Pug Care

Helpful Tips for Proper Pug Care

One of the cutest dogs is the pug and if you are thinking about buying a dog of this breed, you want to know everything possible about proper pug care. This breed, as with others, has unique physical characteristics, therefore, some special considerations. Along with this, it is important to learn about the right diet, grooming, exercise, and even common diseases. With the right level of care, you would have an amazing pet for the entire family to enjoy.

Keep in mind, while some of the pug care information provided below may be overwhelming, making it appear that this breed is difficult and time-consuming to keep, the truth is care is easy and the breed has a great personality.

Folds – When looking at the pug, one of the first things you notice beyond the pushed in nose are the folds in the skin, and sometimes, around the legs. These folds are actually cute and a distinguishing feature of this breed. However, folds can also be great hiding places for dirt and debris, and mucous and tears from the eyes can roll down into the folds. If not cleaned on a regular basis, the dog could be faced with infection or fungal growth. Simply use a clean, warm washcloth to wipe into the folds or use sensitive skin baby wipes. For tiny areas that are harder to reach, you could use a web Q-tip.

Nails – Another aspect of proper pug care is keeping the nails trimmed back. You will be amazed at how quickly the nails grow and if not kept trimmed, the dog would be forced to walk differently, which can be uncomfortable. Additionally, when nails grow too long, they break off, which can be quite painful. Keeping the nails trimmed regularly is important in that allowing the nails to grow long also means the nail bed or quick also grows long. Therefore, trimming the nails back only occasionally would likely mean cutting into the quick, which is painful and it can cause hard-to-stop bleeding.

Teeth – You also want to make sure your pet pug has clean teeth. For ongoing maintenance, provide your pet with a hard bone or you could purchase actual bone products made to clean teeth. If the teeth become too bad, you should talk to your veterinarian about having them professionally cleaned. The cleaning is not really for appearance but for the health of the animal in that when teeth become rotted from a lack of cleaning, infection can ensue and teeth can fall out.

Ears – Fortunately, a pug’s ears do not usually get very dirty but they too should be cleaned. For this, drip a little bit of hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel onto a cotton ball and then gently, begin cleaning the inside and outside of the ears. Most importantly, never use a Q-tip to dig deep, which can rupture the eardrum. If you see dirt or wax near the entrance, then you could carefully clean the area.

Coat – The last aspect of pug care we wanted to address is the dog’s coat. Because the pug has a short, straight coat, this too is very easy. Simply brush through your pet’s coat once a day, which will keep it looking beautiful and healthy. In addition, your dog should be bathed once or twice a month, which would remove excess dirt while not removing needed oils from the skin and hair.