When you are the proud furry parent of a Pomsky, you need to learn about key factors concerning your pup. It is quite hard not to fall for a Pomsky, most people who want one or own one is due to their cute looks. Overall the Pomsky is a great cross-breed and can make a great pet. So if you are a Pomsky mom or dad, you may wonder about Pomsky health issues and concerns.
The wolf-like fluffy nugget is a relatively new breed, resulting from a Siberian husky and the Pomeranian. These furry creatures are simply enchanting and if you wish to know more about them you are in the right place as we’ll be sharing with you all about Pomsky health issues you should be aware of.
As a caring Pomsky parent, you are now responsible for the well-being of your dog; doing a little research, especially for first-time owners is always a good idea. After all, we all know our furry children represent a responsibility so if you are up to the challenge, keep reading and get to know about the Pomsky health issues and concerns.
Pomsky Health Issues FAQs
What do you need to know before getting a Pomsky?
Pomskies are active dogs and love to play, so you’ll have to make sure she is getting plenty of exercise. Daily walks, maybe a short trip to the park, and a lot of playing is what your Pomsky will be expecting from you every day, including weekends.
How hard is it to take care of a Pomsky?
If things go right and they often do, the Pomsky can be an easier dog to handle compared to its parents the Siberian Husky and Pomeranian. They often don’t require the living space and backyard size that huskies need for running and getting out their energy. Find out everything you need to know before buying a pomsky
What is the life expectancy of a Pomsky?
As Pomskies have been around for less than 10 years, experts can only estimate their average life expectancy. But based on both of their parent breeds, it’s generally expected that healthy Pomskies should live anywhere from 13 to 15 years.
What can you do to reduce the risk of health issues of your Pomsky?
- The health risks to Pomskies come because the Pomeranian and the Husky mix the issues the purebred parents are predisposed to. To prevent such health hazards to your chosen Pomsky then, you can opt to adopt one only from trusted and certified Pomsky breeders. You can visit the one here in Idaho for such honest service.
- Pomsky health tests like the OFA certification should be performed. The OFA is a health test checking for hip dysplasia and luxating patellas. The veterinarian will perform a radiographic examination and mail the results to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for evaluation.
- A CERF exam is a yearly evaluation of the eyes of breeding dogs. The goal of a CERF exam is to stop the breeding of any dogs that display potentially blinding diseases including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and retinal dysplasia.
What are the characteristics of a Pomsky?
Life Span
As pomskies have been around for less than 10 years, experts can only estimate their average life expectancy. But based on both of their parent breeds, it’s generally expected that healthy pomskies should live anywhere from 13 to 15 years.
Intelligence & Trainability
These dogs are very intelligent, but they inherit their parents’ temperaments and can be significantly harder to train than other dogs.
Temperament
It can be unpredictable, as it really depends on each dog’s parents, but on the whole, they’re described as gentle, playful, and confident.
Activity Level
They’re very active dogs that love to play with their owners but be warned that these little guys need to stay busy, otherwise they get bored and can develop destructive behavior.
Size
They’re generally 10-15 inches high (25-38 cm) and can reach up to 20-30 lbs. (9-14 kg). In some rare cases, they’ve been known to grow as big as a Husky. Find out more about how big a pomsky gets.
Caring
- Exercise: these dogs need at least a 20-minute walk in the morning, and a longer one in the afternoon, plus one or two play sessions during the day.
- Feeding: they need regular, healthy food in moderate quantities, however, they’re not fussy and have no special requirements.
- Grooming: they have double coats with long, silky hair, and need daily brushing during the shedding seasons, which all up is about six months a year. Their coats need brushing 3-5 times a week for the rest of the time. When talking about grooming, there are a few things you might find interesting, for example, flea shampoos, waterless shampoos, deshedding shampoos, and there are also special shampoos, like oatmeal shampoos, shampoos for dogs with itchy skin.
Children & other Pets
Some breeders say these dogs are the perfect family dog, while others suggest you should pay attention to small children, and recommend Pomskies only for single people and families with teenagers. A Pomsky can get on well with other pets if you introduce them to each other when the dog is still very young. Pomskies can even get along with cats!!
Pomsky Health Issues
Pomeranian Health Issues
Collapsing Tracheas
Tracheal Collapse is a progressive respiratory condition that causes breathing problems for dogs. If the dog has a harsh, dry cough, difficulty breathing, or if he’s often wheezing, it could be a sign that he’s suffering from this condition.
Luxating Patellas
This condition is characterized by the recurrent dislocation of the kneecap, and it’s very common in small size breeds. When the kneecap is dislocated, the dog has difficulty bearing weight on the affected leg, and although it doesn’t cause pain, it can have long-term consequences on their overall health.
Dental Issues
Dental disease is the result of plaque buildup, which can lead to infections and inflammation if it’s not taken care of in time. This is why proper dental hygiene is essential for these pups.
Bladder Stones
Pomeranians and/or Pomskies may also inherit Hyperuricosuria (HU) which leads to stones in the pup’s bladder and sometimes in the Kidneys. It is recommended to conduct a DNA test to have a conclusion prior to breeding.
Siberian Husky Health Issues
Hip Dysplasia
It is one of the diseases that is commonly inherited by most large breeds. The Siberian Huskies are prone to Hip Dysplasia which is a malformation of hip joints. X-ray of the parent’s hips can help overcome his issue in puppies.
Arthritis
Hip Dysplasia can further lead to Arthritis which is a painful disease. Vets suggest that Hip Dysplasia and Arthritis should be treated as early as possible.
Degenerative Myelopathy
It’s a neurological condition that causes weakness in the hind legs. The Siberian Huskies are more likely to get this disease than any other breed and similarly, the Pomskies can inherit it. A reputable breeder would get his dog tested before breeding to avoid the inheritance of Degenerative Myelopathy.
Autoimmune Skin Disease
It is a common skin disease in Siberian Huskies that causes hair loss and crusts. The worst part of this disease is that bacteria are more likely to attack the area of hair loss and lead to several skin infections.
Other Pomsky Health Issues
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the thyroid gland is underactive, causing the metabolic rate to slow down. When the metabolism slows down, all the organs in the dog’s body are affected.
Some of the signs that a Pomsky might be suffering from this are lethargy, weight gain, excessive shedding, and skin problems.
Severe Hair Loss Syndrome
This disorder, also known as Black Skin Disease, leads to partial or complete hair loss. It’s more common in male Pomeranians and it can have an effect on the dog’s skin, endocrine, lymphatic, and immune system.
Heart Disease
Pomeranians are susceptible to different types of heart diseases, which can be passed onto Pomskys. Heart failure is the leading cause of this for these purebred dogs in their senior years.
Worms
Pomskies also get roundworms and hookworms often as well. Have your vet free your Pomsky from worms to ensure good health. The roundworms can cause malnutrition, and the hookworms can cause anemia in our dog if you disregard freeing it from worming.
