Pomsky Lifespan: How Long Do These Cute Dogs Live?
The pomsky is an adorable dog breed that is a cross between a pomeranian and a husky. If you decide to adopt a pomsky or want to learn about ways to prolong their lifespan, you’ve come to the right article.
How Long Is a Pomsky’s Lifespan?
While pomskies have become increasingly popular on social media and as beloved pets, there have not been sufficient studies on their life expectancy. However, most veterinary professionals will concur that a pomsky can live anywhere between 12 to 15 years old.
Do Pomskies Have Health Problems, and Can It Affect Their Lifespan?
The answer is yes to both questions. In short, any health issue that a pomsky has, whether short or long-term, can stunt their lifespan. For example, if your pomsky eats a lot of processed dog food and treats, they may be susceptible to gum disease, bad teeth, and other serious health issues such as diabetes.
On the other hand, if your pomsky is raised properly, eats a healthy diet, and gets the daily amount of exercise necessary for a great quality of life, they are less likely to develop serious health conditions.
It is also important to remember that many health issues can be prevented with adequate care, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and proper socialization. However, several health problems are genetically curated, which may not be able to be prevented. Some of these health conditions include:
- Collapsed Trachea.
- Knee issues.
- Hip Dysplasia.
- Eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Heart disease.
One way to monitor and maintain your pomsky’s health is by making sure that you take your dog to the vet accordingly. Your pomsky will need to see the vet every year for annual exams and vaccines.
Can You Prolong Your Pomskies Lifespan?
There are ways to ensure your pomsky lives a long life by optimizing their well-being. Most of the ways to ensure that they have a long, happy, and healthy life are through the following.
Exercise
Just like humans, pomskies need exercise to maintain great health. Due to the high energy of a pomsky, you will need to provide them with 1 hour of exercise per day. Also, if you are apartment-bound, it is a good rule of thumb to walk them at least three times per day. It is also important to keep in mind that they can become bored if they are not receiving adequate exercise. You may want to include indoor puzzles and activities that can stimulate your pomsky, such as congs and tug-of-war toys.
Diet
Similar to ourselves, exercise is only a small portion of good health. Nonetheless, a healthy diet will keep your dog’s body going and help reduce the risk of disease. Pomskies should be fed a diet that consists mainly of high-quality meat proteins such as duck and chicken. Moreover, they can also benefit from dry dog food that is high in protein. While most lean proteins are fine for pomskies, you should never feed them fish.
Pomsky puppies should be fed up to 3 times per day without treats or snacks. On the other hand, an adult pomsky should eat a total of 1 ⅔ to 2 cups of food twice a day.
Some breeders will agree that feeding a raw diet is better for pomskies due to their intolerance for grain. However, it is always best to consult with your veterinary professional to see what diet would best benefit your pup.
Signs Your Pomsky Is Overweight and What to Do
One serious health condition that pomskies face susceptibility to is gaining weight. By knowing the signs of excessive weight gain, you can stop serious health problems from manifesting, therefore preventing their lifespan from shortening.
3 Signs Your Pomsky Is Overweight
- Unable to feel their ribs.
- Glance at your pomsky horizontally. If you see their tummies are sagging, they may be overweight.
- Look downwards at your pomsky. If you do not see a waist between behind their ribs and hips, chances are they have gained weight.
Weight Loss Tips for Overweight Pomskies
- Up the walks and playtime. Some vets suggest going on a walk for 30 minutes as well as longer play periods to help reduce weight gain.
- Minimize how many treats per day they are gaining. For example, if they get three treats a day, reduce it to two treats.
- Only leave a serving of food out during feeding times rather than the whole day.
Training/Socializing
Training is another way that you can help your pomsky live a longer lifespan. How do training and socializing tie into a longer life? For one, aggression and fear-induced behaviors can create unnecessary levels of stress in your pup. Next, training can help them undo these fear-induced or aggressive behaviors, which can provide a healthier life by reducing their stress levels.
Training your pomsky should begin at 8 weeks old. Plus, training should begin with socialization, as well as basic commands such as sitting, heeling, and staying.
Pomsky Lifespan: Recap
Pomskies can live a decade with their owners. The best way to ensure that they live a long, happy life is to provide training early, only feed them at meal times, and be sure they get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.