Pug Dog Health Conditions

Understanding pug dog health risk can actually save the life of your best friend, and if you are a dog lover you probably know that all dogs have certain health problems that need to be looked out for, especially when a dog gets into its older years, therefore if you know the specific risks for the type of dog you own you will know what to look for and how to got about taking care of the problem if it should come up.

While Hip Dysplasia is usually considered a problem restricted to larger dog breeds, pugs are also susceptible. Hip Dysplasia occurs when there is some malformation of the hip joint and the femur bone does not fit correctly, which can cause the dog a lot of pain and in severe cases the dog may need surgery or have to be put down. Cases that are less serious are less of a problem to treat and typically need a good nutritional basis and normal exercise.

If the pug's nostrils are narrow or constrained, he has a problem called "stenotic nares," which can strain his body and lead to an enlarged heart. Breathing from the mouth and a foamy type discharge may be indications of this problem and can be fixed with surgery.

Entropion is a condition where the eyelids can roll inward causing the eye lashes to rub against the eye, which is a serious problem as it can cause ulcerations, scratches and irritation of the eye. The usual way to treat your puppy dog for this malady is surgery, but it's important to note early on the signs and symptoms for it to be successfully controlled.

Dry Eyes is another condition that can fairly commonly occur in pugs. Dry Eyes is a deficiency in producing enough tears to keep their eyes nice and lubricated. There are a few things that can cause the tear ducts not to produce enough tears, blockage of the duct, failure of the tear ducts or lack of nerve stimulation to the tear ducts, and treatment is dependent upon how severe the condition is.

Demodectic skin mites is a common problem among many dogs and comes in two forms. There are several forms of mange, one seen in dogs of less than one year,is a localized demodectic mange, which appears on the skin as small hairless patches. The second form is generalized demodectic mange, which appears in one large patch of hairless but healthy looking skin and can appear in a dog of any age.

If you intend to get a pug, you need to look out for certain health conditions, so if you think that your pug may have problems listed above or some other types of problems make an appointment with the vet to have your dog go through an evaluation to ensure he is okay.