Life Span: On average, Pugs live to be about 13-15 years old.
Inherited Health Issues: As a Pug owner, you’ll likely deal with a few health issues that are known to be inherited, or are common, in the breed. Like all short-nosed (or “brachycephalic” dogs), Pugs have difficulty properly moving air through nasal and oral passages, which complicates their ability to oxygenate and to cool themselves.
As with most hereditary conditions, careful selection of breeding pairs can decrease the chances that these undesirable traits are present in litters. In the Pug, it’s possible for breeders to remove dogs from the breeding pool if they have small nasal passages (stenotic nares) and elongated soft palates; doing so will help to prevent respiratory issues in the offspring. There are also a number of genetic conditions that can be detected by testing proposed breeding animals. The prospective Pug owner should carefully question breeders regarding their practices for limiting genetic issues in puppies. Conditions seen more frequently in Pugs may include, but are not limited to, the following: Allergies, Tail and facial fold dermatitis, Cancer, Patellar luxation, Pug encephalitis, Distichiasis, KCS (dry eye), Pigmentary keratitis, Dystochia, Brachycephalic airway syndrome and Tracheal collapse.
Preventive Care: Because Pugs have issues associated with breathing and cooling themselves, it’s imperative for owners of Pugs to keep them cool in warm environments. Monitor your Pug closely when he’s outside, even when the weather doesn’t seem that hot. Their short noses make it difficult for them to move air, and panting is essentially the only way dogs can cool themselves, so they can very easily become overheated.
Pug owners love all of the wrinkles they have around their face and tail. But these areas can become breeding grounds for microorganisms; especially yeast. Keeping these areas clean and dry can go a long way towards preventing these types of infections. Your veterinarian can recommend specific types of cleaners and/or wipes that are specially designed for this purpose.
Pugs have a number of eye issues, so be diligent about monitoring for any excessive eye discharge or redness. Also, allergies are very common in Pugs, and the fatty acids found in fish oils may limit the inflammation associated with allergies. Use a top quality product that is specifically formulated for dogs.
