Pug problems Archives - Page 2 of 3

Pug Limping After Sleeping

August 1, 2021 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

When my pug Beans was about 11 years old, I noticed she would limp after sleeping. Most of the time she’d only walk with a limp for a few minutes after standing up. It seemed to be worse if she had slept for a long time (such as overnight) vs if she had just taken a short nap. In all cases, she’d go back to walking her normal way after a short time period.

I brought it up with the vet one day while we were in. She said it was likely arthritis, which is common in senior dogs. She said we may notice it happening more in the winter or with weather changes.

After the vet mentioned that it may be impacted by the weather, we noticed it definitely was. She definitely limped more severely and for a bit longer when it was really cold, or around storms. I assume the storms cause the arthritis to flare and cause worse limping due to barometric pressure. My boyfriend had a knee injury in high school, and he has knee pain when it storms, too. We noticed that he and Beans would often have ‘bad bone days’ at the same time!

After determining that it was arthritis, we were able to talk to our vet to get her on a dog-friendly pain reliever.

Why is my pug limping after sleeping?

When your dog limps after sleeping regularly, it could be arthritis. If it is only occasional, it may be that the limb “fell asleep” while your dog was laying down. If your dog has a sudden onset of limping, it could be an injury.

When to be concerned about pug limping

I think you should always be at least a little concerned about your dog limping. It is a sign of pain or at least discomfort.

However, the time to be most concerned about limping is when there is a sudden onset. When your dog starts limping suddenly, it’s possible that your dog was injured in some way. Even if you’ve been around your dog the whole day and know that they didn’t fall or get injured by anything in their environment, something in their body could still get injured. For example, they could pull a muscle or have a dislocation without falling or being hit, etc.

Another reason to have a high level of concern is if the limping doesn’t fade. With a leg that “fell asleep” or arthritis, they usually get more limber after walking around for a minute or two. If they’re continuing to limp even after moving around, I’d be concerned that they have an injury.

Another time to be highly concerned about limping would be if you notice other changes. If their eating habits suddenly change or their mood or demeanor changes, this is a reason to get into the vet as soon as possible. Behavioral changes accompanying limping could mean that your dog is in really severe pain, or has a more significant problem than arthritis.

How To Help A Pug Dog That Limps After Sleeping

When you see limping, it’s a good idea to look over your pug’s limbs and paw pads. Check for any cuts or other visible injuries. Check the toenails to see if may have been cracked. Check the paw pads to makes sure they don’t have a splinter. Check between the toes to make sure they don’t have something stuck.
Head to the vet to try to determine a cause for your limping.
If the vet determines that your dog has a condition causing pain, seek out pain relief medication for them.
Try to make their resting areas more comfortable. You may want to consider an orthopedic dog bed to help support your dog’s body better while they rest.
If overweight, helping your dog to lose weight can reduce painful conditions in many cases. For example, if your pug has arthritis or hip dysplasia, having a lower weight will mean less pressure which can mean less pain.
Keep them reasonably active. Like people, there is some truth to “if you don’t use it, you lose it!”. Keeping your pug active can keep their muscles strong and help support their joints.

Pug Can’t Get Comfortable? How To Help

July 22, 2021 by emilyreviews 1 Comment

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Everyone in your house has settled down after dinner. Maybe you’re in your bedroom reading a book, while your kids are watching TV on the couch. Typically, when the humans in the house settle down, your pug gets cozy, too. Tonight you notice he just can’t seem to get comfortable.

It may be hard to know if you should be concerned or not, or how you can help. That’s what I’m going to cover in this post.

Signs that your pug can’t get comfortable

They spin around in slow circles near an area where they’d usually lay down. Many pugs will circle before laying down regularly, and that alone isn’t a sign of concern. If you notice that they are spinning for a lot longer than they used to, this can be a sign that they’re struggling to get comfortable.

Lays down and then gets back up repeatedly. Typically once a dog lays down, they shuld be content to stay put for a while. If your pug finds a spot to lay but keeps getting back up and finding a new place to lay (or laying back down in the same spot, even) this is a sign that they aren’t getting comfortable.

Panting. Panting is common for many pugs as they are often intolerant of high temperatures and are prone to breathing problems. However, you know your pug’s regular breathing habits, most likely. If you find that they are panting in a situation where they ordinarily wouldn’t, this can be a sign of discomfort or pain.

Pacing. Sometimes if a dog can’t get comfortabe laying down they won’t just sit around or try to keep laying down, they’ll switch to pacing instead. If your dog doesn’t usually walk around much but seems to be pacing the house – this is a sign that something is up.

Sighs or groans when trying to lay down. Have you ever noticed how older people or people with joint pain often sigh or groan while sitting down? Sometimes dogs do a version of that. If you notice your pug makes a groan or sigh type of sound while laying down, this could be a sign that getting comfortable is challenging or that transitioning from standing to laying is painful for them.

Possible Reasons Why Your Pug Can’t Get Comfortable

Feels dizzy / vestibular disease from an ear infection. Probably not the first thought you’d have, but it’s a possibility. Sometimes when dogs get ear infections it impacts their inner-ear, which controls their balance and/or leads to vestibular disease. If you’re familiar with vertigo that humans can get, it can be similar to that. If your dog’s inner ear is causing them issues it can make them feel unbalanced or like the world is moving or unsteady. They won’t necessarily stumble or lose their balance while walking, it’s just that they may feel unbalanced or dizzy. If they have had an ear infection recently or have any signs of ear infections, this is something to ask your vet about.

Joint pain. This is perhaps the most common cause, especially if your dog is older. Like people, dogs sometimes get aches and pains as they get older. Pugs are prone to hip, joint and spine problems that may increase their odds of joint pain or arthritis. With my pug Frank, we noticed he would show more signs of discomfort when we had rainstorms come in. I think the air pressure level impacted his joint pain somehow. If you suspect that your dog has joint pain, discuss it with your vet. They may be able to prescribe medication or other treatment ideas. Frank was given a canine anti-inflammatory medication that he could take as needed seems how he didn’t have trouble every day. Getting them an orthopedic dog bed may help.

Fan bothering their eyes. This is a weird one, but I’m sharing it because we were relieved when we finally figured this one out. In the summer when we had fans blowing on us, our pugs would still want to sit near us…but they wouldn’t stay very long. They’d get restless and we couldn’t figure out why fr the longest time. Then one day I realized they would lay with us with their heads turned away from the fan for a while. Then after they got uncomfortable from being in the same position, they’d get up rather than move their head/neck. Eventually we realized they were trying to keep the wind from the fan from blowing in their eyes! I suspect that because pug eyes stick out a lot, they are more easily irritated by wind.

Overheated. Pugs get overheated easily. We used A/c for our pugs before we would care to use it for us humans, as they needed a cooler environment than we did. If your pug is too hot, they may keep changing positions as they get to hot. You may also notice them moving to cooler areas such as hardwood, laminate or tile floor.

Spine problems or a slipped disc. Unfortunately, pugs are prone to some spine trouble and slipped discs. Sometimes when they have a new slipped disc, a symptom is that they won’t be able to get comfortable.

Bloat. Pugs love food! Sometimes their love of food drives them to eat their food too quickly. In my family we refer to this as “inhaling” food rather than eating it! If your pug is a really fast eater, it can cause bloat which can make their belly hurt and leave them uncomfortable to lay down. – ate too fast, try a slow feed bowl. We owned this OurPets DuraFeed slow feeder bowl and it worked well for us.

Anxiety. Your pug may be emotionally uncomfortable rather than physically uncomfortable. If they are having high anxiety, they may feel restless and be unable to feel calm emotionally which can leave them physically restless, too. My pug Beans hated thunderstorms and would be restless during storms.

Dementia – Yes, dogs can get dementia. It can cause pacing, panting especially at night. If your dog seems to be unable to get comfortable at night, seems confused or struggles to navigate the environment that they should be familiar with, this could be the cause.

Collapsing trachea – this is a common condition in pugs that causes breathing trouble. Sometimes with collapsing trachea pugs will try to avoid putting pressure on their neck and chest areas, and this may impact their ability to get or stay comfortable while laying down. Removing their harness can make them a lot more comfortable sometimes, if this is the cause.

Heart disease – This puts pressure on their chest which can be uncomfortable. Dogs with heart disease may try to sleep in weird positions or even sitting up, to keep pressure from chest.

Infections or other serious medical problems that can cause pain. Anything that can cause pain can cause your pug to struggle to get comfortable.

If you don’t know why your pug can’t get comfortable…

Go to the vet! You don’t want to risk the chance that it’s one of the more serious causes. If they have a medical condition causing their discomfort, your vet can help you determine the cause and hopefully treat it.

Pug Being Distant

July 17, 2021 by emilyreviews 1 Comment

Pugs are known as clingy dogs. When a pug isn’t clingy, and isn’t just NOT clingy…but distant? That can instinctively raise concern. In some scenarios, a pug being distant is more concerning than in others. I thought I’d cover some different scenarios and explain how concerned I’d be about each.

Pug Being Distant After You Return Home

If your pug acts distant when you first return home, this is probably a response to their separation anxiety. They’re basically expressing that they are upset with you for leaving them. Sort of similar to children who have an avoidant attachment style with their parents or caregivers.

Your pug will likely come around once you’re home for a while, and if so, they’re probably fine. However, you may choose to look for activities to increase your bond (I have a blog post with pug bonding activities) to make your pug feel more secure about your bond.

Pug Being Distant When You First Get Him

If you’ve just got a new pug, whether it’s a pug puppy or older pug, it can be normal for the pug to be somewhat distant for a while.

I adopted my pugs when they were 8 and 9 years old. One of them was a bit distant for a while. He preferred to lay on the floor rather than sit with us for the first few days. I hate to say this…but think about being rehomed from the perspective of the dog. They don’t know that you have good intentions to give them a furever family. They just know that they are suddenly not in the place they’re used to – and they may miss their former family. That’s confusing and may be sad or scary.

This picture was from the first week we had brought my pugs home. After we had them for a while, they’d act like they were being punished if we tried to have them stay on the floor rather than on the human furniture. In those first few days though, they were more distant. I wasn’t as aware of it at the time, but in the old photos I notice a now-obvious sadness in frank’s eyes in all the photos. He typically had a warm spark in his eyes – but it was missing that first week. I think he was really missing his other family at first.

While you’re excited to add a pug to your family, it’s a big adjustment for them. You may have to get close to them slowly and let them learn that you’re a safe person for them to be close with. Try to give them plenty of changes for interaction and attention – and of course, meet their needs as much as you can. Try to not force more interaction than they’re interested in, though. Just keep offering and in time they should come around.

Pug Being Distant After You Have A Baby

Some people find that their pug becomes distant after they have a baby. Pugs typically are pretty compatible with babies and children, but your pug may be confused about how the family dynamic has changed, at first. It may be sort of like bringing home a new baby and how the older sibling may be hurt, confused or worried about how they fit into the family.

Of course, your world now revolves around the baby, as it should. As much as possible, you’ll want to maintain a connection with your pug, too. They likely need reassurance that they are still a light in your life, too. Letting them be near you when possible, giving them pets, still taking them on walks, and trying not to be overly-anxious when they are in the same area as the baby, can all help. If your pug senses that you are on edge whenever they get close to the baby, they can assume those feelings are caused by the baby.

Pug That Is Distant All The Time

Maybe your pug being distant isn’t a temporary or rare thing. Maybe your pug is a bit aloof all the time. If they’ve been that way their whole life, it may be their personality. Or it may be that they are struggling to bond with their family. Pugs are naturally social and clingy creatures, but mix-bred pugs may have traits from other breeds that could contribute to them being more distant.

I’d check for signs that your pug is bonded to you. As long as you see signs of a healthy bond, and they’ve always been distant, it’s likely just their personality and not a cause for concern.

Also something to note – pug puppies are often less clingy than adult pugs. Pug puppies are high energy and curious, so it’s normal for them to spend a bit more time doing their old thing vs older pugs.

Pug Being Distant Randomly

When a pug is distant seemingly at random, this is the most concerning. Any sudden and unexplained change in behavior can be a sign that something is wrong.

My first thought would be to closely analyze if there is anything that has changed for your pug. Could they be responding to some sort of change that is bothering them? In some cases being distant may be a sign of fear or sadness. If something has happened such as the loss of a different pet, or a new person entering the household, that could be a potential cause. If they’ve been around someone new, I’d double-check that they are being treated well by that person.

If there are no changes in your pug’s life that could easily explain why they are being distant, I’d head to the vet for a check-up. There are several common pug health problems. Being distant can be a sign that your pug just isn’t feeling well. Maybe they are feeling lethargic, nauseous, or are experiencing pain. Hopefully your vet can help you determine the cause.

Pug Bawling

July 10, 2021 by emilyreviews 2 Comments

Prior to getting my pugs Frank and Beans, I had no idea how dramatic pugs could be! I had spent plenty of time around other dogs, but never pugs. I always thought dogs basically could do a couple types of barks and whines and that was about it, noise-wise. It was surprising and funny to me to find out that pugs make all sorts of noises beyond just barking.

I love how expressive pugs are, I think it allows them to “communicate” with us better than most other dog breeds manage to communicate with people. It makes it easier to connect with them on a really deep level when you seem to know a lot of what they are thinking or feeling.

At times though, the ways pugs can communicate can be challenging or sad. Like when they cry. Not whimper or whine, but really cry, like what you would describe as bawling.

If you found this post and you were referencing more ‘regular’ crying, I also have a blog post on pug crying.

Pug bawling

Pugs are more expressive than many other dog breeds, they can cry rather intensely at times. If your pug is bawling they are most likely either very afraid, or in a lot of pain.

Some videos of pugs bawling while getting their nails trimmed have gone viral in the last couple of years. If you look those up, those are a good example of the way pugs can cry when they are scared.

After one of those pug nail trimming videos went viral I had someone ask me if pugs really make sounds like that. My pug Beans never cried. Frank on the other hand was very vocal. He cried, screamed and bawled at different times. He really hated getting his nails trimmed so he would scream when they were getting cut sometimes.

The other time when we dealt with pug bawling with frank was when he was in pain. Sadly, he developed rear-end weakness that worked up his spine. We were able to get him on some pain medication that helped. However, when it first became painful, it happened almsot overnight. Suddenly he was bawling almost non-stop. It was like a really loud, intense, and constant whining. He would stare at us while making the noise, clearly trying to communicate to us that he was in distress.

How to cope with pug bawling really bad

If your pug is bawling because of being afraid of something, then avoid the source of their anxiety if possible. If it’s not possible, such as fear of getting their nails trimmed, you can try to do it more slowly, to let them adjust.

With frank’s fear of getting his nails trimmed, we’d trim just one nail at a time if that’s all we could do before he’d get super upset. This required us to make attempts frequently so that we could get all his nails trimmed within a few days. Of course, if we went too slowly then it would take weeks to get them done.

If your pug is bawling at night or while you aren’t home, that’s likely separation anxiety. Pugs are clingy dogs who want to be at your side 24/7. If you can let them be with you, that will help. If not, leaving an item of clothing or a blanket that smells like you may bring them some comfort. If you kennel them, putting a blanket over the kennel so they can’t see out may encourage them to stay more quiet.

It seemed to help him adjust somewhat to getting his nails trimmed if each experience was a bit less distressing. If we had pinned him down and forced him to cut all nails, it would have been a really distressing experience for him and he’d probably be more afraid of having it done in the future. So, we tried to find a middle ground between taking care of his nails without making it traumatic for him.

If your pug is bawling because of pain, get to the vet as soon as possible. I’d even consider going to an emergency vet if you can’t get an appointment the day that your pug is bawling. Their pain is probably quite severe if they are bawling so it’s important to get them care as quickly as possible.

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