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Pug Health Problems

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Complete list of Pug health problems

Sadly, the good-natured Pug is one of the unhealthiest breeds on earth, right up there with the English Bulldog.

The structure of this man-made breed is grossly deformed and leads to numerous health problems. It's not okay for breeders to do this to a dog.

First of all, because of their short face, every Pug suffers from some degree of brachycephalic (short-faced) syndrome, which causes all manner of health issues.

A Pug's respiratory system is so compromised that some Pugs can't even run without gasping for breath. Many individuals struggle to breathe in hot or humid weather. In hot weather, Pugs should be kept in an air conditioned home and supervised during outside activity so they don't overexert themselves and suffer heatstroke.

Eye problems in Pugs include:

Corneal ulcers caused by scratches to the prominent eyeballs

Dry eye – very common and can be serious

Pigmentary keratitis, which looks like a dark glob of pigment starting on the white part of the eye in the inside corners and gradually spreading across the eye, impairing vision

Eyelash abnormalities, entropion, cataracts, and occasionally progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

A Pug's eye sockets are so shallow that the eyeballs don't even fit properly and an eye can be forced out of its socket by rough play or even by letting the dog pull too hard on the leash. A "popped-out" eye isn't going to roll across your floor – it's held more or less in place by nerve and muscle fragments. But it's often damaged to the point of blindness. One-eyed Pugs are all too common.

Pugs are also deformed orthopedically, which predisposes them to bone and joint problems.

Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are rampant in Pugs. According to the Orthopedic Foundation of America, the Pug has the 2nd worst rate of hip dysplasia of all breeds and the absolute worst rate of all small breeds. An incredible 70% have abnormal hips.

Elbows are no better – 43% abnormal.

Other orthopedic diseases in Pugs include luxating patella (loose knees), Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, intervertebral disk disease, and hemivertebra (malformed vertebrae in their backbone).

Pugs are prone to allergies that cause itchy skin. Their wrinkled folds of skin trap dirt and moisture and provide an inviting home for yeast and bacteria, so bacterial skin infections (pyoderma) are common. Demodectic mange is also common in Pugs, as are tumors and cancers, especially mast cell tumors.

Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) is a devastating inherited inflammation of the brain. Symptoms typically appear at 9-18 months old, but can occur even earlier, or much later in life. This terrible disease causes a stiff neck, staggering gait, wandering in circles, pressing their head against a wall or furniture, and seizures – all developing within just a few weeks or months. PDE is incurable.

Epilepsy is another seizure disorder that occurs in Pugs.

Pugs born with heart disease are predisposed to syncope (a slow irregular heartbeat) that can cause sudden collapse. A pacemaker may ultimately be required if the heartbeat is severely or persistently affected. Pugs may also develop syncope from the persistent coughing or retching caused by their brachycephalic (short-faced) syndrome.

Other health issues in Pugs include hypothyroidism, collapsing trachea, liver shunt, and occasionally hydrocephalus (in some Pug puppies).

Hanging tongue is a mild condition that can occur in Pugs, where the tongue protrudes through the front teeth or hangs out the side of the mouth. It may be a neurological defect or a structural defect, but it isn't really anything to worry about – which is good because there isn't much you can do about it.

Pugs are also prone to dental disease (which can be serious unless treated) and reverse sneezing (which is harmless).

Virtually all Pug puppies are born by C-section, birth defects are common, and the puppy mortality rate is high. Mother Nature knows when a breed is unhealthy.

Preventing health problems

Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.

My best-selling book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Pug in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!