emilyreviews, Author at Two Pug Tails

Does Your Pug Have An Upset Stomach?

September 23, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

No pug owner ever wants their dog to feel unwell…but the reality of owning a dog is they are likely to have an upset stomach at some time or another. Most of the time an upset stomach is something you can manage at home and won’t last too long.

Signs That Your Pug May Have An Upset Stomach

Hard or loose stools. Especially if this is outside of their normal experience.
Vomiting.
Asking to go outside frequently and trying to go #2.
Pooping more or less often than usual.
Strange noises (gurgling or bubbling sounds) coming from their belly.
Stomach growling sounds even if they have eaten relatively recently.
Excessive flatulence.
Really strong flatulence.
Eating grass.
Excess saliva.

Causes Of Upset Stomach In Pugs

There are many potential causes of upset stomachs in pugs and other dogs. Here are some of the more common ones though.

Changing diet too rapidly. When dogs get used to a specific food, it can be a shock to their system if you completely change foods on them overnight. To avoid this, change foods very gradually. For example, use 75% of the old food, and 25% of a new food for a while, then a 50/50 mix, then a 25/75 mix, etc.

Table scraps. Dogs bellies can be thrown off if they get access to human foods that they don’t usually have. Many human foods are not suitable for dogs (too spicy, too greasy, etc) and may upset their stomachs.

Allergies or intolerances. In my opinion, too many people assume allergies for their dogs. A banfield pet study showed that just .2% of dogs have food allergies. Yet, if you go to any pet themed group and reference food allergies, you’ll find that lots of pet owners believe their dogs have allergies. Meaning in most cases when people think their dog has a food allergy, they probably don’t. However, some do have food allergies and this can cause them an upset stomach if they eat something they have an allergy to.

Lack of fiber. Fiber helps keeps dogs regular, so if they are lacking fiber it can cause digestive trouble that can cause an upset stomach.

Some viruses.

Stress or anxiety.

Medication side effects. If your dog is on any medications, google the prescription name to see if nausea or other digestive symptoms are side effect.

Ingesting something harmful. Household cleaners, pest control substances, and many other substances can cause stomach upset in dogs if consumed.

Swallowing a non-food item. If your dog has swallowed part of a dog toy, an animal bone, rawhide, etc it can cause a partial (or full) blockage which can upset their stomach. If the item is too large his can be an emergency.

Motion sickness from traveling in a vehicle or similar.

Trapped gas. If your dog needs to burp or fart, that trapped gas in their tummy can cause upset until it finds a way out.

How To Help Your Pug With An Upset Stomach

Have them fast for at least 6 hours. This is recommended if your dog has vomitted or had diarrhea. It essentially resets their digestive system by letting it empty before adding anything new in.

Try feeding plain chicken and rice as their first meal after the fast. This is the dog version of having butter-toast after having a stomach bug. Chicken and rice are bland foods that are easy on the stomach for most dogs. Another option would be turkey and pure pumpkin, as those are also easy on the stomach.

If the bland diet goes well, feed that for a couple of meals, then slowly reintroduce their regular dog food. Go slowly, such as a 75% bland, 25% kibble mix, for a meal or two, then 50/50, then 25/75, before finally having them go back to just their dog food.

Try a dog probiotic if your dog regularly has tummy trouble. Sometimes dogs struggle to keep the right amount of healthy bacteria in their digestive system on their own, and probiotics can help.

When An Upset Stomach Needs Vet Care

If your pug is losing weight due to their stomach problems
If your dog has chronic diarrhea or constipation
Blood in their stool
Blood in their vomit
If they’ve consumed something harmful
If they’ve swallowed a non-food item.
If they’re panting, whining/crying or otherwise showing signs of pain.

Pug Advantages & Disadvantages

September 16, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Advantages Of Choosing A Pug

Snuggly. They’re great cuddlers.

It’s All About You. They really live for their people. You won’t doubt that they care for you.

Compact. They are small, yet sturdy. They’re small enough to fly with on many airlines, and apartments that have a weight limit for allowed pets are usually high enough to accommodate pugs.

They make good apartment dogs or city-dwelling pets. They don’t need much space. If you have an efficient apartment or are just renting a room, your pug can make that work as long as you can take them for a daily walk. I have a blog post that goes into more detail about pugs in apartments.

They’re easy. They’re fairly low-maintenance dogs. No trips to the groomers required. You can bathe them at home. They do require having their wrinkles cleaned but this can be done in a minute or two per day.

Quiet. Most of them don’t bark much. Pugs can scream, though.

Friendly. They’re usually good with people, kids and other pets. I have a blog post on pugs & other pets that covers specific types of pets and which ones pugs get along with.

Mild chewers. They aren’t destructive. That’s not to say that your pug puppy will never chew on something of yours that they shouldn’t…but they’re generally not a destructive breed. They will usually stick to chew toys as long as they are made available to them.

They’re not aggressive. Any dog has the potential to bite if they feel threatened, but pugs are generally known for being very loving, gentle dogs.

Disadvantages Of Choosing A Pug

Health issues. They are prone to some health problems. You may spend more at the vet with a pug than you would other dog breeds. However, I will also add that I’ve heard people say they’ve heard that pugs are really sickly dogs. That is generally untrue. I shared some stats in my common pug health problems blog post which may surprise you!

Nasal Surgery. When getting a pug puppy, it’s a good idea to expect to pay for surgery to expand their airways. I’d also strongly suggest that you pick your breeder very carefully. Go with one who breeds for healthy pugs and who has health problems ruled out via testing before breeding pugs.

Cost. Pug puppies aren’t cheap. They aren’t as expensive as some other purebred breeds either, though. Unlike some other dog breeds, if you wan to adopt an older pug, you’re likely to still have to pay for them.

Not summer dogs. Not very tolerant of high heat or humidity. Expect to use an air conditioner for them before you’ll need to turn it on for yourself.

Not winter dogs. Not very tolerant of cold weather. If you want a dog who will hang out with you as you cut wood in the snow, a pug isn’t that dog. I live in Michigan and my pugs would quickly go potty and wanted right back inside during the winter. They would start shivering before they had finished going potty.

Separation anxiety. They are prone to separation anxiety. Some will have other types of anxiety, too. Check out my post on pug anxiety to learn more.

Low exercise needs. If you aren’t particularly athletic, that’s okay. Pugs do well with one to two walks per day.

Prone to allergies. They may require medications to help with allergies, and may not do well on cheap dog foods.

Shedding. Most pugs (fawn ones) shed year-round, and shed quite a bit as they have double coats. Black pugs have a single coat so they may be a better choice if you want a pug that sheds less.

Shed in multiple colors. Most pugs are fawn which means most of their body is a light tan color, but their ears and face are black. This means you’ll end up visible light fur on your dark clothes, and dark fur on your white clothes.

Weight. They are prone to obesity and most are food obsessed. To keep them at healthy weight you (as the owner) will need to be disciplined with limiting their food access and intake.

They’re expressive. Pugs can make a lot of noises compared to other dogs, and they use these to express their emotions. I was really surprised when I first got my pugs how much they could communicate to me through their body language.

Stubborn. They can be stubborn. Pugs are sometimes mistaken as dull, but they aren’t low in intelligence. They can be stubborn, though which can result in them being challenging to train. The difficulty with training pugs isn’t usually getting them to understand the request, but convincing them that they want to comply with it!

Emotionally needy. Pugs are not high maintenance – but needy. They want to be with you as often as possible. If you don’t want a lap dog, don’t go with a pug.

Heartbreak. They’ll absolutely break your heart when they pass. They really capture your heart. The heartache you’ll feel when they pass is worse than losing other dogs, in my opinion. With pugs they love you so much that it makes you love them more deeply. That loss really hurts.

Pug Attitude

September 9, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Do Pugs Have A Bad Attitude?

This is a bit of a complex question because ‘attitude’ can be used to imply a lot of different things! Overall, I’d say pugs have a pretty good attitude but let’s break this question down into more detailed questions.

Are Pugs Stubborn?

Pugs can be stubborn, which some will interpret as having a bad attitude.

Are Pugs Antisocial or Aloof?

Pugs usually have loving temperaments and are pretty affectionate. They are usually friendly and social, they don’t come off as aloof.

Do Pugs Get Along With Others?

Most pugs get along pretty well with most other pets and with children. I did a whole blog post about what animals pugs get along well with if you want more details.

Are Pugs Lazy?

Pugs definitely can be lazy! If you’re looking for a dog that will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about going for a jog with you at 5am, you may see pugs as having a bad attitude.

Are Pugs Hard To Train?

Pugs can be hard to train. This isn’t based on their intelligence, but instead based on their stubbornness! At the same time, pugs like to please their owners and are usually highly motivated by food/treats as well. Those factors can make training them a bit easier than some other stubborn dogs.

Do Pugs Beg?

Pugs can be prone to begging unless you train them not to. Pugs are often obsessed with food and may beg for human food anytime they see or smell any. They may also beg for more dog food between their meals.

Are Pugs Scaredy Cats?

If you see being fearful or anxious as having a bad attitude, some pugs may strike you as having a bad attitude. Some pugs are fearful dogs who would rather sit inside on your lap rather than seek out adventure. One of my pugs was fearful of cats, and other dogs. Another of my pugs was afraid of thunder, and loud or just unexpected noises like a spatula falling off the counter onto the hard floor.

Are Pugs Funny?

Pugs definitely can have a funny attitude! They are a lot more expressive than some other dogs. Due to their flat faces, they ca make a variety of sounds that you may have never heard from other dogs. They often use their weird noises to express themselves. Mine would make short, choppy inhales when he was really happy and we called it his ‘purr’. Both of my pugs would sneeze on purpose to let you know they were annoyed. They also could sigh when frustrated or annoyed.

Pugs’ reactions to various things can be pretty funny, too. We often found ourselves laughing at our pugs. So, I’d definitely classify them as having funny attitudes.

Are Pugs Annoying?

That really depends on what things you personally find annoying. I wrote a whole blog post about this topic!

Are Pugs Aggressive?

No, pugs are not an aggressive dog breed.

Are Pugs Yappy?

Pugs generally do’ bark excessively, and when they do bark it’s a deeper bark than you might expect from such a small dog. So their bark doesn’t sound particularly yappy.

Are Pugs Dramatic?

Pugs can definitely be drama queens! One of mine was really laid back and chill as long as she wasn’t anxious, but the other was a drama queen. We mostly found this funny, but I can see how others could read it as having a bad attitude.

Do Pugs Have Bad Manners?

Pugs aren’t a particularly….classy…breed. They have audible farts and burps, they breathe loudly after exercise or when excited, and more. So, yes, you could say that pugs might come across as rude or having bad manners in that sense! As far as how they interact with people though, they’re usually a friendly, calm breed.

Are Pugs Sassy?

Whether or not you detect sass in a dog’s behavior is probably exceptionally subjective. Personally, I felt like my pugs were sassy a times, but not enough to where I’d say they are sassy as a general statement. My pug Frank, in particular, was strong willed or stubborn. There would be times where I knew he understood a command but would comply very slowly, or would comply and then sigh or sneeze. Those sorts of interactions felt like he was being sassy!

These ever really bothered me, and they weren’t super common. I suppose my assessment would be that Frank had a sassy streak, but wasn’t super sassy overall.

Pug Pimples Or Pug Acne | What Causes It & How To Get Rid Of It

September 3, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

My Pug Gets Bumps On His Muzzle. What Is That?

It’s likely pug acne or dog acne. Yep, dogs can get pimples just like people! It’s a really similar cause, too. Any kind of dog can get acne but it’s more common in breeds with short hair, including pugs. Their heavily wrinkled faces make them more prone to it as well.

What Causes Acne In Pugs?

Clogged pores. Basically, acne is caused by your dogs sebum (natural skin oils), bacteria and dead skin cells building up on the surface of the skin and clogging the pores. When the pores get clogged, the immune system responds to try to fight the bacteria and acne develops.

In other words, it’s caused by the area getting too dirty. However, how frequently the area needs to be cleaned can vary from dog to dog. Some dogs will experience acne with really low levels of bacteria and sebum buildup, while others have a higher tolerance. So, it’s not necessarily that your dog is extra dirty if they’re getting acne. They may just get acne with less bacteria than other dogs. It’s common for pugs to develop acne more easily.

Age is a factor. Younger dogs create more sebum than older dogs, so they’re more prone to their pores getting clogged.

Regardless f the cause, if your dog is experiencing pimples that means they need their skin cared for differently.

How To Reduce Pug Acne

Keep them dry. Many pugs get acne on their lower jaw. Pugs have slight jowls which can leave their lower mouth wet after drinking from their water dish. For some reason my pug Beans used to almost always have a damp lower mouth! I assume it was just something about the shape of her muzzle. If you have a pug like that where their fur stays wet for a long time after drinking, this may increase the odds of bacteria spreading. In that case, drying off their mouth after drinking may help.

Keep Them Clean. If your dog makes a big mess while eating, washing their muzzle after meal time can greatly reduce any occurrence of acne. Even if they don’t get visibly dirty around their mouth, washing their face/mouth can wipe away excess skin cells and excess sebum to keep their pores from getting clogged.

Ditch the plastic bowl. Plastic water and food dishes for dogs can breed bacteria a lot worse than other materials because plastic is somewhat porous. Changing to stainless steel bowls, glass or ceramic can help. We used plastic dog bowls when we first got our pugs but Frank developed acne so we switched to stainless steel bowls. They were a little more pricy but they lasted us for years.

Wash their food and water dish daily. Even with stainless steel bowls, bacteria can build if the dish isn’t washed regularly so be sure to keep it clean.

Keep wounds/sores extra clean. If your dog gets injured and has an open wound, that area will be extra prone to developing irritation or infection. If your dog ever gets injured around their mouth, be extra diligent about keeping the area clean and dry to avoid an acne outbreak.

A healthy diet. Again, like people, diet can impact our skin health. If your pug is on a high-quality diet, they’re more likely to have fewer skn and fur problems compared ot if they are on low-quality dog food.

Wash their toys regularly. Any toys that your pug puts in their mouth get germs on them. If bacteria builds up on your dog’s toy and then they play with it again, that bacteria can transfer onto your dog and cause acne or other problems. Wash their toys regularly to keep them clean.

Don’t let your dog rub or itch. Once your dog has a pimple, they’re likely to try to scratch the area as it may itch. If your dog rubs their muzzle along firm surfaces r paws at their face, this can further irritate their hair follicles or even break off hairs which ca leave their facial pores more open and more likely to develop even more acne.

Try a dog acne shampoo. They make dog shampoos that are designed to flush the hair follicles, usually with topical benzoyl peroxide.

How long does pug acne last?

Dog acne can last up to 12 weeks in severe cases.

If you have a young pug who seems to have acne due to their age, keep in mind that it is still about sebum clogging their pores. Younger pugs will have more sebum and may be especially prone to acne, but it won’t likely entirely go away once they’re older. It’s best to try to find a hygiene routine that stops the acne.

For severe pug acne

If your pug’s acne is severe, it’s time to visit a vet. Signs that it has gotten severe is if the pimples have bled, if their mouth or lips are swollen, if hair loss has occurred, or if here is oozig. Acne can develop into bacterial or fungal infections among other big problems. In some cases dogs may need steroid treatments, antibiotics or other treatments that only a vet can provide.

Can You Pop Pug Pimples?

Your pug’s zits should be left alone, not popped. Popping the zit can cause further trauma to the skin and leave it open to more irritation and inflammation, leading to more problems.