How long do Pomeranian Spitz live and what does it depend on?
The Pomeranian is a gentle, unusual-looking dog that has many admirers. Of course, the owners care how long the pet is able to live. We will talk about the main circumstances that affect the life span of this dog in our article.
Characteristics and features of the breed
Lovers of the breed believe that Spitz look like miniature chanterelles or cubs. They have an expressive muzzle and very small size. The fur is thick and fluffy, which helps the dogs stay warm in the cold season. Spitz have a peculiar woolen collar and pants. The final color appears at the age of six months.
Pomeranian Spitz have a variety of colors. You can find orange, black, blue, red, cream and chocolate representatives of this breed. Males are slightly larger and females are more graceful. They reach their maximum growth by the age of 6-8 months.
Dogs have a cheerful and good-natured disposition, they love to play and look quite funny. They can become good friends with their masters. Animals are perfectly adapted to life at home.
average life expectancy
This indicator is rather arbitrary and depends on many factors. On average, Miniature Spitz can live from 11 to 16 years.
If the living conditions are very good and the health is good, the dog is capable of reaching the age of 18-20 years.
The Pomeranian is considered an adult from the moment its skeleton finishes forming. This usually happens at 7-8 months of age.This is followed by a period of adolescence, and at 3-4 years old the dog enters a mature age. It is characterized by the fact that the animal exhibits possible congenital pathologies and diseases, and it also becomes more susceptible to acquired diseases.
At this age, nursing plays a special role. It depends on him how long the pet will live. With serious pathologies, this period can be significantly reduced. A weak individual, on average, is not able to overcome the border at 8-9 years. However, the absence of serious hereditary diseases, as well as the timely prevention of new ones, can extend the life span.
This breed has several varieties. Bear, fox, and toy types of dwarf spitz are known.
This does not in any way affect the dog's lifespan.
Small individuals that have not reached a height of 18 cm are called mini-Spitz, and they live much less. This is because small dogs have weaker genetics, they are very delicate and at the same time, due to their small size, they have a not too developed physique. Mini Pomeranians are often injured, which also does not have a very good effect on their health.
There are no absolutely accurate data on the average life expectancy, but in the case when good care is organized for the dogs, they continue to delight the owners for about 8 years.
The smaller the dog, the more fashionable it is. This also affects the cost, which is impressive. However, owners often forget that compliance with standards is directly related to the health and longevity of animals.
Mini-Spitz have a weak and thin spine, which is an unfavorable factor when it comes to fractures and injuries. Very often they have such a disease as hydrocephalus of the brain. Also, small sizes are directly related to the work of the body as a whole, which can malfunction for this reason.
What factors affect it?
There are many nuances that a loving owner must take into account when starting a Pomeranian. The main problem becomes tendency to various diseases, from which the dog begins to suffer, reaching the age of 4 years.
However, despite the fact that a person cannot influence hereditary diseases, he is able to prevent acquired diseases and treat them as quickly as possible. After all, it is they who are able to significantly shorten the life of a pet.
The main cause of the overwhelming majority of diseases is mistakes in caring for a dwarf spitz. It is this circumstance that can cause disruption of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, the appearance of neoplasms in the intestine, and the development of cancerous tumors. In addition, dogs of this breed often have problems with blood circulation and heart function, joint diseases.
However, especially often, the owners of dwarf spitz are faced with all kinds of fractures. The fragile structure of the body is very sensitive to any impact, as a result, the animal is easily injured. Moreover, even a puppy can be injured, but the consequences will appear much later, when the dog reaches old age.
As mentioned above, these problems most often occur as a result of improper care. Hosts make several common mistakes.
First of all, they can not always find the right and quality food for their pet. And this fact threatens the emergence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
It should be borne in mind that table-feeding is contraindicated for Spitz.
In this case, the dogs need sufficient physical activity. You need to walk with them every day, failure to comply with this condition threatens with joint disease. Even taking into account the tiny size of the pet, movement within the apartment will not be enough for him.
The puppy is needed on time vaccinate, after all, among decorative breeds, distemper and enteritis are very common, which can lead to the death of a pet. They are also very susceptible to viruses, which also negatively affects life expectancy.
Spitz needs to be protected from parasites. Specialty stores sell special collars that get rid of fleas and ticks. These pests not only undermine the health of delicate dogs in general, but can also become carriers of dangerous diseases.
Frequent stress won't do any animal well. The psyche of the Pomeranian Spitz is rather weak, so you need to try to protect them from worries and fear, otherwise it can threaten with a heart attack. Also under the prohibitions strong punishments.
Walking with pets in the summer is very pleasant. However, the owner needs to remember that Spitz is very sensitive to heat and direct sunlight. This can cause dogs to overheat, which in turn increases the strain on the heart, which is also a negative factor.
The Pomeranian has a breed disease. One of them - inflammation of the paraanal glands. This disease must be stopped at an early stage, otherwise it can lead to serious consequences.
How to prolong life?
Providing a dog with good care and attention, it is able to reach the age to which it is genetically predisposed. Each owner hopes to prolong the life of his beloved pet as much as possible. With regard to the Pomeranian, some nuances must be taken into account.
First of all, you need to take care about ensuring the right diet... This breed has some limitations, certain foods should be excluded.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the dosage, even the visually hungry and unhappy eyes of a pet should not contribute to overfeeding, because as a result of it, the dog will become obese and malfunctioning in the cardiovascular system.
The diet should change depending on the age of the Pomeranian, because a dog in old age needs a larger dose of mineral and nutrients.
The dog needs regular walking. Ideally, it is required to take the Spitz outside three times a day, the duration of the walk should be at least an hour. You also need to try to avoid stressful situations that can injure the mini-Spitz.
Dwarf Spitz should be regularly seen by the veterinarian. He will conduct a full examination and perform the necessary manipulations. The survey should be annual, and once the dog reaches the age of 7 years, it should be done every 6 months. In addition, the vaccination schedule must be strictly followed.
Keeping a Pomeranian is a rather difficult and labor-intensive business. Failure to comply with basic rules will not do the pet good. The dog requires competent care and sufficient free time of the owner devoted to grooming and walking. These animals are very smart and intelligent, they take root well in the family and are able to please the family for many years.
You will learn more about how to properly care for your Spitz in the following video.