I really want to get a Pug dog but my boyfriend is slightly apprehensive due to all the health problems he’s heard that pugs have/get, like the breathing stuff and the skin fold issues.
My question is: Do pugs really have that many health issues??
Intelligent answers only please.
Thanks for all your help
Yes, pug do have quite a few health problems due to there short nose and proment eyes
1. Pugs require a lot of time and attention. Pugs were bred to be lap dogs and to keep people company. They want to be right next to you most of the time. If you do not want a dog that wants to be with you all of the time, don’t get a Pug. If you work a lot or are away from your pug for many hours a day, you are setting your Pug up for behavioral problems and possible depression because if a Pug cannot do his “job” he’ll be miserable. Also, a pug is not a dog who will gladly stay off the furniture.
2. Pugs cannot be kept as outside dogs. Because of their short noses, they are very sensitive to heat, humidity and cold. Pugs can die very quickly when exposed to extreme heat or cold so they cannot live outside or be left outside for any period of time unattended. In addition, they are often sensitive to bee stings, so you could come home to a dead Pug who has had a reaction to a bee sting. Finally, Pugs are often stolen out of yards, or gardeners or meter readers or others leave a gate open and the Pug escapes.
3. Pugs shed. A lot. Even though they have short hair, they have a double coat, which means there is twice as much fluffy hair to come off. Ever seen a tumbleweed? Pugs shed tumbleweeds of fur – 365 days a year. They also snort, sneeze, and snore. A lot. And they pass gas. And they never, ever say excuse me.
4. Small children and pugs are not a good combination. While pugs are not generally aggressive dogs, young children tend to be fascinated with their curly tails and bulging eyes. Pugs eyes are very sensitive and easily injured, and having their tails pulled can make even the most easy-going pug snap at the person who is doing the pulling.
5. Pugs require some special care. See that cute little wrinkle over the pugs nose? Dirt and moisture get in there and the nose wrinkle can get infected. You need to clean the nose wrinkle daily. Ears tend to get dirty quickly and need to be cleaned, nails clipped often (they use their paws like cats to clean their faces and can knock an eye out if left long) and anal glands need to be “expressed” frequently or you may get “slimed” with foul smelling excretions when you least expect it.
6. Pugs can’t go running, hiking or bicycling with you; unless you put them in a little pouch like a baby carrier and carry them on your chest. Again, because of the short nose, a pug cannot tolerate hard exercise and they have no stamina. You can usually take your pug on shorter walks when it is not too hot or humid outside. Pugs, typically, cannot swim as well. They are very solid and tend to sink instead of float. A life preserver is recommended for any pug near the lake, ocean or pool.
7. Pugs have tendencies to develop certain physical problems. Every breed has problems that they are more likely to experience. Pugs are prone to eye problems. (Almost 1/2 or more of all pugs will need eye medicine at some point in their life. One common ointment is $40.00 for a tiny tube). Luxating patella’s (slipping knees), elongated soft palate’s, pinched or undersized nostrils, narrow tracheas, spinal problems, pug dog encephalitis, liver shunts and other medical problems are “common” in the pug breed.
8. Pugs are difficult to housebreak. Even older pugs that are technically housebroken and know where they are supposed to go, often still have accidents. That is just part of the “charm” of owning a pug. Pugs can be stubborn and as puppies, just when you think they are housebroken – oops! It can take up to a year to housebreak a pug puppy.
9. Think pugs are couch potatoes? Think again. While a pug over three can become a laid-back couch potato, pugs under three are extremely hyper! Yes, all puppies are hyper, but pugs tend to be even more hyper. Biting toes, ears, hands etc. “Butt tucking” all over the house while banking off couches etc. They also drive other pets crazy with their antics!
10. Since pugs are getting so popular, I think I’ll get a female and breed her. I can probably make some good money. First of all, you will most likely lose money breeding your pug. Before breeding your pug, you should have her tested for eye problems, knee problems, and thyroid. Then you have to pay a stud fee. Many pugs cannot give birth on their own, so a vet must do a caesarian section of the mother and you risk losing the mother and the puppies. You must be there around the clock for the first three to four weeks to make sure the puppies are staying warm (but not too warm), and that all the pups are nursing. Some pugs are not very good moms, so you’ll have to take several weeks off work to be there to feed the puppies by hand every two hours, and clean them. Then there are vet check ups for the mom and for all the puppies. A reputable breeder does it to improve the breed, spaying and neutering all Pugs with medical problems and only breeding those pugs who’ve earned their AKC Champ
Yes, the really do have a great many health issues to contend with. Having said that, Pugs are an amazing breed–playful, loving and happy dogs, but you must be sure you can handle the financial and personal stress that can come with raising these bug-eyed cuties.
In addition to upper respiratory issues and skin-fold yeast, you’ll likely face eye problems. Those adorable eyes are prone to dryness, injury and blindness–daily eye drops are almost always necessary.
You may want to call a local Pug rescue group to help you find out if a Pug would be a good fit for you. They can tell you about the issues they most often see in the breed, the expenses they most often incur, and help you adopt, if you feel you’re ready.
Good luck!
i have had 2 pugs they are so love able and great family pets. however my family and i had to put down one of them because he did have health issues. he got diabetes and he became blind. we did have him for a long time but its the same with every pet. they will all have health issues.
I babysat a Pug once and was quite impressed by their human like qualities, but after reading the first response to your question and what all Pugs can get, I darn sure would not want to buy one. Pick an easier breed! Good luck.
Because Pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as puncture wounds and scratched corneas and painful Entropion. Pugs also have compact breathing passageways, leaving many pugs unable to breathe properly or efficiently or their ability to regulate their temperature through evaporation from the tongue. These complications can lead to accelerated injury or death should they be left in hot locations where cooling cannot properly take place such as cars on hot days or in outdoor conditions in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27°C).
Pugs living a mostly sedentary life can be prone to obesity, though this is avoidable with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Pugs can also suffer from a chronic form of granulomatous meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) specific to the breed called pug dog encephalitis (PDE). There is no known cause or cure for PDE, although it is believed to be an inherited disease. All dogs tend to either die or are euthanised within a few months after the onset of clinical signs, which usually occur anywhere from 6 months to 3 years of age.
Pugs, along with other brachycephalic dogs (e.g. boxers, bulldogs), are also prone to hemivertebrae. The screwtail is an example of a hemivertebrae, but when it occurs in others areas of the spine it can be devastating, causing such severe paralysis that euthanasia is a serious recommendation.
The Pug, like other short-snouted breeds, has an elongated palate. When excited, they are prone to a “reverse sneeze” where the dog will quickly, and seemingly laboriously, gasp and snort. This is caused by fluid or debris getting caught under the palate and irritating the throat or limiting breathing. “Reverse sneezing” episodes are not harmful to the Pug, and can usually be resolved by lifting the dogs head and blowing a short, strong breathe into the dogs nose which can clear the fluid/debris from the palate.
As with all small breeds, some problems may arise in pregnancy and during birth. The most common problems include the need for a Caesarian section birth and new mothers being disinterested in the puppies, sometimes accompanied by the mother not opening the birth sac.
As Pugs have many wrinkles in their faces, owners normally take special care to clean inside the creases, as irritation and infection can result from improper care. It is very important that the drainage from their eyes is cleaned from their wrinkles. They tend to sniff the ground a lot, so dirt and other debris can be trapped inside.
Pugs are one of several breeds that are more susceptible to Demodectic mange, also known as Demodex. This condition is caused by a weakened immune system, and it is a minor problem for many young Pugs. This causes pugs to catch diseases much more easily than regular dogs do. It is easily treatable although some Pugs are especially susceptible and will present with a systemic form of the condition. This vulnerability is thought to be genetic, and good breeders will avoid breeding dogs who have had this condition. Inbreeding can cause some pugs these problems.