How Do I Take Care of a Pug?

If you want to get yourself a pug dog as a pet, the first thing that you have to ask yourself is “how do I take care of a pug?” There are several answers to these questions, but if you want to know the basics, here are some tips for taking care of pugs.

•    Every pug owner, or any kinds of pets for that matter, should show their pets love and affection. It is not good to get a pet and to always shout at it because it always urinates inside your house, it scratches your couch, etc. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to train them. So before you scold your pet, ask yourself first if you are doing your obligations as a pet owner.
•    Pugs’ unique characteristic is their facial wrinkles which all pug owners adore. Always clean the wrinkles to prevent it from locking in moisture which can cause infections. Clean the wrinkled areas with baby wipes at least once every month.
•    One thing that a lot of people asking ‘how do I take care of  a pug” don’t realize is that Pugs need cool temperature to avoid overheating. If the weather is too hot, keep them inside a cool room with air conditioner. Also, give them plenty of water to regulate the heat inside their bodies.
•    Pugs also have unique health problems that other dogs do not usually experience. Obesity is the number one pug health problem. They eat just about anything so you really have to watch their diet. Eye, lung, and leg or knee problems are the most common illnesses for pugs.

Proper Care For Pug Puppies

Owning a pet is a big responsibility for pet owners. It is like having another child. This is also true if you want to take care of a pug. Pugs are very cute and small which makes them ideal pets but you must provide proper care for pug puppies if you want your tiny pup to grow into a healthy adult.

They also have a generally nice and amiable disposition. However, loving a pug and enjoying their company go together with paying close attention to their health conditions, especially young pugs. To know more about the proper care for pug puppies, here is a must-read list for a pug owner or a pug-owner-to-be like you.

•    Before getting a pug puppy, research about the breed first. There are much information about pugs over the net or you can do your research on the library. You can also ask a person who knows a lot about pugs. This way, you will know what to do when you first bring the pug puppy to your house.
•    If you are always away from home, keep your pug puppy in a very nice and comfortable cage. You will do this before house breaking the puppy. After house breaking, you can already leave the puppy in your house even without the cage.
•    Inside the cage, make sure there are some things that he can play with so that he will not get bored. You can put down soft towels and chewable toys inside the cage. You should also leave enough food and water.
•    Keep a close watch on your puppy’s activities. Make sure that they do not tire themselves too much. Pug puppies have a tendency to be too playful that sometimes they overexert themselves.

Providing proper care for pug puppies will ensure that your dog lives a long, happy and healthy life.

Serious Pug Health Problems

Pugs are so cute especially as puppies. It is the eyes and the little flat snouts that make them look so cute. Unfortunately, there are some Pug health problems that are commonly found in the breed. They do have some health problems that are attributed to Pugs as a breed, but also can be found in other breeds. One way to protect yourself is to buy from a reputable Pug breeder, who will have a family history on your pet. This does not mean that your pet will not become ill, but it will lessen the chance.

Pug Dog Encephalitis is an inflammatory brain disease that affects Pugs of both sexes. The disease was considered to affect just Pugs; however, a similar disease has been seen recently in Maltese, Pekingese and Yorkshire terrier breeds. If you have a Pug that is under one year or over 5 years that starts having seizures you should take your pet to the vet to have it checked out for this disease.

Hip Dysplasia is found mostly in bigger breed dogs, but it has also been found in Pugs. This is a debilitating disease to an animal. This is a painful disease, and you will start to see the effects of it when your Pug is still a puppy. There is no cure for this, and it does leave the dog disabled from being able to walk.

Another one of the pug health problems to look out for is called tracheal Collapse which is a narrowing of the windpipe due to a loss in rigidity of the cartlidge in some small breed dogs, like Toy Poodles, Yorkies, Miniature Pincher, Maltese, Chihuahuas and other small dog breeds. Symptoms include a cough, especially after exercise, noisy breathing and gagging, and a goose honk which is so named due to the sound.

This requires treatment for the life of your pet in most cases as it is progressive. It can be acquired or hereditary. Cushing’ disease can also cause it. There are medical treatments, which are cough suppressants, antibiotics, steroids, weight loss, and keeping your pet away from irritants. In severe cases surgery is needed to place a stent to hold the trachea open.

Other pug health problems that you may see are Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease which is a bone disease that small breed puppies, who weigh less than 24 pounds, can get. Intervertebral disk disease is common and can leave your pet in severe pain, loss of coordination and paralysis. It is most common in breeds of dogs called chondrodystrophoid breeds, like a Pekingese, Pug, Basset Hound, American Cocker spaniel, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Welsh Corgi; this is a serious health problem. These are just a few of the more common diseases that your Pug may be more subject to, but your pup may be just as subject to be healthy.