When you decide to adopt or buy a pug, there are certain aspects you need to know about this dog breed, notably the health problems they are predisposed to during their lifetime.
As brachycephalic dogs, namely flat faces and compact skulls, they can face many health problems such as skin disorders, respiratory issues, neurological disease, joint issues and also others, depending on how well they are bred.
What is wrong with pugs?
In addition to health problems, there are also some behavioral features specific to pugs.
They are constantly shedding – unlike other canines that shed during certain seasons, pugs shed constantly a moderate quantity of hair throughout the year.
They are very stubborn and can be harder to train. They are deformed dogs – they are very funny and cute due to their body architecture and size, however this is the main cause for suffering from a lot of diseases.
They experience breathing problems – Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), asthma.
They are heat sensitive – it also causes breathing difficulties. They snort, breathe hoarsely, snore loudly, sniff
What is the lifespan of a pug?
Generally, a pug’s lifespan is 12 to 15 years. This depends a lot on the pug’s health and wellbeing. In human years, 12 to 15 translate into 64 to 76 and what is very interesting is that their human age is not calculated by 7 years for every anniversary (the usual calculation for other dogs) but based on their body size.
Basically, a pug puppy which is 1 year old is in fact 15 years in human years. Take a look at the chart below and see exactly what is the age of your pug in human years:
1 Years old = Equals 15 human years
- 2y = 23
- 3y = 28
- 4y = 31
- 5y = 35
- 6 y= 38
- 7y= 42
- 8y= 45
- 9y= 49
- 10y = 52
- 11y = 56
- 12y= 59
- 13y = 68
- 14y = 72
- 15y= 63
- 16y = 66
- 17y= 70
- 18y= 74
Do pugs get sick often?
Like most of the other dogs, pugs can get sick from viruses and bacterial infections and most of these can be prevented through vaccines.
They can also be allergic to certain foods which makes them harder to breathe and they may require more visits to a vet than other pets.
What do I need to know about owning a pug
If you decide your pet to be a pug dog, you may want to be aware of what it entails. Of course, pugs can be a number one choice, but there are a lot of pros and cons of owning a pug.
Firstly, ponder on the good sides of owning a pug, like the ones below:
- They are royal canines and an ancient breed
- They are companion dogs and will act like your shadow, chasing you everywhere in the house
- They are clever, loyal and their stubbornness can only make you laugh
- They are funny, also named “toy dogs” or “clown of the canine world”
- They love food and would eat almost everything
- They love kids and spending time with them as their toys
- They enjoy playing and also sleeping
On the other hand, the less good part is the susceptibility to multiple health problems they can come across and this can also imply higher maintenance costs that need to cover treatments, veterinarian visits etc..
They also have the tendency to become anxious and depressed if they are left alone for a longer period, so if you decide to have a pug or you already own one, make sure you can dedicate more of your time than you would normally do with another pet.