A Pomsky is one of the most famous designer breeds obtained by crossing a husky and a Pomeranian. Pomskies became popular because of the personality traits of both wolf-like husky and a Pomeranian which makes the best mix possible.
You can also not resist the urge to pet a Pomsky if you see one with his cuteness and friendly nature.
We understand the concerns a person would have before choosing a dog breed… and you certainly would want to know more about Pomsky health issues you could possibly face if you own one.
Pomsky Health Issues – General Review
Pomskies are a relatively new breed, and there are not many reported health issues associated with them. And it is too soon to say that they are a healthy or unhealthy breed.
There are some potential Pomsky health conditions they can genetically inherit from their parent breeds which are described below.
Pomskies are predisposed to many hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia, dislocated knees, entropion, hypothyroidism, and some other issues which we are going to describe below. Stay with us to learn more about these Pomsky health issues.
Do Pomskies Have Health Problems?
Yes, Pomskies like any other breed have health issues. Here we are going to explain some diseases they can possibly inherit from their parents. It is too soon to know what health issues exist in Pomkies as they were bred in 2010 but we have plenty of information on hereditary disorders of both the Husky and the Pomeranian which are described below.
Pomsky Eye Problems
There are four primary eye problems that commonly affect the Siberian Huskies and can also be found in Pomskies:
- Juvenile cataracts
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Corneal dystrophy
- Entropion
Juvenile Cataracts
A juvenile cataract is a hereditary condition that causes cloudiness or opaqueness in the lens of Pomsky, which causes declined eyesight. This can occur at the young age of 3 months and the severity ranges from mild problems in eyesight to complete blindness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited eye disease affecting dogs which Pomskies can also get in their lifetime. It degenerates the photoreceptors of the retina; rods and cones. Blood vessels also get thin in PRA. Dogs suffering from it will have gradual vision loss which will eventually lead to blindness
Corneal Dystrophy
This is a hereditary condition that affects the cornea of the eyes. Corneal dystrophy is not associated with other eye problems or diseases. It is divided into three types depending upon the layers of cornea affected by it; epithelial, stromal, and endothelial corneal dystrophy.
The symptoms of corneal dystrophy include the gray area in the eyes near the cornea. Surgery can be performed to treat this condition but it can appear again later in life.
Entropion
Entropion is a hereditary disease of the Siberian Husky in which the eyelid rolls inwards. You can see the hair of the eyelid rub against the cornea causing severe pain, corneal ulcers, and perforations if not treated on time.
This condition can be treated with antibiotic ointments to decrease damage to the cornea, but it will not solve the main problem. In order to completely eliminate the problem, surgery will be required.
Hip Dysplasia
Being a mixed breed, a Pomsky can get a disease from Husky or Pomeranian parent. Hip dysplasia is one of the examples of the diseases a Pomsky may get from the genetics of the Siberian Husky.
Hip dysplasia is a common hereditary disease in a Siberian Husky which is the malformation of hip joints. It causes dysfunction and pain in the affected dog which can lead to more problems later in life.
There can be some symptoms you may find in the parent dog which a Pomsky can possibly inherit with hip dysplasia. These are stated below:
- Decreased activity
- Refuse to jump up
- Having trouble getting up after rest
- Legs closer together while running
- Problem climbing steps
- Back leg lameness
- Loss of thigh muscle mass
Other than hip dysplasia, a Pomsky can also get an elbow dysplasia.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation is is one of the most common health-related hereditary issue of small dogs including Pomeranians. Luxating patella is a problem that causes the kneecap to slip out from its place due to a bone malformation. It is a painful condition that needs to be treated as soon as it gets detected or the condition may worsen with time.
The dog cannot bear any pressure on the bone which also causes lameness in the dog and a Pomsky can also inherit this disease. A surgical procedure is done to relocate the kneecap.
Hypothyroidism
The underproduction of thyroid hormone in body is called hypothyroidism. It results in low metabolism causing weight gain, obesity, lethargy, anemia, hair loss, and certain skin problems.
Hypothyroidism is found in Pomeranians which also resembles Cushing’s disease. However, hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease are not caused by the same reason.
The treatment for hypothyroidism is life-long but the suffering dog can get better with the synthetic thyroid hormone to live a quality life.
Collapsing trachea
Collapsing Trachea is one of the common Pomsky health issues they may face in their lifespan which is caused by the weakening of trachea leading to coughing and respiratory pain. It is a common disease that is chronic and irreversible in small dogs breeds like Pomeranian.
The trachea is the windpipe used for the passage of air and it is weak in some breeds like a Pomeranian.
This can also happen when a leashed dog struggles to run in the opposite direction which puts pressure on the neck. It causes narrowing of the trachea as the tube starts degrading which ultimately results in breathing difficulty and low quality of life for Pomsky.
The primary sign of collapsing trachea is the dry cough producing a goose sound. Dogs of all ages can get affected by this and it can be a life-threatening condition.
Severe Hair Loss Syndrome
It is known as Black Skin Disease, which mainly occurs in male Pomeranians. Severe Hair Loss Syndrome can occur at two points in the Pomeranian’s life. When your dog is just a pup and sheds his coat. In this case, the coat does not grow back as it should.
It can also occur later in life when the adult dog’s coat starts getting thinner from the thighs to the back.
This condition is also termed pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome and the hair loss is accompanied by hyperpigmentation. Other signs of Cushing’s disease include increased appetite and urination and your dog will pant a lot.
If you notice some abnormal panting and other signs, take your dog to the vet. Its early diagnosis is possible if you examine the parent Pomeranian of the Pomsky.
Why You Shouldn’t Get a Pomsky?
While buying a dog, people calculate the benefits and odds according to their choices and lifestyle. Pomskies are the cutest dogs with their enchanting personality but you should never get a dog just because of looks if you cannot meet his needs.
Pomskies have so far proven to be the joyful and intelligent breed with good health but they are highly energetic and can be destructive if not trained properly. They can be stubborn, prideful and need a firm owner for their proper care.
There are no major issues reported related to this breed but this designer breed is still under study. Actually, this breed is considered ideal because of the characteristics of both the Husky and Pomeranian. They are active dogs and need exercise and playtime on daily basis.
What is the Life Expectancy of a Pomsky?
Pomskies have been produced for just over a decade and the experts can only estimate their average life span. The other approach is to estimate their life span based on their parent breeds. It’s generally estimated that healthy Pomskies should live anywhere from 13 to 15 years.
This can be only be proved in the future when there will be more generations of Pomskies living.
Pomsky Controversy
The idea of cross-breeding itself is a controversial or debatable topic. The critics say that cross-breeding leads to more genetic or hereditary diseases and problems. While the proponents claim that cross breeding helps to reduce a lot of the genetic issues and problems that have arisen from the parent dogs over generations.
Well, it depends from dog to dog and what you believe in. Not all dogs would get all of the Pomsky health problems stated above and may not even get one. They are considered one of the healthiest breeds till now.
It takes a lot of generations to fully discover the genetic disorders in a breed and similarly, Pomsky health problems can only be determined with time.
Pomsky Health Issues: Prevention Measures
Before getting a Pomsky, you should check the breeder and do genetic tests on the young puppy.
You should have the dog examined by a veterinarian for any indication or signs of the Pomsky health issues described above.