What Is The Best Dog Food for a Pomeranian?
With their foxy faces and lively personalities, Pomeranians are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States and in the entire world. They are a spitz breed from Scandinavian countries, and they were originally large enough to pull sleds and work as herding dogs on farms. The breed was bred down in size in the 19th century when they became a particular favorite of Queen Victoria, who – interestingly enough – bred Pomeranians herself.
Now, they are one of the smallest breeds, making them especially suitable for city living. The breed doesn’t require much exercise, but they do have a few quirks as far as their dietary needs go. So, what is the best dog food for a Pomeranian? Here’s a look at our recommendations for this lively breed.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
Quick Look: The Best Dog Food for a Pomeranian
Pomeranian Diet and Nutrition

For the most part, Poms are a very healthy breed. Although they are small, they are quite sturdy for their size. As long as they have a good diet and sufficient exercise, they often live into their middle teen years.
By weight, the National Research Council of the National Academies recommends an average daily caloric intake of between 300 and 400 calories for an active adult Pomeranian weighing 10 pounds. Dogs that have been spayed/neutered, or that are older, may need fewer calories. Some dogs may need more calories depending on their level of activity and their individual metabolism. Growing puppies, for example, consume more calories than adult dogs and so do young adult dogs. A young adult Pomeranian weighing about 10 pounds, for example, and getting lots of exercise would need about 436 calories per day. However, if your Pomeranian tends to lie around the house all day with little opportunity to exercise, he would need fewer calories. An inactive Pom, weighing 10 pounds, is estimated to require about 296 calories per day.
What To Feed Your Pomeranian

Ingredients To Look For:
Protein – Ideally, a good dog food will feature a couple of meat proteins in the first several ingredients. Both whole meats and meat meals are good sources of protein. Whole meats refer to ingredients such as whole chicken, beef, fish, and lamb, meat meals are a concentrated form of meat in which the moisture is removed.
Fat – Dogs also need fat from good sources. Some vitamins are only fat-soluble and your dog needs them in his diet. But fat, like protein, varies in quality depending on the source. You should look for named fat sources such as chicken fat. Other named fats also provide needed nutrients such as fish oil which can provide omega-3 fatty acid to help keep the skin and coat healthy.
Avoid – You should try to avoid artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, if possible. Avoid artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colorings. Your dog doesn’t need them. It’s not always easy to avoid some of the less desirable ingredients, however, since they can be labeled in ways that are harder to recognize.
Best Dog Food For a Pomeranian Puppy
You won’t have to feed Pomeranian puppies very much per day. We do recommend that you divide the food into meals and feed at regular times instead of free feeding. Feeding regular meals encourage dogs to eat their food when you serve it instead of becoming picky about their food or overeating. If you have more than one dog we recommend that you make sure each dog is eating his or her own food and not stealing food from other dogs. In some cases, you may need to feed a dog separately to make sure he or she is getting all of his food since some dogs eat faster/slower than other dogs.
Some good puppy foods you may consider for your Pomeranian puppy include:
NutriSource Small and Medium Breed Puppy Food

Main Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Chicken, Brown Rice, Menhaden Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat
Protein: 32%
Fat: 21%
Fiber: 5%
Calories: 535
Wellness Small Breed Puppy

Main Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Salmon Meal, Ground Barley
Protein: 28%
Fat: 18%
Fiber: 4%
Calories: 480 kcal/cup
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed

Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal
Protein: 29%
Fat: 17%
Fiber: 5%
Calories: 415 kcal/cup
Best Dog Food For a Pomeranian Adult
Small breeds like the Pomeranian usually need food that comes in smaller kibble shapes, too. This may seem like an unimportant feature of dog food, but kibble comes in all different shapes and sizes. Some sizes and/or shapes can be difficult for some dogs to chew, especially if you have a Toy dog. So, pay attention to the size and shape of the kibble when choosing food for your dog.
There are lots of good foods that you could choose to feed your Pomeranian but we have selected several that you might consider.
Fromm Gold Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Fromm Gold Small Breed Adult is made in small batches from a family-owned company that has been in business in Wisconsin for over 100 years. The ingredients are healthy and provide adequate nourishment for a full grown Pomeranian.
Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Broth, Oat Groats, Pearled Barley
Protein: 26%
Fat: 17%
Fiber: 5.5%
Calories: 425 kcal/cup
Wellness Small Breed

Main Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas
Protein: 36%
Fat: 16%
Fiber: 5%
Calories: 396 kcal/cup
Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed

Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Pea Starch
Protein: 26%
Fat: 15%
Fiber: 5%
Calories: 380 kcal/cup
Best Dog Foods for a Pomeranian Senior
It’s not unusual for many Pomeranians to live into their teen years. This means that you will probably need to consider what kind of food to feed your Pomeranian as he gets older. As your dog ages, it’s a good idea to plan an annual senior check-up with your vet. Many older dogs begin to put on pounds as they become less active. For this reason, most senior dog foods have fewer calories and they can skimp on protein. You should watch your older dog’s weight as he gets older to make sure he doesn’t become overweight. In some cases, you can simply cut back on the portions of his regular dog food to help him stay fit or increase his exercise.
Very old dogs can start to lose muscle as they begin to have problems metabolizing nutrients, including protein. You often see older dogs start to have less muscle tone, especially in their rear legs. They can start to have difficulty walking when this happens. If your Pomeranian falls in this category, you may need to avoid senior foods or look for one that is high in good quality protein. As long as your dog does not have kidney problems there’s no reason to avoid protein as he gets older.
Here’s a look at our recommendations for the best dog food for a Pomeranian senior:
GO! FIT + FREE Senior Recipe
Go! is part of the Petcurean family of foods. This food features great meat proteins and lower carbohydrates. It doesn’t contain beef, wheat, corn, or soy, which are common triggers for allergies. It has no by-product meals, no added growth hormones, and no artificial preservatives. It’s also gluten-free. The food also has pre- and probiotics for good digestive health. This food is AAFCO-approved for maintenance.
Main Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, De-Boned Chicken, De-Boned Turkey
Protein: 32%
Fat: 14%
Fiber: 4.5%
Calories: 394 kcal/cup
Nature’s Variety Instinct Originals Small Breed Canned Diet For Dogs
If you would like to feed your older Pomeranian a good canned food, we like Nature’s Variety Instinct. These canned foods are grain free and gluten free.
There are lots of good canned foods for dogs. If your older Pomeranian is starting to be finicky about his food, you can try something like Party Animal Cocolicious Organic Turkey & Chicken. First Mate, Tiki Dog, and Weruva also have very good canned foods. First Mate recommends these canned foods for senior dogs.
Main Ingredients: Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Ground Dried Peas, Cod
Protein: 8.5%
Fat: 4.5%
Fiber: 2%
Calories: 153 kcal/5.5 oz can
Additional Dietary and Health Considerations
Pomeranians are generally healthy breeds, but there are a few issues that are common among these small pups. Hypoglycemia, bone and joint issues, and dental problems occur fairly often, but each of these conditions is treatable and non life threatening. Of course, a proper diet and moderate exercise helps to keep your Pomeranian healthy and avoid these health problems. For additional recommendations for the best dog food for a Pomeranian, check out our Small Breed Dog Food Buyers Guide.
Below is the list of products reviewed in this article
- NutriSource Small and Medium Breed Puppy Food
- Wellness Small Breed Puppy
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed
- Fromm Gold Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
- Wellness Small Breed
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed
- GO! FIT + FREE Senior Recipe
-
Nature’s Variety Instinct Originals Small Breed Canned Diet For Dogs








I have found a “newer” dog food called “I and Love and You”,, which has the highest quality ingredients and high caloric and protein values that is amazing for all 3 of my dogs. including a 12 yeat old 6 pound Pomeranian, a 16 pound Pom long hair Chihuahua mix who is almost 8 years old, and an 18 pound American Eskimo who is 11 years old.
I love the article. What would you recommend for older pomeranians?
I love to see where information is being sourced from. Would you also be able to cite your sources from AAFCO.
THANKS AGAIN!