dough still contains living yeast and can grow and flourish in your Pomeranians tummy, causing it to expand. The outcome of this is extreme bloating, which is technically called Gastric Dilatation Volvulus.
If your Pomeranian consumes raw yeast dough, the expansion in their stomach can lead to damage of their stomach lining, cardiovascular problems, and damage to their diaphragm. While eating baked bread isn’t too bad for your Pomeranian, under no circumstances should they be eating the dough.
30. Alcohol
It probably goes without saying that alcohol is a big no-no for Pomeranians and pets in general. While human livers can properly process alcohol at reasonable rates of consumption, Pomeranian livers are absolutely not build to withstand the beating of alcohol. Even a few sips can have detrimental consequences.
Whether you’re drinking beer, wine, or spirits, it’s best to avoid giving any to your Pomeranian. While it may be novel to give them a little sip here and there, Pomeranians can easily get alcohol poisoning at even the smallest amount of alcohol.
31. Raw Meat and Fish
While a controversial topic among dog lovers, raw meats and fish should be avoided when feeding your Pomeranian. The problem here is that Pomeranians and other dogs may have a genetic disposition toward eating raw meats and fish, those days are long gone. Many dogs today may be able to handle it at some level, but others won’t have the same ability to withstand the potential contaminations.
If you’re going to give your Pomeranian raw meat or fish, by no means should you go to the grocery store, buy raw meat and fish, and throw it in their bowl. Talk to your veterinarian about the pros and cons of going all in on a raw meat and fish diet for your Pomeranian before making any rash decisions.
32. People Medicine
While this may seem obvious, it’s sadly a problem that some dogs are given human medicine when showing signs of sickness and general bad health. There’s zero evidence to suggest that giving Pomeranians Advil or cough medicine is going to help them get over any illness. As a matter of fact, it’s likely to make them even sicker.
If you think your Pomeranian needs medication, talk to your local veterinarian. It’s not uncommon for Pomeranians to develop strong coughs due to a tracheal collapse, which is why there’s very effective cough medicine for dogs with a collapsed trachea out there.
Feed Your Pomeranian Healthy, High-Quality Food
I hope you learned a lot about what foods should be avoided when feeding your Pomeranian. Some of these foods can cause mild health issues while others can lead to fatal outcomes. Either way, it’s best to avoid them and instead focus on feeding them healthy, high-quality food to ensure a happy and healthy life.
Some human food that you should feel confident in giving your Pomeranian include:
- Cooked lean meats
- Seedless fresh fruits
- Brussel sprouts
- Peanuts
- Cucumber
- Brocolli
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Green beans
- Zucchini
- Cooked white rice
- Cooked pasta
There are other foods that are safe for Pomeranian consumption, but these are probably the most common types fed to Pomeranians. Now, enjoy cooking and creating a healthy eating environment for your Pomeranian! And be sure to only buy healthy, high-quality dog food that’s ideally organic!
