Pug

A small companion with a keen eye

Pugs were bred for companionship and often seek out their people. Many enjoy games, respond well to small rewards in training and are curious about what is happening around the house. Snorting or loud snoring can mean that the airways are too narrow, even if the dog otherwise seems lively. A healthy Pug should be able to breathe quietly and comfortably at rest.

Day-to-day care

Pugs can shed heavily despite their short coats. You should use a soft brush to remove loose hair at least once a week. Their facial folds also need regular checks. Moisture can collect between the folds and encourage skin infections, so any cleaning should be gentle and followed by thorough drying.

Grooming is also a chance to notice changes in the eyes. If your Pug holds an eye shut, seems to have eye pain or suddenly develops a very red eye, you should call your vet or an emergency vet immediately. Unusual discharge should also be examined. Keeping a Pug at a lean, healthy weight matters especially because extra weight can make breathing harder.

Health

Breathing deserves particular attention in a Pug. BOAS stands for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. It describes breathing problems caused by narrowed upper airways in dogs with a shortened skull. Narrow nostrils or an overly long soft palate can restrict airflow. The soft palate is the soft tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth. Affected dogs may breathe noisily, become breathless easily and struggle in hot weather. Frequent snorting or loud snoring should therefore be checked by a vet, even if your Pug seems lively.

Other possible problems include dry or injured eyes, inflamed skin folds, kneecaps that slip out of place and malformed spinal bones.

Before buying a puppy, you should ask to see both parents' breathing and eye examination results. In the UK scheme run by the Royal Kennel Club and the University of Cambridge, a specially trained vet assesses breathing at rest and after brief exercise. The grade describes the dog's condition at the time of assessment. Breathing problems can develop later, including in puppies whose parents had unaffected results.

The Royal Kennel Club also recommends hip screening and a DNA risk test for Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE), a serious inflammatory brain disease. This test looks for a genetic susceptibility. A low-risk result does not completely rule out the disease, and an increased-risk result does not mean the dog will certainly become ill. It helps breeders assess risk when planning a mating and does not diagnose the disease. Ask the breeder to explain how the results influenced their choice of parents.

If your Pug staggers or collapses in warm conditions, heatstroke may be the cause. Move your dog into the shade or a cool room and immediately begin cooling the body with cold tap water. Keep water away from the nose and mouth. Call an emergency vet as soon as possible.

Could this breed fit your life?