Poms, like any breed of dog (or any dog in general) can be susceptible to various problems, both genetic and non-genetic.
Hypoglycemia
Puppies especially can be at risk for hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. This results from the dog using up more sugar than its body is taking in. This can happen when a puppy plays too hard without access to food (or without stopping to eat) or if a puppy is experiencing diarrhea or an upset stomach and won’t eat. It’s essential that young puppies (6mos or less) and tiny adults (3lb or less) eat regularly and any sign of diarrhea should be taken seriously. Make sure your puppy is eating if it appears to be having diarrhea and take it to the vet ASAP especially if it WON’T eat. The signs of hypoglycemia include: drooling, lack of coordination, sometimes unconsciousness, seizing. Usually you will notice the puppy stumbling, or looking dazed, before they collapse. Keep Nutrical or Karo syrup on hand, and rub this on the puppy’s tongue. It should come out of the hypoglycemia attack within a few minutes, after which the puppy should be encouraged to eat something of more substance (cheese or canned dog food is good). If the puppy doesn’t come around, take it to your vet ASAP. Even if it does, you will want to consult a veterinarian to find the cause of the episode unless it is obvious (ie you forgot to feed the dog….) I have found I do not usually experience hypoglycemia in even small puppies unless there is something causing them not to eat, most often an internal parasite of some sort.
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis
Another non-genetic problem poms can be predisposed towards is HGE or Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis. This is basically bloody diarrhea due to an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. If you notice your pom having bloody diarrhea consult a vet ASAP as this could be a sign of parasites or could be HGE. HGE can kill a pom in a matter of hours due to blood loss. It is however very easily treated once caught.
Congenital Issues
In terms of congenital (present at birth, but not necessarily hereditary) and genetic defects, possible issues in the Pomeranian include patellar luxation, heart problems, epilepsy, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (a disease of the femoral head of the hip), hypothyroidism, and alopecia X or “Black Skin Disease”.
Patella Luxation
Of these the most common is Patella Luxation, which is basically a bad knee. This issue can present itself in varying degrees, the least of which scarcely effects the dog and are considered acceptable for breeding, and the worst of which may result in the dog needing surgery. If you notice your pom skipping or carrying a leg up, consult your veterinarian.
Alopecia (Hair Loss)
Another common problem is Alopecia X or Black Skin Disease. This is a problem seen in several Nordic, double coated breeds including the Pom and it basically is unexplained hair loss that can’t be attributed to another cause. There are studies being done currently into how this problem is inherited and what causes it but at this time its mode of inheritence is unknown. Next to patella luxation, this is probably the second most common problem experienced by poms.
Heart Issues
Heart defects vary; some are present as birth and present as heart murmurs, or, in the most serious cases, the puppy may actually have difficulty breathing. A vet exam at 8 to 12 wks should pick up these congenital (present at birth) heart murmurs and a veterinarian can advise you on how to proceed. I would recommend a consultation with a cardiologist and an echocardiogram for any murmur above level II or any murmur of II or lower that persists past 6mos of age. A Level II or below murmur in a young puppy is frequently an “innocent” heart murmur that will resolve within a few months and is merely the result of the heart being slow to develop, but will cause the dog no future problems. Other heart problems can develop as the dog ages. Always consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about your dog’s health.
Seizures
Epilepsy is basically seizures with no known cause. They can emerge at almost any age and vary from mild, tic-like behaviors (fly-catching) to complete grand mal seizures. If you notice any strange behavior or what you suspect might be a seizure, consult your veterinarian immediately as it could either be epilepsy or due to some other health issue.
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCP) is a disorder in which the femoral head of the hip degenerates. This can be either hereditary or due to injury. In hereditary instances it most often will become obvious by 12mos of age as the dog will have a limp. It can be diagnosed by x-ray and can be treated with a surgery that luckily, poms generally recover from very well. If you notice your pom limping, have your veterinarian check its patellas and also take x-rays to examine the hips in case LCP or hip dysplasia (HD) might be the cause. I have not personally encountered any cases of HD but have met at least one pom that had LCP. I think LCP is more common in poms but HD is not unknown, although seldom to a degree that it causes lameness (to the best of my knowledge).
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss and is sometimes confused with Alopecia X. If hypothyroidism is suspected your veterinarian should check your dog’s thyroid levels. If a drug is prescribed to treat the thyroid, then the coat (and whatever other symptoms related to thyroid the dog has) should resolve once the thyroid levels are moderated. If they aren’t, then the thyroid may not be the only cause of hair loss.
Eye Issues
Eye problems are not terribly common in my experience, but problems with vision can and do occur especially in old age. I have not personally experienced any eye defects that would result in a dog failing to pass CERF (canine eye certification) but they do exist at times in the breed. Things like distichia (tiny fine hairs that may intrude upon the eye), persistent pupillary membranes (PPM) seem to be present in the breed but not the cause of issues in most cases.
Poms, like any dog, may suffer an eye scratch or irritation. If you notice your Pom has a blue or whitish cast to its eye, see a veterinarian immediately. Eye injuries are nothing to mess with and can go bad very quickly.
Other Issues
These bits of information are just the tip of the iceberg and are not definitive resources on these health issues. If you suspect your pom has a problem please seek your veterinarian’s advice immediately. This is only to give a general overview to those who are considering buying a pom.