The pug is a small, stout dog with a short-muzzled face. It has a short, glossy coat, a wrinkly face, a prominent underbite, and often comes in colours like fawn, apricot fawn, silver fawn, or black. Its body is squareish in shape, and it has well-developed and thick muscles in its body. Pugs have clearly-defined markings, a curled tail, and a subtle black line extending from the occiput to the tail.
Pugs are very playful and love human companionship. They are intuitive, eager to please, and sensitive to human emotions. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly dog breed that is good for beginner pet parents, pugs are a great choice.
The history of the Pug breed
The pug is descended from ancient Chinese dogs that go back to 400 B.C. The ancestors of the pug were called Lo-Chiang-Sze, or Lo-Sze, and were very popular in the imperial court of China’s Song dynasty as companion animals. They were introduced to Europe in the 16th century via the Dutch East India Company.
In Europe, it quickly became a favoured breed in royal families, even becoming the official dog of the House of Orange in 1572. When William III and Mary II of the Netherlands came to England in 1688 to ascend the throne, they had a pug with them. In Italy they were used as tracking and guarding dogs by the military. Queen Victoria and her descendants King George V and King Edward VIII also favoured pugs, making it a popular breed to have in the 19th century.
Nowadays, pugs are still popular around the world as companion animals due to their loyal and affectionate nature and their compact size. Pugs are also a frequently seen breed in various dog shows and have won accolades over the years.
Common health problems of Pugs
Protruding eyes:
The shape of the skull and the lack of prominent skeletal brow ridges of a pug make the eyes protrude from the head. This causes them to be prone to a number of eye issues, such as proptosis, scratched corneas, and painful entropion, which can all be very painful. Because of the protrusion, they are susceptible to dry eyes, corneal pigmentation, and inflamed corneas that may lead to serious vision problems and even blindness if not treated properly.
Brachycephaly:
This condition is very common among dogs with a short snout and a pushed-in face. Brachycephaly causes a deformation of the upper airway tract and makes it difficult for the dog to breathe. The effect of this condition can be manifold: stridor, breathing difficulty, panting, emesis, brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, cyanosis, exophthalmos, pharyngeal gag reflex, and laryngeal collapse. Brachycephaly may cause pugs to overheat or create complications when given anaesthesia.
Hip dysplasia:
This is a deformity of the hip ball and socket in which the alignment of all the parts of the hip joints is off. Pugs are particularly susceptible to it. A 2010 study found that nearly 64% of the pugs that were studied had hip dysplasia.
Skin and ear infections:
The wrinkly folds of a pug’s skin trap humidity and debris and make for a great place for bacteria to thrive. This is why pugs are highly disposed towards skin infections. Routine checking and cleaning of the folds are very necessary to prevent this. Their ears, too, need regular monitoring and cleaning because of their folds that also attract infections and inflammation.
Obesity:
Pugs are extremely prone to obesity because of their short, stout size. In fact, they are three times more likely to become obese than other dog breeds. This is made worse by the fact that they can’t do very intense exercise because of their breathing trouble, so you can only take them for a light walk or mild fetch play.
What are the nutritional needs of Pugs?
High-protein diet: Pugs need about 25-30% of high-quality protein in their diet. In spite of their small size, they have a muscular build, and protein is the building block of muscle. Plus, protein also helps in weight management and maintenance of eye and nerve health. Lean proteins like chicken breast, fish, eggs, and lean pieces of lamb are the best way to provide protein to your pug. Paneer, chickpeas, etc., are also great plant sources.
Omega fatty acids: Pugs have sensitive skin and coats that are prone to infections, especially demodicosis or red mange. Therefore, healthy sources of essential fatty acids such as fish oil, fatty fish, flaxseeds, cold-pressed sunflower oil (in moderation), etc. are great additions to their diet.
High-fibre, low-starch carbs: Pugs may get overweight easily, so a starchy diet is a strict no-no for them. Instead, low-calorie carbs like sweet potatoes, rice, oats, pumpkin, quinoa, carrots, peas, etc. increase palatability as well as give enough energy to keep them active. They also contain a good amount of fibre, which helps in keeping the gut healthy, absorption of nutrients, and proper bowel movement.
Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins are very important in a pug’s diet. Vitamin A, beta carotene, etc. are great for the eyes. Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus, which helps in maintaining bone health. Others, like vitamin K, B-complex, choline, etc., also have various functions that are beneficial for your pug’s health.
Hydration: Proper hydration is key to a healthy body in dogs. Hydration may come from water, but also wet food and bone broths may give your pup a much-needed boost in hydration. Bone broths are also amazing for the bones, skin, and digestive system because of the abundance of collagen.
How to keep your Pug at a healthy weight?
Pugs are food-motivated, so keeping a check on how much they are eating is essential. Portion control is key; do not feed them too much in one meal. Because of their stout body and many skin folds, it is difficult to assess their body condition visually, so you need to check their weight frequently. Typically, it should be around 6–8 kg for both males and females.
Because pugs are highly trainable, many pet parents accidentally overfeed treats during training, so keeping a check on that is also necessary. Pugs are usually couch potatoes, but they need to be taken on light walks to keep their weight under control. However, because they’re prone to difficulty in breathing, do not overexercise them.
Why is it important to feed 100% natural, zero-preservative food to your Pug?
Generally speaking, 100% natural, zero-preservative food is the best kind of food for all dogs. This is because such food has no fillers, chemicals, or preservatives, and that really helps a dog’s system. For pugs, it is even more important to feed 100% natural, zero-preservative food because it helps in keeping their weight in check while providing essential nutrients to manage other common health issues, such as poor vision, weak bones and joints, etc.
100% natural, zero-preservative food has high nutritional value because its ingredients are all healthy, natural, and easy to digest. This helps the gut microbiome, which in turn helps in keeping your pug healthy. With zero preservatives, no artificial additives or chemicals are introduced in the body that may cause allergies or sensitivities. In fact, many preservatives have been linked to cancer, so zero-preservative food can be an additional shield against such chronic conditions. Overall, it keeps your pug healthier and helps them thrive more.
Looking to explore more tips on how to look after your furry friend? Check out our other guides like Can Dogs Eat Apples?, Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?, Dog Food for Weight Loss, Raw v/s cooked meat for dogs, Home Remedies to cure tick fever, Finding Good Dog Food in India, How many times should I feed my dog?, Things you should do to keep your pet healthy, Types of Dog Food, How Prebiotics and Probiotics can improve your dog's digestion, Essential Tips for a New Dog Parent, What Are Kibbles for Dogs and How Are They Harmful? and others. Each guide is designed to help you make better food and care choices for your dog, to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pug
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pug/
https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/pug
https://www.purina.com/dogs/dog-breeds/pug
https://supertails.com/pages/pug?srsltid=AfmBOoqKP8sx152qvP72qJfAtadsj732XbfuPZyLf1kc3giorzQ6_gIr
