Potential Pug Health Issues

Like any other dog breed, pug’s have their own unique health issues to be aware of. There isn’t much you can do about them except be educated  of what they are or could be. Most of a pug’s health issues are pretty simple to deal with. But there are a few that you should keep in mind. The three main health issues to be aware of are eye problems, breathing problems and leg/knee problems.

A pug’s 4 main eye issues are: dry eye syndrome, bilateral cataracts, entropion, and lastly (PRA) also known as Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Dry eye syndrome can be common but manageable. Dry eye syndrome usually developes because there is a decline of tear production in the eyes. If it is diagnosed early most pugs will will respond to either surgery and/or drug therapy. But if dry eye syndrome is left untreated in can cause infection, scarring, and even lead to blindness.  The second eye condition is called Entropion. This issue is caused due to the pug’s eyelid rolling inward, causing the pug’s eyelashes to rub on the eye and irritating the surface of the eyeball.  This should also be treated since it might lead to more serious problems such as blindness.  The third eye issue is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) PRA is the deterioration of the vessels around the retina. This condition usually begins with night blindness in younger dogs, but as their vision deteriorates it can lead to blindness.

For a potential pug owner or new pug owner, the sounds that a pug can make when they breath can be scary. Rest assured these sounds are very normal.  The Pug dog makes various snorting noises when breathing and tends to snore extrremly loudly. They do not have much control over these noises, it is what it is. The pug’s nasal passages are very short.  Although the snorting, snoring an wheezing are very common traits in pug’s, please remember that a “Collapsed Trachea”, “Elongated Palate” or “Kennel Cough can make breathing even harder on a pug. So if you suspect that something just doesn’t sound right, or you see your pug really having difficulty breathing .  Then you should take them to a vet right away.

Hip Displaysia and Patellar Luxation are  issues of the hip and the knees. Hip Dysplaysia is often caused by a malformation of the hip joints. Patellar Luxation )aka kneecap dislocation) occurs when the kneecap slips while the pug is walking. Both conditions can cause stiffness, pain and limping. 

Lastly, please remember that since Pugs have a pushed in face that causes them to have a short nose and  bulky eyes, they can easily scratch their eye cornea or even puncture their eyeballs. So always be sure to do your best to keep them away from sharp objects at all times!

As mentioned earlier, all breeds come with their own laundry list of health issues and concerns. Educating yourself about these issues prepares you to handle them and often times avoiding something more serious. So do your research.