This Is About Pugs.
This website will help you learn about pugs! I even have one of my own. His name is Kermit. So these facts are important for me and all the other pug owners to know!!
A lot of stuff to know about a Pug.
Those cute little Pugs were bred for on reason, to be companion animals. Pugs love and adore their owners. Pugs also love to have a good meal, a soft and comfy lap, and and a soft pillow. Don't forget, Pugs will often follow their owners from room to room. Pugs play with other pugs, but, their true allegiance is to their human companions. Pugs snort, sneeze, snore, and make other lovely Pug noises to let you know they're near. You may say you hate those pugs noises, but you know you love em', I do.
Weather effects and Pugs with children.
Pugs are defiantly NOT outdoors animals. They should never be left outside unattended. Because of a Pug's "pushed in" face, (you should sometimes put you finger between the nose part and the face to keep dead skin out of there and prevent infections there) the pug has a shorter breathing passage. It is highly susceptible to extremes in temperature, especially heat. So you must be very careful not to over exert the Pug in times of warm or hot weather. While Pugs are generally good with children, small children may not be good for a Pug. Because of their large, protruding eyes, Pugs are extra susceptible to injury and must be treated gently and lovingly.
Medical Problems
Elongated Soft Palate
Common in short muzzled breeds, like Pugs, ESP is the obstruction of the dog's airways. The standard snoring of a Pug is a degree of ESP in action, through more severe cases can be heard through sounds such as honking, gasping for air, and the blocking of the dog's vocal box. ESP can be corrected through surgery
Medical problems (Stenotic Nares)
This is a birth defect found in breeds with short noses, including the Pug, and is essentially overly soft nasal tissue. When a dog with overly soft nasal tissue breathes, its nostrils collapse, leaving it to breath through its mouth to get the necessary oxygen. You can identify a dog with SN by a foamy discharge when it breathes or excessive breathing through its mouth When it gets excited. SN can be corrected through surgery.
Medical Problems (Collapsing Trachea)
Collapsing and hypoplastic (small,narrow) tracheas are usually congenital in Pugs. Affected dogs suffer from a chronic "honking", cough or dyspnea (difficultly breathing) during exercise. These conditions are usually diagnosed on radiogragh. Narrowed or callopsed tracheas are very difficult to correct surgically. Collapsing Trachea is usually treated medically with cough suppressants and bronchodilators.
Some Eye Problems
Pugs are very susceptible to eye problems. This includes cataracts, ulcers which can ocher from scratch injury, dry eye, generalized progressive retinal atrophy, pigmentary keratitis, and other eye problems.
Entropion
This occurs when the eyelids roll in and the eyelashes run on the surface of the eye. This irritates the dog and starts causing the dog to scratch. If this is left untreated, this condition can lead to vision and blindness.
Pigmentary Keratitis
PK is the deposit of pigment on the white surface of the eyes. It is the result of many factors that either irritate or inflame the cornea. If the factor causing inflammation or irritation can be identified. PK can be cured with surgery.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
PRA is then degeneration of the vessels around the retina. It usually begins with night blindness in younger dogs. With vision progressively continuing to deteriorate. This eventually leads to blindness. There is no effected cure.
Luxating Patella
Luxating Patella is commonly referred to " trick knee", Luxating Patella is fairly common in Pugs and lots of other breeds of small dogs. In simple terms, it is the dislocation of the small movable bone in the knee, which is called patella from the femur. The patella from the femur is where it is normally held in place by ligaments. Mild and severe cases are differentiated by the patella falling back into place on its own in mild cases and severe cases. In the mild and severe cases, the patella will fall out of place frequently,even after being popped back into placeby a veterinarian. Severe cases normally require surgery, not only to cure the problem, but, cure the pain,too, also to prevent the onset of arthritic conditions associated with Luxating Patella. The surgery is delicate and expensive, though frequently successful! General symptoms of Luxating Patella can be seen in the dog favoring the affected leg, when it runs or walks placing it down after several steps. In addition, Pugs affected Luxating Patella may also have difficulty sitting down and up. The may also run in a bunny-hop style lifting legs up at the same time and jetting them outward.
Second part of Luxating Patella
It is important to note that while Luxating Patella is a genetic condition often found Pugs, it can also be brought to the forefront and exacerbated by excess weight. Keep in mind as well that a Pug is diagnosed with Luxating Patella may or may not require surgery. Some Pugs can a do live their entire lives trouble free with Luxating Patella. Only time will tell if surgery is necessary.
Pug Dog Encephalitis
Commonly called PDE, Pug Dog Encephalitis is, as the name implies, unique to Pugs. Little if anything is known as to the cause of PDE, which is essentially an inflammation of the brain. PDE tends to affect young to middle aged Pugs and features seizures as its primary symptom. Lethargy or listlessness and loss of muscle coordination can precede the seizures. Accompanying seizures are several symptoms ranging from aggression to pacing in circles to the Pug pressing its against objects such as walls ans people. PDE appears to come in two forms: Slow Progressive and Rapidly Progressing. The Slow Progressive forms features seizures that recur in a matter of days or weeks,with a Pug turning back to normal from seizures. Rapidly Progressing PDE features seizures, often more frequently, and disorientation in between seizures. While Phenobarbital can be used to control the seizures and Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation. There is no cure for PDE. It is an important note, however, that seizures are not necessarily a sign that your Pug has PDE. Pugs, like many dogs, can have epileptic seizures that canbe treated with Phenobarbital and have absolutely nothing to do with PDE.
Pugs are like potato chips!!!!
In spite of the potential medical problems, most Pug owners say,"Pugs are potato chips. You can't have just one! Once you are owned by a Pug, you probably will have one for the rest of your life!"