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Health Issues

The Pug is generally a healthy and hearty breed with a lifespan well into the mid to upper teens. However, like all breeds of dogs, there are some health problems seen in Pugs. One common problem with the Pug is obesity and it is therefore important for the dog's overall health to keep his weight in check. The Pug is a brachycephalic breed and should not be left outdoors! Heat and high humidity can easily cause death in this breed due to the flatness of their faces. They may have trouble breathing and should be kept cool and exercised carefully during the summer months. The Brachycephalic syndrome can also involve having pinched nostrils and an elongated soft palate. Signs of this include excessive snoring and gasping for breath.

Additional health concerns include, but are not limited to:

Pug Brains

PUG DOG ENCEPHALITIS (PDE)

This is a problem unique to Pugs which strikes terror in the hearts of those of us who know and love them. PDE is a fatal inflammatory brain disease. We don't know why Pugs get it. We don't know how to treat it. There is no way to test for it except on the brain tissue of dead dogs. The Pugs who are affected are usually young. The dogs will have seizures, circling, blindness, coma and death, all in the space of a few days to a few weeks. There seems to be a genetic component since it appears to run in lines.

EPILEPSY

Not all Pugs who have seizures have PDE. We see a number of Pugs who have idiopathic epilepsy, or seizures for no known reason. Many of these dogs can be controlled quite well on anticonvulsant medication, such as Phenobarbital or Potassium Bromide. The goal of therapy is to decrease the severity and frequency of the seizures. You will need to work closely with your vet to determine the correct drug and dosage for your pet.

NERVE DEGENERATION

This syndrome of older Pugs doesn't have an official name and little is known about how or why Pugs get it. Owners of affected dogs may notice their Pug dragging his back toes, staggering in the rear quarters, and having trouble jumping up or down. The back sometimes gets progressively more arched and the dog may become incontinent. The dogs don't appear to be painful and they often get worse very slowly. Often, the front half of the dog is still in good shape and is strong and some of these dogs can do well with a special cart for their rear halves. Anti-inflammatory medications don't seem to change the course of the progressive weakness. Luckily, Pugs are portable, easy to pick up and easy to pick up after, so owners can often help maintain a good quality of life for these dogs.

Pug Eyes

Pugs have large, expressive eyes but they can also have some serious eye problems that require treatment from your veterinarian and sometimes even a veterinary ophthalmologist. Everyone knows of a one-eyed Pug, so if you suspect your Pug has an eye problem, don't hesitate to get professional care.

CORNEAL ULCERS - If you see your Pug squinting or the eye seems red or weepy, he may have a scratch or ulcer on his cornea (the clear part of the eye). Your vet may want to put special stain on the eye to observe the ulcer and will send home medication. Ulcers can deepen quickly and the eye can rupture so you should seek veterinary care right away.
DRY EYE (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or KCS) and PIGMENTARY KERATITIS (PK) - Commonly seen in Pugs, these 2 problems often, but not always, occur together. Some Pugs don't produce enough tears to keep their eyes moist and have KCS. You may see excessive mucous in your Pugs eyes and they may be red. Your vet can do a special test called a Schirmer Tear Test to determine if your Pug is affected. If he isn't producing enough tears, there are medications available that will stimulate the tear glands to produce more. You usually need to keep the excess mucous flushed out of the eyes as well. With PK, owners sometimes see dark black spots on the cornea or clear part of the eye, especially in the corner near the nose. Sometimes there is just a little bit near the inside corner, but some Pugs have the pigment cover their corneas and they are blind. Medications can help keep the eyes moist and disperse the pigment. Both of these problems require life-long therapy.

DYSTICHIA - these are extra eye lashes that rub against the eye and can cause irritation and sometimes ulcers. Some dogs require surgery to remove the offending lashes.

ENTROPION - this is a condition where the eyelid, often the lower lid, rolls in like a window shade. This causes the hair on the lid to rub on the eye and irritate it. There is a surgery to correct the rolling lid.

PROPTOSIS - because Pug eyes tend to protrude, it is easier to have them forced from the eye socket than with other breeds. If a Pug is bitten near the eye, the eye could be pushed forward in front of the lids. The eye is still held in place by nerves and muscles, but it is often too damaged to be sighted. This is a medical emergency since rapid response may allow surgical replacement and some sight might be saved.

Pug Skin

Pug skin is covered with TONS of hair that seems to always be shedding and that is normal. However, there are some skin problems that Pugs seem to be prone to.

ALLERGIES - some Pugs can get seasonal allergies. They often are quite itchy and sometimes chew their feet. This can start out during a limited time of the year but it can also expand to problems year round. Sometimes antihistamines, steroids and special shampoos are needed. A veterinary dermatologist can test your dog to see what the offending substances are and make up special allergy injections to desensitize your dog. Food allergies aren't terribly common but a trial on a hypoallergenic diet might be ordered by your vet.

DEMODECTIC MANGE - usually a problem in young Pug puppies, this mange, caused by the Demodex mite, appears as patchy hair loss in 1 or more areas. The skin is sometimes pink and there may be an odor. There can be a secondary bacterial infection associated with this disease which can make the condition itchy. It is diagnosed by a deep skin scraping. It is not thought to be contagious. There are many treatments available. It is thought to "run" in families so dogs that are affected should not be bred, especially if they have more than 1 or 2 small patches as puppies. Demodex can appear in older dogs but they often have compromised immune systems or other diseases as well.

STAPH INFECTIONS - Staph is a kind of bacteria that is commonly found on skin. Some dogs will break out in pimples and infected hair follicles if their immune systems are stressed. The lesions can look like hives because they make the hair stick up on the bumps. On non-haired areas, the lesions can look like ringworm - a circular patch with a crusty leading edge and sometimes a dark center. Your vet will usually prescribe oral antibiotics and medicated shampoo.

YEAST INFECTIONS - if your Pug stinks like dirty feet, is very itchy and has blackened, thickened skin, his problem could be a yeast infection. This problem can often be seen in a dog which had a previous Staph infection and was treated with antibiotics because the drug kills off the bacteria and the yeast takes over. The most commonly seen locations are in the armpits, on the feet, in the groin and on the underside of the neck. When there is a yeast infection in the ears, there is usually a foul odor and excessive light tan or golden wax. Your vet will need to do skin scrapings and ear swabs. There are special anti-yeast medications and shampoos available.

Pug Orthopedics

While Pugs tend to be sturdy little dogs, they can face some serious problems with their bones and legs.

HEMI-VERTEBRAE - This is a condition involving deformed, misshaped vertebrae or bones of the spine. It is commonly seen in all of the short-faced breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs and French Bulldogs. Some animals will have a few odd vertebrae and be completely normal. Others will start having problems between 4 and 6 months of age. The puppy may have a staggering, uncoordinated, weak gait. Some puppies get progressively worse and some actually become paralyzed. There is a study being conducted in England on this condition but right now we don't know much about why some dogs have trouble with this and others don't. Some specialists recommend spine surgery to stabilize the affected area but each case must be carefully evaluated.

HIP DYSPLASIA - Pugs are second only to Bulldogs with the amount of hip dysplasia in the breed (approximately 62%). There are many factors, including genetics, environment and nutrition that contribute to this deformity of the hip joint. Research on larger breeds has shown that switching to adult food early in a puppy's life (12 to 16 weeks), avoiding supplements and keeping the puppy thin as it is growing will minimize its chance of being affected. Even though many Pugs are affected, most are able to lead normal, healthy lives even with the problem, unlike some of the large and giant breeds, who require surgery to get around easily.

LEGG-PERTHES - This is another disease involving the hip joint and is seen in many of the toy breeds. In this disease, the blood supply to the head of the femur (the large rear leg bone) gets compromised and the head of the femur that connects to the pelvis starts to disintegrate. This usually is first noticeable in puppies 4 to 6 months of age as they start limping and getting muscle atrophy of the leg. The surgery to help the puppy involves cutting the diseased head off of the femur so it is no longer attached to the pelvis. Scar tissue comes in and forms a "false joint" and the puppy is usually pain free.

LUXATING PATELLAS - This involves the stifle or knee joint of many of the toy breeds and even some larger ones. The patella or kneecap usually rides up and down in a groove on the front of the knee. With this condition, the kneecap slides to the side (usually the inside) and the joint is unstable. When the kneecap is out, the dog may limp and carry the leg. The dog can often stretch his leg back and pop the patella back in himself. Some dogs are normal when young and develop this with age. Many dogs live their lives with this but some require surgery to deepen the groove and reposition the patella so it stays in place. One or both legs may be affected.

Pug Information

Pugs are true companion dogs. They have had no other purpose than to love and be loved. For this reason Pugs are very people oriented. They not only thrive on human companionship but also need it to survive. A Pug should not be left alone for long periods of time. They do best with a companion even if it is another Pug.

They love to play and go for walks. They are not aware they are small dogs so care must be taken they don’t get in harms way. Pugs are completely NAIVE (some say downright dumb) about cars. Even Pugs who have been hit by a car (and survive) do not seem to learn that cars can hurt. Pugs should NEVER be allowed loose around cars.

Pugs are quite trainable with quiet patience and understanding. Do not yell and scream at your Pug. Never hit your Pug. They do best with positive reinforcement. In fact the best way to housetrain a Pug is to praise them EVERY time they do their business outside there is also litter box training whice is very successful. They have such a willingness to please but they do need positive encouragement.

Pugs come in fawn (various shades) and black. There is little personality difference between the colours, though some say the black Pugs tend to be more active. There is also little difference in personality between males and females. Some are laid back others are more active. They all love people and will follow you and your family throughout your home.

Since Pugs are shorthaired they do not need a lot of brushing. They do shed and brushing helps keep the hairs off your clothing. The nose wrinkle is the deep one just over the bridge of the nose; it needs to be cleaned with a MalAcetic Wipe (found at your vet office). Ears need to be checked and cleaned. The most hated Pug grooming chore (for both Pugs and humans) is nail cutting. For some reason Pugs hate getting their nails cut. Teach your Pug early on that this is standard practice and it’s really NOT scary. Do not yell at the dog, this only makes them more scared. Some people have found that grinding the nails down with a dremmel tool is ‘less scary’ than cutting. It also reduces the chance of cutting the quick and causing the nail to bleed. It is best to have two people, one to hold the dog and a second to cut (or grind) the nails. Try doing one paw a night rather than all at once if your pug is scared of nail trimming.

Pugs love to eat. Please watch your Pugs weight. An overweight Pug will have trouble breathing and walking. Obesity greatly increases the chances of serious health problems. Feed your Pug a good commercial diet. Raw vegetables make great snacks, as they are low in fat and crunchy, avoid garlic, onions, raisins, avocado and grapes they can be toxic to all dogs.
Please see more info on toxic household items on my General Information Page

Pugs, like all dogs, like exercise. They love to go for walks. Care must be taken not to overheat them on hot days. The great thing about Pugs is that the can go for walks when it’s nice but don’t become hyperactive if kept indoors during bad weather. A quick walk around the block will suffice on bad days.

Things To Look For In A Reputable Breeder

1. First and foremost, you will not find a reputable breeder in the newspaper.

2. How long have they been breeding and how often do they have a litter available?

3. How many breeds do they breed? (more than one is a red flag)

4. How many dogs do they own or co-own?

5. Are they members of a Pug dog club?

6. Are all their breeding pugs registered?

7. Do they show their pugs?

8. Are they familiar with the Pug dog standard?

9. Has any Pug in their breeding program produced puppies with a hereditary flaw?

10. Have their Pugs been screened for genetic defects? (i.e.; luxating patellas, elongated palettes, hips and eyes. Remember that even if they test for these things, like eyes for example... you can test for eye problems at 2 years old and 6 months later a problem can crop up...but the important thing is if it does that they DON'T breed that dog anymore!).

11. What kind of health guarantee do they offer? (Minimum of 1 year is good. Walk away if it's only 48 or 72 hours!!) If they are confident in their bloodlines health they will at least offer you a year genetic health guarantee. Make sure their name and signature is on this document.

12. Do they require a spay/neuter contract on "pet" puppies? (A reputable breeder will require this, so if they don't care if you breed your "pet" quality pup down the road...walk away).

13. Will they be available to answer questions you may have any time during the dog's lifetime?

14. If a situation arises in where you can no longer keep the dog, i.e.; a move, health reasons, etc... Will they take the dog back? (reputable breeders will require this as part of their contract.)

15. Do they have the parents on the premises and encourage you to visit with them? Sometimes the stud dog is not available so ask for pictures.