Key Takeaways:
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Pugs are ancient Chinese companion dogs dating back to 400 B.C., beloved across European royal families for centuries due to their loyal, affectionate, and intuitive nature.
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Brachycephaly causes severe breathing difficulties in pugs, limiting their exercise capacity and increasing overheating risks, making weight management through diet especially critical.
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Pugs face serious eye vulnerabilities due to their protruding eyes, requiring vitamin A and beta carotene-rich foods like carrots, eggs, and sweet potatoes to support vision health.
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Pugs are three times more likely to become obese than other breeds, requiring strict portion control, limited starchy carbohydrates, and regular but gentle low-intensity exercise.
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Natural, preservative-free food is especially vital for pugs, as artificial additives risk triggering allergies and sensitivities in their already vulnerable skin and digestive systems.
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. BLEP dog food recipes for pugs are built around exactly this: lean, high-quality protein sources that support muscle maintenance, healthy weight, and the eye and nerve health that pugs need extra support for.
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. All BLEP dog food recipes have been created keeping this need in mind, especially the Fish Beans Fresh Dog Food recipe. A pug's skin folds make it especially vulnerable to irritation and infections like demodicosis. Getting fatty acids right through diet is one of the simplest ways to support skin health from the inside.
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. BLEP's Diet Calculator is built to give your pug the exact amount of nutrients that they need, without underfeeding or overfeeding them. With this, you’ll know exactly how much to feed your dog instead of leaving it to trial and error.
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. This is the exact standard BLEP maintains: real, human-grade ingredients with nothing artificial added.
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. Feeding natural dog food means your pug is getting the protein, omega fatty acids, and low-starch carbs their body specifically needs, without any of the preservatives or additives their sensitive systems could react to. Overall, it keeps your pug healthier and helps them thrive more.
Pugs come with a specific, well-documented set of health vulnerabilities, from their breathing and joints to their skin and eyes. Diet is one of the few variables fully in a pet parent's control. Getting it right doesn't have to be complicated: a dog food with 100% natural ingredients, zero preservatives and feeding the correct portions go a long way. BLEP's recipes cover this ground, so you can spend less time second-guessing what's in the bowl and more time hanging out with your pug.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a pug weigh?
A healthy adult pug typically weighs 6–8 kg, though this varies slightly by frame size. Regular weigh-ins matter more than visual checks since their body shape makes it hard to spot early weight gain.
Why are pugs prone to obesity?
Pugs are about three times more likely to become obese than other breeds, largely because breathing difficulties limit how much exercise they can safely do, making diet the primary lever for weight control.
What foods are good for pugs' eyes?
Foods rich in vitamin A and beta carotene, such as carrots, eggs, and sweet potatoes, support eye health, which matters given pugs' predisposition to eye issues from their protruding eye shape.
Why do pugs need omega fatty acids in their diet?
Their skin folds trap moisture and are prone to infections like demodicosis, so omega-3 and omega-6 sources (fish oil, flaxseed, etc.) help support skin barrier health.
How often should I feed my pug?
Most adult pugs do well on two measured meals a day rather than free-feeding, since their food motivation combined with limited exercise capacity makes portion control essential. You can use BLEP's Diet Calculator to figure out exactly how much food your pug needs every day.
Are pugs prone to hip dysplasia?
Yes, one study found nearly 64% of pugs studied had some degree of hip dysplasia. Although diet can’t reverse a structural joint condition, it can help manage it better. Adding a collagen-rich bone broth to their food may help with cartilage maintenance and protection, alongside keeping your pug at a healthy weight to reduce joint strain.
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 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
