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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!

Pug Snoring

May 5, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Why Pugs Snore

Snoring is usually the result of trying to breathe while the airway is obstructed. In pugs, their airway is small because they have flat faces and short mouths. Many pugs also have elongated palates.  Basically, their facial structure increases her odds of snoring compared to other types of dogs.

Is it normal for pugs to snore?

Yes, most pugs snore a least occasionally.

Interestingly, my pug Beans had a harder time breathing than Frank did. Yet Frank snored more than Beans. Neither of my pugs snored all he time. I’d say they snored less than half he time that they were sleeping.

All about pug snoring - what causes it, how to reduce it, how to cope with it and when to be concerned about it!

Causes of snoring in pugs

As I mentioned above, pugs are predisposed to snoring due ot being brachiocephalic dogs. There are other factors too though. SOme of those iclude:

The position that your dog is laying in can impact their snoring. Some positions keep the airway more open than others. Positions like laying on the back can increase the odds of the airway being obstructed and snoring resulting.

Allergies. If your dog has allergens, you may notice them snoring more when their allergies are flaring. Like people, if we have allergies it can inflame parts of our face which puts pressure on our airways and makes it harder to breathe quietly.

Obesity can be a factor. The heavier a pug is, the more pressure there will be in their neck and chest. If your pug is overweigh, trying to get them to a healthier weight may reduce their snoring.

Illness. If your dog is sick, they may snore more than usual or harder than usual until they recover.

Age. As dogs age, their muscles naturally weaken. When this happens to the muscles surrounding the airway, it may result in more pressure landing on their airway.

How To Stop A Pug From Snoring Or Improve It

Adjust their sleeping position if they are laying in a way that obstructs their breathing. You may try placing a small pillow under them to keep pressure off their neck. Gettig them a dog bed with a ledge they can rest their chin on may result in them naturally falling to sleep in that position.

Treat their allergies. You may be able to determine heir allergies through observing what they are exposed to when heir symptoms flare. If not, you may have to see our vet for allergy testing. Once you learn what they are allergic to, reducing their exposure to those allergens may reduce their snoring.

Watch their weight. Overweight or obese dogs are more likely to snore, so if your dog has extra weigh they may snore less if they lose weight.

Keep a clean environment. Keep their bedding clean, vacuum regularly and watch the air quality in your home to reduce allergens.

Stenotic nares surgery can open heir nasal passages and improve breathing in general, including a night.

Keep the room comfortable. Many pugs will breathe worse if it’s ho or humid. Using an air conditioner when it’s hot or humid can help them breathe easier.

Video of pug snoring

This is Frank snoring particularly loud (for him) one day.

When to be concerned about pug snoring

  • If their gums get really pale while they are asleep, his could be a sign that they aren’t getting enough oxygen.
  • If your dog seems to struggle to breathe while asleep.
  • If the snoring is excessively loud.
  • If he snoring has a really sudden onset.

Pug sleeping with owner

How to cope with pug snoring

If you or others in he house find the pug snoring disrupting, you may try to reduce the snoring using the tips listed higher up in his article.  If the snoring can’ be improved or fixed, here are some tips for coping.

Use a white noise machine. White noise machines can help somewhat drown out other noise, making noises like snoring less disruptive. You may try different types of white noise (Fan/wind sounds, storm sounds, rain sounds, etc) to see what works best for you.

Change where the dog sleeps. This is tough with pugs because pugs are clingy and want to be with their people. However, if you just can’t sleep while your pug is snoring, they may have to start sleeping with another family member or in a kennel or dog bed in another room.

All About Pug Shedding

April 26, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

There are affiliate links in this post.

Do Pugs Shed A Lot?

Pugs shed a fair amount, and shed all year. Double coated pugs will shed year-round, but will also shed more twice a year when they lose their winter coat for the summer, and again when they lose their summer coat so that their winter coat can grow in. Single-coated-pugs will experience a more consistent amount of shedding year-round.

If you want a pug that sheds less, consider getting a black pug as they usually have just one coat and shed less than other colors of pugs.

Female pugs who are in heat may experience more shedding than usual.

Why pugs shed so much and how to cope with it

Are Pugs Single Coated Or Double Coated?

It depends on the pug! Most black pugs have a single coat, while fawn, silver and apricot pugs usually have a double coat.

Double-coated dogs shed more than single-coated dogs because they have more hair.

Pugs are said to have up to 600 hairs per square inch, vs just 100-200 hairs per square inch in some other dog breeds. They have really dense hair! This is part of why pugs shed so much.

All dogs have a shedding cycle, but the pug shedding cycle is shorter which is also contributes to why they shed so much. Not only do they have more hairs per inch than other dog breeds, they also cycle through “sets” of hair more frequently.

How To Manage Pug Shedding

  1. Brushing your pug regularly will help to pull off loose hairs, and to keep those hairs from getting spread around your home! When your pug is transitioning their seasonal coat, you may want to brush as frequently as daily. Outside of those heavy-shedding seasons, brushing them a couple of times per week may be sufficient. You could brush daily though if you really want to minimize how much hair falls in your home.
  2. Diet. Your dog’s fur will stay healthier if they are fed a high-quality diet.
  3. Invest in a good vacuum. A vacuum that has a lot of power and is specifically designed to be great with pet hair can make a big difference. A high-end vacuum wasn’t within my budget when I had my pugs. I’ve heard the Dyson Animal vacuum is amazing, but I couldn’t justify spending $500 on a vacuum. However, even just buying a more average-cost vacuum that is specifically made for pet hair helped. I have the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Vacuum Cleaner and thought it was noticeably better at picking up pet hair than other vacuums I’d owned at a similar price point.

That’s really about it! For the most part, the amount of shedding that your pug does is something to accept rather than something to try to ‘fix’ or change.

What brush to use for pug shedding?

When we first got our pugs, everyone was talking about the furminator as they claim to be desheddign tools, better than regular brushes. It did seem to really effectively remove hair from the pugs, too! However, one day after brushing Frank I realized he was bleeding. He had a few moles or skintags and the furminator bristles are so hard that they had actually cut him when I brushed those areas. I quit using the furminator after that.

I’ve since read that deshedding brushes like the furminator aren’t ideal for double-coated dogs anyway. Instead, it’s generally recommended that you use an undercoat rake to help loosen up any hair that needs to be let free, and the a regular pin brush to remove the hair.

When To Be Concerned About Pug Shedding?

Shedding is usually a natural part of being a healthy pug, and most pugs will shed more when the weather transitions from warm to cold, or cold to warm. If you find that your pug seems to be excessively shedding, it could be a cause for concern.

Some factors to consider:

Is your pug is shedding excessively while experiencing high levels of stress. Like humans, dogs can experience hair loss due to extreme stress. So if you notice an increase in shedding around a stressful event, that could mean their hair loss is due to stress rather than healthy shedding.

Is your pug showing signs of allergies or skin issues? Sometimes these cause hair loss, so if you see shedding alongside allergy symptoms, allergies may be causing the shedding.

Does your pug’s hair look and feel healthy? If it feels rough, wirey or just otherwise unhealthy, you may need to improve their diet or seek medical attention.

Does your pug have bald patches or unusually thin sections of their body that should be covered in fur? This is a sign of unusual hairloss and you should see a vet.

How To Keep Pug Fur Off Your Clothing

Honestly, pugs are such a clingy breed that it’s really challenging to keep hair off you regular clothing. Not letting your pug on the couch or your bed would help, but I think my pugs would have felt abused if I didn’t let them be on te furniture with me! So, for the most part, we just accepted that we’d get pug fur on our clothing when at home. However, we of course couldn’t have pug hair on our outfits all the time.

Keep your ‘nice’ clothing away from your pugs. When Ryan was working in an office, we keep his clothing hanging up in the closet and he’d put it on just before heading out the door to keep it free from pug hair.

Protect your vehicle. If you take your pug for a ride in your car, either putting a blanket (or towel) down in their seat before the drive and cleaning it up later, or vacuuming your car after can help. Otherwise, they’ll likely shed in your vehicle seat and then in the future your clothing will have fur on it after you sit in the vehicle.

Lint rollers are a pug-owners best friend! They make small ones that you can fit in your purse or glovebox for use on the go.

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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.



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