Pug

Pug Hair & Coat

Pug Health & Care

Initially known to be relatively healthy dogs, over-breeding and inbreeding to facilitate a sharp rise in popularity, has made the pug susceptible to several ailments, genetic and otherwise. They don’t fare well in hot climates and are prone to several respiratory infections, due to their brachycephalic faces. Most respiratory conditions can be treated with medication or corrected through surgery. Pugs were bred to have numerous wrinkles on its faces, which, while endearing to the eye, cause them to be prone to skin rashes and infections.   Pugs have cute bulging eyes, but if you aren’t careful while handling them, especially on walks, this can turn into a serious issue. Never tug on their collars too hard; it can cause their eyes to pop right out of their sockets. This condition is called proptosis and will need surgery to be corrected. They’re also prone to distichiasis, an abnormal growth of eyelashes on the margin of the eye;  progressive retinal atrophy, a degenerative disease of the retinal visual cells that eventually leads to blindness; and entropion , where the lower eyelid rolls inward, causing the hair on the lid to rub on the eye and irritate it.   Amongst several other conditions, pugs are prone to Cheyletiella Dermatitis or ‘Walking Dandruff’, a contagious skin condition that is caused by a small mite; Pug Dog Encephalitis, a fatal inflammatory brain disease unique to pugs; epilepsy; nerve degeneration; congenital heart diseases; corneal ulcers; dry eye; staph infection; hip dysplasia; Legg-Perthes Disease; Patellar Luxation and vaccination sensitivity.  

Pugs aren’t the healthiest of breeds out there. They suffer from several ailments that require costly treatments. The easiest way to keep a pug clear of health problems is through regular exercise and balanced diet. 

Pugs suffer from a variety of skin problems, they are prone to get skin diseases more than any other breed. Generally, the causes of skin issues in Pugs is poor hormonal balance, the parasite attack, a bad immunity system among other things. A very common type of skin problem that Pugs suffer from is called Pyoderma, under this there are small red bumps that appear on the skin of the breed and there are also blood-filled blisters that this breed suffers from. It generally attacks the folds between the lips and the toes. The only way to prevent this by carrying regular inspections of the skin of the pug and to prevent it from happening at the earliest. Younger pugs have odor problems which are generally caused by yeast infections. The two-other type of problems that are common among pugs are those of ringworms, which attack dogs with lower immune systems. The second one is of atopy where dogs develop a higher sensitivity towards certain types of allergens. All of these are treatable conditions, but they need to be dealt properly. 

There are also major concerns about the eyes of the breed, such as entropion where the eyelids roll backwards. Another thing that Entropion causes is Pigmentary keratitis where there is irritation and inflammation in the cornea. The breed Is also prone to Cataracts, dry eyes and progressive retinal atrophy. All of these can be prevented by taking care of the eyes properly and regular checkups. Ethiopian is a condition which is genetic in nature. Another ailment that the breed is prone to is Exposure Keratopathy in which there is a pigmentation caused towards the center of the breed. It affects several pugs and generally is hereditary in nature. It is preventable also by using a tropical eye lubricant. 

Pugs come with funny noses which causes them to have certain breathing difficulties. Generally, the problems that are faced are labored respiration and they tend to get over heated during the summers. The snoring that is caused in pugs are also because the airway passage is blocked. This breed comes with a smallish and relatively tiny nasal cavity the effect of that can be seen in their noses and this leads to this breed suffering from several breathing problems. There are times when the little noses lead to getting fluids and snort stuck in their noses which leads them towards a bad sneezing attack. Stenotic nares are not present in every breed but it’s a common condition in pugs. Under this, the breed has nasal tissues which are soft and breathing leads to the tissue collapsing which results in breathing issue.  Another condition that this breed is prone to is called Collapsed Trachea where the cartilage rings in the windpipe of the dog give up. To detect this condition, there should be a lookout for trauma in the chest and excessive sneezing. Proper monitoring and treatment can make this condition better. For a breed like pug it is very important to keep a monitoring how it is breathing because it is very prone to breathing problems. 

The Tail problems 

Pug has a tail which is curled, and curled tails come with problems. The folds in the tail retains moisture and that causes a lot of problems such as flees living in this curled moist part. Pug cannot reach back and tickle and get rid of the flees in its tail which leads to faster breeding of these flees. This causes immense irritation to the breeding which may end up chasing the tail around to get rid of the fleas but may end up injuring themselves even more. This can also lead to some form of allergies. The signs that show that there is a problem is that the tail gets redder and there is often blood around the tails. 

Another condition that the breed may suffer from is a problem in the central nervous system which is highly inflammatory. The medical term for this condition is necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME). The condition isn’t specific for pugs but is common in other breeds also. It is categorized by the death of brain cells. 

The target of this disease are generally pugs which are either young or middle aged. The most common age of this disease to strike are 9-18 years old but that isn’t restricted to that. The symptoms of this condition are seizures, blindness, restlessness, un coordination among other things. There is no permanent cure for this disease per say but it can be controlled on an everyday basis by using medication. 

Pug Behavior

When training pugs, always remember that patience is a virtue. They have an even temperament and are happy-go-lucky dogs, so it isn’t too hard to train them. Not, especially, if you carry around a handful of treats. Pugs will do anything for a treat or ten! As in the case of several toy breeds, early socialisation and training will result in a content, well-rounded adult. Pugs are people pleasers and love to be around their humans almost as much as they love food, so remember to use positive reinforcement methods whilst training. So, quality time, quality food and quality training are the holy triumvirate for this adorable canine.

Pugs are homely dogs, happy to be indoors and catch several loud, snoring snoozes as long as they are walked often. Don’t expect your pug to be a hunter or a retriever; these dogs are lap sitters, entertainers and snoozers! They do really well in homes with small children as well as other animals, especially if socialised at a young age. They make great first-time pets, although they struggle in extremes of hot or cold temperatures. They’re not great outdoor dogs because of this, so make sure you consider a pug companion only if you like an indoor dog.  

Pug are extremely friendly dogs and are excellent with children. Their small size and relatively few activity requirements make them perfect for apartment living. Pugs are a vivacious and fun loving breed. They are often called ‘shadow’, because of their propensity to glue themselves to their family’s side. They thrive in human attention and affection, happy to perform for a few oohs and aahs. They’re not temperamental and don’t get threatened easily by the presence of other animals, especially with early socialisation.

Pug Breeding

Pugs are perfect family pets and excellent with children. The puppies are naughty and adorable. While easy to socialise especially at a young age, be sure to housebreak them as early as you can. While they’re not quick learners, food and positive reinforcement are the best ways to get a pug’s attention.

There aren’t many complications attached to their breeding. As always, the thing to be most concerned about is having enough families lined up to adopt the puppies, so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands or get ill-treated by careless families. Pugs attain sexual maturity anywhere between six to nine months of age, though they will be too young to breed at this point. Breeding, if at all, is recommended after the dog reaches two years of age. The average litter size is about three puppies. If you’re mating your dogs for the first time, it’s recommended that you take the help of a veterinarian.

Pug Appearance

Pugs are square, thickset dogs, usually weighing between 13 to 17.5lb (6-8kg).  They stand 13-15 inches tall. Their heads are large and round, with eyes that match the same description. They have deep, distinct wrinkles on their faces, which adds to their cuteness quotient. The moles on a Pug's cheeks are called "beauty spots". The muzzle is black with a clearly defined thumb mark on the forehead. The ears are black and soft to the touch. They have undershot jaws, where the lower jaw extends slightly beyond the upper jaw. They have a tightly curled tail that looks like a dollop of cream, another signature pug characteristic. Pugs usually have black, fawn, apricot fawn or silver fawn coats.