Some Serious Pug Health Problems

Pugs have health problems that are unique to the breed and are usually hereditary. As a pug owner, you should be armed with proper knowledge and information regarding these pug health problems so that you can easily take action. Here is a list of some of the most common pug health problems.

•    Pug Dog Encephalitis. This is a usually terminal brain disease that affects both male and female pugs. Symptoms of this brain inflammatory are seizures, blindness, irregular gait, staring blankly, depression, and screaming, among others. Dogs that are younger than one year and older than five years are the ones usually affected by this disease.
•    Patellar Luxation. Patellar or more commonly known as kneecap is the part of the body that is affected by this defect. The kneecap in this condition tends to slip in and out of the tendon. Extreme kneecap luxation can cause bow-legged puppies. Surgery can correct this condition.
•    Dry Eye Syndrome. Technically called Keratoconjunctivitis or KCS, this condition can cause blindness. It is called as such because the dog’s eyes do not produce the normal amount of tears. Dogs with red and swollen eyes with some mucous discharge are some symptoms of this illness. Treatments for dry eye syndrome are surgery and some forms of medications.
•    Tracheal Collapse. This condition is caused by a narrow trachea or more commonly known as windpipe. This is a kind of respiratory illness and the symptoms are ragged breathing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Dogs should not be exposed to something which can cause discomfort to their lungs such as smoking or extreme temperatures.

These are some of the more serious pug health problems that your dog may get.  Don’t let that scare you away from adopting a pug, though as most will never have any of these problems!

Pug Dog Encephalitis

Does your pet pug have seizures, depression, and blindness? Do you observe an irregular walk, blank stare, screaming, and strange behaviours such as pressing the head against something? If you answer to these questions are both “yes”, you should bring your pug to the vet. He might be suffering from pug dog encephalitis or PDE.

Pug dog encephalitis is a condition or illness of the brain which usually affects pugs of both genders. Before, this disease was believed to be observed only among pugs, not with other dogs. But recently, some cases and research show that other toy dogs such as Maltese, Terrier, and Pekingese can also suffer from the same brain damage.

If a pug dog has this disease, it can cause complications or other diseases such as rabies, Rocky Mountain fever, toxoplasmosis, and many other diseases. Dogs who are within the age range of 1 to 5 years are the ones that are usually affected by this disease. So if your dog’s age is within that age range and it is suffering from the above mentioned symptoms, you should immediately bring your pet to the nearest vet to have a thorough check up.

Diagnosis of this illness is very difficult because symptoms are very similar to other diseases of the central nervous system. Some can be diagnosed using MRI or magnetic resonance imaging or observing the white blood cells. But usually, it is too late when a correct diagnosis is made, making it a terminal disease.

There is no known cure for pug dog encephalitis, although temporary treatments to lessen seizures and decrease inflammation are available.

Pug Difficulty Breathing Problems

If you notice pug difficulty breathing in your pug, then read on…..

Pugs are known for their wrinkled face and large, bulging eyes. Aside from these, they are also known for their snoring and loud breathing. This is normal, especially when the weather is very hot. You have to keep pugs in a cool room with air conditioner. Sometimes, even if the air conditioner in the room is already turned on, they still need additional cool air. You can put a small box fan which you can put on the floor so that when pugs need to cool themselves, they will just go near the fan and sit there.

However, there are cases when the snoring or breathing that you hear is not normal, especially if it sounds like your pug is wheezing. This is one very common pug difficulty—breathing problem.

If your pug is wheezing, it could mean that he is suffering from a respiratory problem such as collapsed trachea or elongated palate.

Collapsed trachea is acquired at birth. The pug must undergo surgery and should be kept under close watch. Always keep them on a diet because it is best for pugs with collapsed trachea to be lean.

Elongated palate is another birth illness. Do not make your pug too excited or tired because they might hyperventilate from trying to inhale too much oxygen. This problem can be resolved by surgery. You have to be careful and observant because this defect can cause death to your pug if undetected and left unattended.

Some symptoms of respiratory problems when your pug has difficulty breathing are coughing, lethargy, and teary eyes. Raspy breathing and snoring while sleeping is common but if it already sounds abnormal, then it is best to go see a vet to check it.

 

Pug Health Problems that are Common

Pugs are so cute especially as puppies. It is the eyes and the little flat snouts that make them look so cute. Pug health problems that are more common will be listed. 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.

Tracheal Collapse is another one of the pug health problems to look out for.  It is caused by 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.

Pug Training For Puppies

If this is your first Pug puppy, you are in for quite a treat. They are great dogs, but they need a lot of training, especially early on in their new lives in your home. It is not so much about what you have to train them to do in the early days as it is in what you have to train them not to do. You are probably reading and purchasing every book you can find on pug training right now that you can get your hands on; just make sure you read this article along with all those other books so you get your pug started out on the right track.

Like a child, the early days of a Pug’s life are where they do the bulk of their learning. However, you don’t have years to do this. In fact, you really don’t even have a year, you have only the first few months to get your Pug pointed on the straight and narrow. Any bad habits you allow them to develop in the first few months will be carried to their adult life. If your dog acts up as an adult in a manner that you allowed when they were a puppy, you will only have yourself to blame.

Proper pug training is critical because any behavior that you allow during this formidable time is behavior that they will do each and every day for the rest of their lives because they think it is okay to act that way. If you allow your cute new little Pug puppy to jump up on the sofa, he will think it is okay. All of a sudden as he gets older, he continues this behavior, you don’t find it so cute because he is too big to be on your couch. Too late, no matter how much you discipline him now, it is in his head that it is okay to act this way.

You see, puppies are like children and when they act mischievous, we tend to laugh and think they are cute and let them get away with it. As they get older, this behavior is not funny anymore and we want them to stop. Just like a spoiled child, getting them to do so is almost impossible.

The one thing that you have to keep in mind every time your new Pug does something that you think is cute when they are a puppy, you have to ask yourself the question if you are prepared to deal with that behavior for the lifespan of the animal. You allow it not, you better allow it later or you will have a spiteful Pug on your hands!

When you bring your new Pug puppy home, make sure you develop the behavior that you want to see as an adult dog when they are a puppy. Remember, they are animals and they need to be trained. They are only following your lead and anything that they learn at this young age will be burned into their brains forever as acceptable. You are not going to get to retrain them, so make sure you provide adequate pug training the first time around and you will have a great disciplined pet for many years to come.