Pomeranians

[Ekaterina]

Hi everyone,
No pom threads . I know I'm not the only one obsessed with them! I have a question though. Does anyone that probably belongs in health care but I'll ask anyways. Does anyone have a pom or a dog with either a luxating patella or a predisposition for one? I know poms are heavily predisposed to this problem, and even though Gucci is only two, about a year ago he started developing a problem where his knee would pop out of its socket and he'd just stand there with his leg raised and shake it until it popped back in. It didn't seem to give him any problems or cause pain or anything, but I was concerned he wasn't eating healthy food and not exercising enough because my mom really spoiled him in a bad way. I put him on a much better diet, walked him more and fed him joint medicine and now the problem hasn't recurred in over a year. My question is can I run with him? He has so much energy and HORRIBLE separation anxiety and I am extremely busy and would love to spend some more time with him, like when I exercise. I'm not specifically asking how I can get him to exercise more, he already exercises enough. I'm asking if you think it's ok for him to exercise with me too? He loves to run and I have taken him on runs before and he loves it. I'm just concerned if I'm actually doing his joints more harm than good. Help!

[kian]

My parents pom has this condition and they are looking into surgery, which has no guarantee. As far has taking your pom on a jog, I would be cautious, especially if you are jogging on a hard surface. LP can cause permanent damage, I suspect the condition as improved, but not cured. Only a vet and a x-ray can give you the concrete info you are seeking. Good luck, poms are very cute!!

[Ekaterina]

Oh no! Does it cause the dog a lot of pain? Gucci just seemed confused when it happened. How old is their dog? I hear it happens pretty early on in a pom's lifetime.

[Deerie me]

Phyrie knows about this condition as her cavalier Kiba has just had surgery for it. Maybe she can advise.

[kian]

Yes send Phyrie a PM, I'm sure she will give some personalized info.

[Anonymous15235]

I had a pom but he was put down a few years ago, he was really sick when i got him, and only got to spend 3 months with me before his body gave out from the sever heart worms he had when we rescued him my mom has 2 poms right now

[Ekaterina]

Oh I'm so sorry. Thanks for that input ... I was actually asking people if all this preventative medicine was worth it in the health care section. I guess it really is. Are your mom's poms (that sounds funny) really energetic too?

[pommylover]

i noticed my one pom angus runs with his back legs kind of together has anyone seen this before? he doesnt seem to be in any pain and it doesnt slow him down.

[little girl]

Yes my baby girl does that so yes it is normal

[LadyMam]

My Cody has the knee problem, it's only occurred twice, both before the vets noticed he has this issue, and what he did was limp around until it went back in on its own. Cody absolutely loves to run, and I don't stop him. He needs his exercise, and even walking he does at top speed. He doesn't climb the stairs in the house, but he'll do it anywhere else we go (like my cousin's appartment, or stores with stairs, or my grandmothers appartment) and he usually prefers to hop on the couch himself, rather than be lifted, even though the vet suggested we dont allow him to jump. He's three years old, not on medication for it, and so far (besides the two limping incidents) he's had no problems with it, and it's never held him back.

[ouiz]

I have two Poms that have LP, per the vet not badly enough at this time to need intervention. Both are relatively young for their size, under 7. They have had these knee issues since they entered the pack.

They don't get run on a schedule, because I have a bad knee (not the same knee problem!), but they are very active in the yard.

I can feel their knees wobble sometimes when one jumps on a chair, the other doesn't try (he's too small).

It has worked itself out to this point; but I always have it in the back of my head that we could be looking at surgery.

My vet and my groomer both say very common for the breed.

If Phyrie can talk about the surgery, I am sure many of us would appreciated it.

Re your question on preventative medicine - regarding heartworms - they are a real problem in the Southern US (especially this year with the widespread floods and standing water to be absorbed - mosquito breeding factories).Most of the Katrina dogs were heartworm positive. In my humble opinion, it is a necessity.

Louise