Two Pug Tails

  • About

How To Help Your Pug Lose Weight

June 22, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Unfortunately, obesity is the most common health problem that pugs have. Pugs aren’t alone in this, either. According to VCAhospitals.com, 20-30% of all dogs are overweight, but 40-45% of dogs over the age of 5 are overweight. The good news is, pet obesity is a problem that owners can fix!

Pug obesity - is your pug overweight? How to tell, and how to help them shed the pounds if they need to. I helped mine lose 9 lbs!

How Do I Know If My Pug Is Overweight?

With obesity being common in dogs (and in pugs, specifically) it can skew our idea of what a healthy weight looks like. If you think your pug would look pretty ‘average’ if they were surrounded by other pugs, they may still be overweight. If you think your pug would look like a chunky one in a group of pugs, they’re almost certainly obese.

However, it’s best to not rely on assumptions. Talk to your vet about your pug’s weight to see if they think they are overweight. Some vets will talk to pet owners anytime they see an overweight animal, but others don’t. So, if you’ve been to the vet and their weight hasn’t been addressed, that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t overweight. However, if you ask your vet about your pug’s weight and whether it’s too high or not, they should be happy to give you a good answer.

According to the AKC, ideal pugs weigh between 14 and 17lbs. However, this doesn’t always mean that your pug is overweight if they are over 17lbs. Pugs can vary in height and length, and pugs with bigger frames should weigh more than pugs with more petite frames. This is where body condition score comes into play. Here is a body condition score chart made just for pugs, which I find super helpful seems how pugs are a short, stout breed, their ideal body condition looks different from some other breeds.

Pug body condition score

Source: Universiy Of Cambridge.

As you can see from the chart, you can determine if your pug is overweight by looking at how visible their waist is, any feeling their rib area. A body condition score of 5 or 6 is where you want your pug to stay. If your pug has a body condition score of 7 or higher, they would benefit from losing weight.

How To Help Your Pug Lose Weight

How many calories your pug is consuming is by far the largest factor in their weight. Like people, pugs will gain weight if they eat more calories than they burn. While increasing activity can increase how many calories are burned, if too many calories are consumed, it is extremely difficult to exercise those extra calories away.

One study showed that if a 20lb dog walks at a pace of 4 miles per hour, they will only burn 8 calories after a 1 hour walk. In other words – if you’re overfeeding your pug, they have no hope of losing weight by exercising more. You must feed them less.

Really, the solution to helping your pug lose weight all comes down to making sure you’re feeding them the right amount. Pugs are not a breed that does well with being “free fed”. Meaning, you shouldn’t leave food out for them all the time – most pugs will become severely obese if they have access to as much dog food as they can eat.

Instead, you should feed them 1-3 times per day, and measure the amount. How much they should eat will depend on the food that you are feeding. Look up how many calories are in a cup of the brand and type of dog food that you purchase, then calculate how much food to give them based on the calorie content.

You’ll want to give your pug the amount of calories for their ideal weight, not their current weight. Most dogs need to eat 25-30 calories per 1lb of body weight. If your pug has a goal weight of 17lb dog would need to eat 425 to 510 calories a day. Younger dogs and more active dogs can eat towards the higher end of the spectrum, while older and/or lower activity dogs should sick towards the lower end of the calorie spectrum. Most pugs are not super active, so in most cases, it’s best to stick with the lower-calorie range for their ideal weight.

I made the table below using information from AmericanMedicalCenterOfChicago. Pugs are an obese-prone breed, so I used the obese-prone status for dogs weighing 14-22lbs as pugs should have an ideal weight between 14lbs and 25lbs.

How many calories pugs should eat per day based on ideal weight

 

Ideal Weight Calories/day
14 lbs 392
15 lbs 413
16 lbs 434
17 lbs 454
18 lbs 475
19 lbs 494
20 lbs 512
25 lbs 606

Keep in mind that this is their total calories, including any snacks or treats. If you give your dog any snacks or treats, then their meal calorie total should be less than that shown above.

Also, metabolism can vary, and usually lowers with age. If you find that feeding your pug a set calorie amount per day keeps them too heavy, this likely means that they have a slower metabolism and should be fed a bit less. Part of why older dogs are more likely to become obese is because pet owners sometimes continue to feed their dog the same amount even after their dog’s metabolism slows down. Monitor how much you’re feeding your dog and how it impacts their weight. If they are gaining weight, they’re eating too much. Or if your goal is to have them lose weight and they are maintaining weight instead, you need to restrict their calories a bit more.

I have a whole blog post on how much to feed pugs if you want to learn more.

Factors That Contribute To Obesity in Dogs

  1. Some breeds are more prone to it, and pugs are one of those breeds.

2. Age. Older dogs have slower metabolism which means they will weigh more if they eat the same amount as a younger dog.

3. Spay/neuter status. Spaying and neutering your pets is important and recommended, but it does have the downside of increasing the risk of obesity.

3. Activity level. While pugs are small and don’t burn a lot of calories while moving around, it is somewhat of a factor in their weight.

4. Personally. Dogs who are in love with food are more likely to become obese. These dogs will be more likely to find table scraps or dig food out of the garbage if left unattended, and are more likely to beg for food from people. On the other hand, dogs who aren’t excited about food or picky eaters will often have a easier time maintaining a healhy weight. Most pugs are lovers of food!

5. Medical conditions. Some medical conditions such as thyroid problems or diabetes can be a factor in a dog’s weight.

Why Pug Obesity Matters

It’s easy to think that chubby dogs are cute! Sometimes people feel that it really isn’t a big deal. Here’s why obesity does matter in pugs.

  1. Shortens life span. While each dog is unique and there are always exceptions to the rule, statistically, obese dogs don’t live as long as dogs that maintain a healhy weight. We all want our pugs to be with us as long as possible, so keeping their weight down can help.

2. Can make it harder for pugs to breathe. Pugs are prone to breathing problems due to their facial structure. When a pug is overweight, this adds stress to their chest and neck which can worsen their breathing struggles.

3. Can worsen joint problems. Pugs are prone to arthritis and other joint problems. If a pug has excess weight on them, this adds unenccesary pressure to their joints which worsens joint problems and can increase pain.

4. Heat intolerance. Due to pugs’ flat faces, they aren’t very tolerant of heat at any weight. However, when a pug is overweight this exacerbates their heat intolerace.

How To Get Your Pug More Active

Be active yourself! Pugs love their people so if you are out and about more, they’ll join you.

Take time to play every day. Try out a wide range of types of dog toys if you need to find something your dog likes. Playing is often the best way o get pugs moving! My pugs liked small plush dog toys, so we’d use them for tug-o-war and would throw them for them to fetch.

Let them tag along! Going for a walk to the neighbors, or doing yard work? Open the door and let your pug outside with you.

Go to the dog park or dog-friendly parks. Dogs often get a lot of exercises while playing with oher dogs, so trips to the dog park can help. If you don’ have a dog park, going to a park that is dog-friendly may result in meeting up with another dog to play. Or if you have friends or family member’s with dogs you could plan meet-ups with their dogs.

Daily walks. Whether you live in a city or a rural area, find a way to take a daily walk. It could be on the sidewalk, through the woods behind your house or in a public nature trail. My pugs loved to explore, and they loved routines. Anytime they knew what we were doing next, they’d get excited! So if your pugs are lke mine, once they begin to understand the routine of their daily walk time, they’ll look forward to it!

How To Reduce Your Pug’s Food

  1. If your dog has been severely overeating (such as being free fed), you may try cutting back slowly rather than making a really dramatic reduction, for the sake of letting your pug emotionally and mentally adjust to getting less food.

2. Try more meals but smaller ones. For example, if you’ve calculaed that your dog should eat 3/4 of a cup of dog food per day, you may give three 1/4 cup meals a day rather than one meal that is 3/4 of a cup all at once. For some dogs this makes them more emotionally/mentally satisfied.

3. If you give them snacks or treats, use VERY low calorie and healthy options. You don’t to spend most of their daily calories on snacks. Carrots or other dog-safe veggies can make great snacks or treats.

4. If your dog likes ‘volume’, consider a weight control dog food. Like people, some dogs will feel more satisfied if they eat a lot of a low-calorie food vs if they eat a small amount of a calorie dense food. Weight control dog foods are usually just lower-calorie versions, but if yur dog likes to eat a lot of volume they may help.

5. Keep your pug busy and mentally enertained so they aren’t wanting to eat out of boredom.

6. Use a kibble dispenser, hide kibble in a snuffle mat or other toy that will make your pug “work for their meal” and make it last longer.

pug weight loss experience

How I Helped My Pugs Lose Weight

My pugs were free-fed by their previous owner. When I got them, they were 31 and 33lbs! Severely obese.

I kept them on the type of dog food that their previous owner had them on, and left food out for them 24/7 for the first couple of weeks. While I knew this wasn’t healthy, I knew that being rehomed was really emotional for them. I didn’t want to force unneccesary changes on them in the beginning. So, I let them get a bit settled in first.

When I felt they could tolerate the change, we changed them to a higher quality dog food (they were on Walmart brand previously) and to a weight-control dog food. This way, I could divide up their daily food into several small meals easily due to it having more volume. Early on, they would beg for food constantly so I would give them 4 meals per day (1/4 a cup each time) to try to appease them.

After a while they seemed to grow to accept their new “diet”, and quit begging for food between meals. That’s when I realized we could feed them fewer times per day. I measured out 1/2 of a cup twice per day after that, and that is the feeding schedule that we stuck with for the rest of their lives. We bought store-brand dog treats that were really soft. We reduced their treat calories by tearing dog treats into very small sizes, so although we would give them a treat each time they went potty (it was clear to us when we got them that they expected treats after going potty!) they only ate about 1 dog treat per day because each time we gave them a treat it would be a small peice broken off, rather than a full one.  We also gave them bully sticks occasionally, mostly as an anxiety tool.

I am sure that I could have switched to a non-weight control dog food if I wanted to, but it was working fine so I figured why fix what isn’t broken?

Frank went from 33lbs down to 24lbs. Beans went from 31lbs down to 23 pounds. They both were still slighly overweight. While Beans weighed less, she was more overweight because she had a smaller frame than Frank had. I (wrongly) struggled with feeling bad about reducing their food more than that, so I allowed them to stay a bit overweight. Not great, but it’s the truth! Still, I think their story shows that getting your pug to lose weight is very possible.

 

All About Pug Wrinkles

June 13, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Where Do Pugs Have Wrinkles?

Most pugs have some wrinkles in their forehead area and between their eyes, as well as below their eyes and above their nose. Some pugs may also have wrinkles or creases along their neck/shoulder area if they have enough excess skin for it to fold.

Do Pug Puppies Have Wrinkles?

Newborn pug puppies are usually born without wrinkles at all, and by 8 weeks old some pugs have significant wrinkles while others are still wrinkle-free. Exactly when the wrinkles appear can vary, but the wrinkles will get more pronounced as they get closer to full grown.

pug wrinkles - how to clean pug's face wrinkles, signs of infection, when pug puppies get wrinkles, how often to clean pug wrinkles

The pug wrinkle above their nose

The wrinkle above a pug’s nose is usually the one that needs the most care. This wrinkle may be really tight and deep in some pugs, while others may be more spacious. My pug Frank had a slightly longer nose than some other pugs, and this resulted in the wrinkle above his nose not being as ‘tight’ as my other pug’s was. This made it a lot easier for his to stay clean and dry. All pugs need to have their wrinkles kept clean, but if you have a pug with a tight nose wrinkle you’ll need to be extra diligent about keeping it clean and dry.

How To Clean A Pug’s Face Wrinkles

Take a cloth or dog-safe wet wipe over one of your fingers and go along your pug’s wrinkle crease. This will help free any shed hairs, dirt or other debris that has collected in their fold. Repeat this process again until the cloth shows that no more dirt or hair is coming out. Once done, use a clean and dry cloth to dry the crease.

If your pug has tight wrinkles, you should do this daily. If your pug has looser or shallower wrinkles, you may only need to do it every couple of days. If you aren’t sure, it’s always better to err on the side of more frequent.

Why you have to clean a pug’s wrinkles

Pug wrinkles need special care because they can trap bacteria or begin to grow yeast! Some people complain of noticing that their pug’s face wrinkles smell. That is a sign that it is getting infected due to not being clean. The wrinkles have creases which can allow shed hair, sweat, water (frequently happens from missy drinking), food, dirt and other things to collect in the crease. If anything gets trapped in the crease and isn’t cleaned out it can get irritated and even infected over time.

pug with wrinkles

The best wrinkle wipes for pugs

I recommend PetPost bulldog wrinkle wipes. Of course, pugs are not bulldogs but they have similar needs. These wrinkle wipes are specifically formulated for dogs. Baby wipes and other types of wipes can include alcohol or other ingredients that can be harsh or drying to pug’s face, or could be irritating to their face.

Signs of an infected nose wrinkle

If your pug’s nose wrinkle is red, losing hair, swollen, itchy, wet (oozing), or has an odor those are all signs that it may be infected. If you see any signs of infection, head to the vet! They will be able to give you medication or ointment to clear it up.

Pug Wrinkle creams or balms

If you really struggle with keeping your dog’s face wrinkles clean and dry, you may consider a cream or a wrinkle balm. I don’t have personal experience with trying these, but they should be used after cleaning your dog’s wrinkles and after they’ve dried. The goal of the balms is to keep moisture off the skin to protect from infection.

How To Get Your Pug To Accept Face Cleaning

“But my pug won’t let me clean their wrinkles!” you say? You aren’t alone in having a pug who doesn’t like their face touched. Pugs have big eyes that stick out which makes their eyes vulnerable to injury. As a result of that, it’s very common for pugs to be even more hesitant than other dog breeds to let people near their face.

However, it’s really important to keep their wrinkles clean to avoid infection. You can train your pug to tolerate face cleaning by making it a positive experience. Most pugs are highly food motivated, so using treats to reward them while they have their face cleaned is a good way to make them more tolerant of it.

Be calm but firm when cleaning your pug’s face. You want them to feel safe, yet to also know that you are in control.

Can you clean pug wrinkles with baby wipes?

Most popular baby wipes have alcohol which can be drying to a pug’s facial skin. However, I understand that the wipes specifically designed for cleaning a dog’s face are a bit pricy. If your dog’s skin is irritated or sensitive, I’d recommend sticking with the dog wrinkle wipes. However, if your dog’s skin is in good shape and doesn’t seem overly sensitive, you can try one of the more natural brands of baby wipes. Look for one that is free from alcohol. I’d recommend Water Wipes, as those are 99.9% water, and the remaining ingredient is a fruit extract which has naturally antimicrobial properties.

Why do pugs have wrinkles?

Pugs were originally bred in China, and the people breeding pugs wanted them to have wrinkled faces! They wanted the wrinkles on a pug’s face to resemble the character that means “prince.” Wrinkles are genetic for pugs, so you can get a rough idea of how deep (or severe?) of wrinkles a pug puppy might develop as they mature if you look a the wrinkles of their parents.

 

Why Your Pug Has Stinky Breath & How To Fix It

May 25, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Causes of stinky pug breath

  1. Dental problems. The most common cause for stinky breath in pugs is dental problems like decay. If your dog has an infected tooth that infection will smell bad and you’ll notice it in their breath. Pugs are particularly prone to dental decay because they have short flat mouths that leave their teeth crowded and often crooked. This allows food to get trapped in their teeth and cause decay over time if their teeth are not brushed.

2. Lack of brushing/cleaning. Related to the first point, but a more temporary version. If you’ve ever left a bit of food on a plate in the kitchen sink for more than a few hours you’ve probably noticed it can start to smell. Food particles that get stuck in a dog’s mouth can begin to stink, too! If your dog’s breath usually smells normal but is particularly stinky one day, check to see if they have something stuck that you can help remove by brushing.

3. Teething. When puppies are growing in new teeth or losing old ones they have extra saliva when their gums are irritated. Some say this produces a uniquely stinky smell that is described as a sour milk smell.

4. A stomach issue. Acid reflux or other digestive issues can cause the breath to smell bad.

5. They ate something stinky. If they were just chewing on a bully stick you may notice that in their breath shortly after. This can also be true if they eat things they shouldn’t like cat feces.

6. More severe medical problems. Kidney trouble can cause the breath to smell like urine or ammonia. Stomach blockages can cause the breath to smell like feces. Lung infections, liver trouble or diabetes can also change the smell of a dogs breath.

why your pug's breath stinks and how to fix it

How to help your dogs breath smell better

  1. Brush their teeth using dog-specific toothpaste. It’s easiest to do this if you train your dog to be used to it from the time they are a puppy. If you haven’t brushed your dogs teeth before, the process of desensitizing them to allowing you to brush their teeth may take a while.
  2. Use oral care products in their drinking water. Various brands make products to aid with cleaning dogs teeth that can be added to their drinking water. While perhaps not as thorough as brushing, it’s an easy way to do something to support your pug’s oral health even if they won’t tolerate brushing.
  3. Make sure they get dental cleanings often. Pug owners are often worried about having their dogs put under to have their teeth cared for, but it can be done safely especially if you seek out a pet with experience in caring for brachycephalic dogs. Getting their teeth profesionally cleaned and any bad teeth pulled can be really beneficial to their overall health, not just to their breath!
  4. Give them dental ‘chews’. Dental chew treats are designed to help your dog brush their own teeth, so to speak. They have bumps or ridges designed to sort of scratch the teeth and remove plaque as they chew. These are unlikely to reach all surfaces of all teeth the way brushing can, but it can help.
  5. Keep up on the rest of their health. Of course, you want to make sure that your pug’s bad breath isn’t caused by other health issues so saying on top of regular vet visits is key.

Can Pugs Fly On Airplanes?

May 17, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Can Pugs Fly On Airplanes?

Some airlines permit pugs to fly in-cabin as long as they are under the weight limits and can fit in a pet carrier that fits under the plane seat. Pugs are a brachycephalic breed and brachycephalic dog breeds are at greater risk of health complications when flying. 

Can pugs fly on planes? What are the risks? Everything you should know about traveling with your pug.

Info you should know when considering flying with your pug

  • Between 2005 and 2011, 189 animals died in commercial U.S. flights. Over half of those deaths—98 dogs—were in brachycephalic breeds flying as cargo. (source – VetMed.Illinois.Edu.)

Pugs were the second most common breed to die in flight. (Source: WashingtonPost)

Many airlines have banned pugs from flying in cargo. Some have also banned pugs from flying in cabin. EasyJet and Emirates don’t allow any pets in cabin, while Volaris Airlines has banned select breeds, including pugs from flying in cabin.

How to decide if you should fly with your pug

Discuss with your vet to access he risk of flying for you specific pug. Their health and how easily they breathe will be major factors in deciding how safe (or risky) it is for them to fly.

If your pug gets anxious easily and breathes worse when anxious, anti-anxiey meds while traveling may help.

See if your airline allows pugs to stay in the cabin. When animals die on U.S flights, they’re often bracheaphalic breeds who were in cargo rather than in cabin.

Consider the pros and cons of other forms of travel. If you aren’t traveling super far away, it may be a lot easier to drive with your pug instead of fly. This will, of course, depend a lot on the exact circumstances surrounding your travel, though. Weigh the pros and cons of all your options and see what makes the most sense.

How to make flying a happier and safer experience for your pug

  1. Use a carrier with really good ventilation so they can breathe easier.

2. Makes sure they enjoy their carrier rather than seeing it as something to fear. If they’re calm in their carrier at home, they’ll be more likely to stay calm it in while flying. Keeping it open and accessible at home for weeks prior to your flight can help. Leave them a treat in there sometimes, too! They may also enjoy their favorite blankets or toys being found in there sometimes. Take your dog for a ride in the car in their carrier, too. This way they’ll be used to being in the carrier while the vehicle is moving.

3. Make sure they have gone potty before you get on the plane. If they need to ‘go’ that may stress them out while on the plane.

4. Bring ziploc bags and ask a flight attendant to fill them with ice if your pug gets overheated. Then use them similar to ice packs.

Can pugs fly free if they are emotional support animals?

Since 2021, emotional support animals don’t get to fly for free. If you have a service dog, they are exempt from the fee.

pug on a road trip

Alternative options:

Depending on your travel needs, you may be able to travel with your pug via car or other transport instead. Greyhound doesn’t allow pets on their buses unless they are certified service dogs. However, Amtrak allows dogs on some of their trains. So, it’s worth researching all of your options!

I never flew with my dogs, but we did some roadtrips and they did well.

If your pug needs to fly but you’re really worried about it, pet-specific airways may be a option that will give you more peace of mind. Did you know that pet-specific airways exist? They do! Some examples are Pet Airways and Pet Jets. These types of airlines primarily see “smushed faced” dogs as their customers so they have lots of experience with keeping pugs safe while flying.

Leaving your pug at home. Of course, traveling with your pug is super fun and we all know pugs love to be with their humans! However, if flyng is a risk for them, it may be safest to leave them home. Check your area for some high quality dog kennels that will give them the attention and care that they need. They’ll miss you, but they’ll be okay!

Next Page »

two pug tails blog logo

Welcome to Two Pug Tails! This is a blog all about pugs! I am Emily, I just adore the pug breed. My goal here is to share helpful information about pugs, while also sharing some of my experiences with my pugs Frank and Beans. You can learn more about me and my pugs on my about page if you wish.



Follow Me

Recent Posts

  • Pugs & Other Animals | What Pets Pugs Get Along With
  • How To Help Your Pug Lose Weight
  • All About Pug Wrinkles
  • Pug Barking
  • Why Your Pug Has Stinky Breath & How To Fix It

Categories

  • Pug Behaviors
  • Pug Care
  • Pug characteristics
  • Pug health
  • Pug owners
  • Pug problems
  • Pug puppies
  • pug training
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2022 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in