Pug Care
Bathing
Ideally bathing should be every 3-6 weeks. Depending on the weather, need, and preference. If you bathe too frequently you will strip the skin and coat of natural oils that keep the coat soft smooth and shiny, and the skin healthy, and end up with dry skin and lusterless coat. Try not to get water in the ears, you may want to place cotton balls in the ears as a precaution. Washing the face and skin folds can be done seperate from the bath. Make sure you use a shampoo made for dogs, not for people - which can irritate their skin. Make sure you dry your pug off well. If you like there are also wipes and spray conditioners and other grooming products you can use on your pug between baths to keep them smelling sweet and looking good, these are not necessary, but some people enjoy using them and find they reduce odors.
Brushing
Pugs shed quite a bit, and should be brushed regularly. Some people brush daily, others once or twice a week. We recommend at least twice a week, more if you and your pugs prefer it. Brush in the direction of your pugs coat, not against it, and brush gently.
Ear Care
There are many ‘home remedy’ methods of dog ear cleaning out there, from vinegar, to hydrogen peroxide, to mineral oil, to tea tree. If you are going to use some kind of solution in the ear we personally believe in using a pet ear cleaning solution that you get from your vet or pet store, and following the instructions. Also never insert a swab into the ear canal itself, cleaning should be done to the visible external parts of the ear. We clean ears at the same time as we clean the facial folds using a damp cloth or baby wipe.
Face Washing and Wrinkle Care
Puggies often get stinky little faces because of their unique facial structure with folds of skin, they trap particles of food and dirt in their wrinkles. Keeping this area clean is not just cosmetic in terms of keeping them smelling sweet, but also can prevent possible fungus or infection. Some people choose to clean this area using a wet q-tip, however if your pug struggles or resists having his or her face washed this could potentially end up poking them in the eye. If you have a pug resistant to face washing, a warm damp cloth, paper towel, cotton ball/pad, or even baby wipes can and should be used. After you’ve cleaned the area it’s recommended that you apply a very small amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline). This should be done once a week, or more often if needed.
Food
There are many very good quality foods out there on the market. Our recommendation is that you don’t skimp on cost and invest in a good premium dry food of your choice. Some people feed a raw foods diet, either pre-made from their pet store, or made themselves. There is a lot of controvery over raw food diets for dogs, some very positive pro stances, and some very negative. You need to do a lot of research and get opinions both for and against raw feeding before deciding it’s a choice for you. We feed premium kibble and give small amounts of healthy meat, fruit and vegetables to our dogs as treats and snacks. Some people put out a measured portion of food and this is what works best for them and their dogs in maintaining healthy weight, and other people find free feeding, having food available at all times, works fine for them.
Nails
If you have a puppy, clip a couple of nails at a time, a small amount, frequently, so that they become accustomed to nail cipping. Nails should be done as needed, if you find it difficult a groomer will usually do it for a small fee. Walking your pug on pavement will also help wear the nail away. Touch your pugs paws regularly so they are used to having them handled. When you clip keep styptic pencil or powder handy in case you cut the quick and have a bleed. If you want to do your pugs nails but are having a real challenge with clipping, you may want to try a motorized file, drummel, instead. Some dogs tolerate this very well. You may also want a second person to help distract with treats and praise.
Teeth
At your local pet store you’ll find doggy tooth paste, get yourself some and a tooth brush, and voila! There are also loads of things for dogs to chew on that will help keep their teeth in good shape. Some biscuits and treats are specifically made to help clean teeth. Avoid rawhide as it is a choking risk, greenies have also recently been in the news as a choking risk. Just because something is sold for pets in a petstore does not automatically make it safe, use the internet and research products before using them. We like big raw marrow bones from the butcher, pressed beef chews, and firm nylabones, and we also always supervise chewing time.
Please feel free to comment with your experiences and suggestions!
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May 20th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Hello,
I have a pug named Amy she is 6 years old and I have had her since she was a puppy. Just recently she has some kinda nose problem. It’s been dry, cracking and pieces are falling off. It’s really gross, I’ve never seen anything like it. Do you know anything about this? I’m kinda new to health issues. She’s always been a really healthy dog up until recently.
Please help me!
May 20th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
I am in search of a facial cleaner for my pug. Besides warm water is there anything else out there to get rid of his bumps. I am in a desperate search for a facial product for my pug. Do you have any suggestions?
May 27th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
I’d suggest going to the vet and asking their opinion, especially regarding the nose issue. I’m not a vet so I can only make suggestions and I am not an expert. For more accurate information it is best to talk to a vet.
The bumps may be pimples, so you could try to use a 40-60% rubbing alcohol solution, but be careful not to get it in his eyes.
Again, the best thing to do is phone up your vet. They will be able to answer some of your questions over the phone, and may recommend an office visit.
June 25th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
I have a 5 month old female pug who is wonderful, except when we try to cut her nails. We were able to the first couple months, but now she SCREAMS! It’s the most horrible sounds ever. My boyfriend can’t even hold her still. Any suggestions, besides taking her to a groomer? We’ve tried food, wrapping a blanket around her, peanut butter…you name it, we’ve tried. I’m desperate!
Melissa
July 2nd, 2006 at 5:20 pm
I would take her to a groomer or a vet, that will show you how they handle a dog who is really frightened, and who is willing to give you tips and tricks on what to do and what not to do. Some groomers won’t do this, because they want you to come back! Your vet may be your best bet, call ahead to find out if they can show you how to clip her nails yourself, tell them you really want to be able to do good nail care on your puppy but are finding it challenging and would really like how to learn how to do it properly. Ask specificially if there is a vet assistant who can show you how it’s done. It will be worth it to get a hands on lesson. Also make sure you keep a styptic pencil or powder handy so that if you do clip quick you can stop bleeding instantly, and treats for afterwards. Good luck!
September 17th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
hey there.
My girlfriend and i have two pugs, 8 months and 15 weeks, One is fawn and the other red fawn which is very rare for a pug thats why we snapped him up. Are older pug mac has small dark patches on his skin but we would like to know more about what it is if you maybe know? I can send some pics of them. We were told its heat spots and should go away but id like to know for definite as i dont want him getting sick again. He is a vegan too, allergic to protein.
October 6th, 2006 at 1:58 am
Hi, my pug has a red bump under eye (between his eye and nose). It is getting larger and has started leaking white pus mixed with blood when we wipe it. Is this a pimple? What should we do.
October 29th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
your pugs a vegan?
i wanna get a pug where from??
xx
October 31st, 2006 at 9:24 pm
“REMEDIES FOR ITCHING, PATCHES, HOT SPOTS, MANGE, ALLERGIES…”
I have a male pug, 1 year old, that has Demodectic skin mites (often called demodectic mange). To fix that problem, I give him an immune system booster powder called DINOVITE, for him to fight off the mites.
To kill the mites, I would recomend using NUSTOCK. It is the ONLY thing that I have found that works. And its only $15…you can get it on Ebay.
My pug also has bad allergies. To fix that, I keep everything as CLEAN as possible, such as steaming the carpets, dusting furniture, keeping mold out of the bathroom…etc…ALSO, I give him ZINC vitamins, Bathe him in OATMEAL BASED SHAMPOO, and after his bath, I mix V05 HAIRDRESSING with about 1/4 cup of WARM WATER all over his coat. This works well to soothe his itching, and keeps his coat healthy.
If your pug is itching a lot, or has patches of hair loss and hot spots on his hips, or back, then thats a sign of the mange. If your dog is itching severly behind his ears, tummy, armpits, and biting his feet, then thats a sign of allergies.
Hope this helps someone!
November 22nd, 2006 at 8:57 pm
I would like to know if it is a wise investment to get pet insurance for my pug. If yes, can you please recommend a company that you think is best to use. I have read about a few of them.
Thanks
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:14 pm
That depends, If you have the money in savings to deal with any medical emergency that may come up for your pug. You may be better off without insurance, and paying for medical treatment outright. If you don’t have access to money that would cover an emergency, and would find it easier to pay a monthly amount even if the over all cost may end up higher than paying for medical treatment outright, insurance may be right for you. Which will cost less? Impossible to tell, it’s a gamble. You may pay for insurance and have a healthy pug that will never need to use it. You may not get insurance, and end up spending more money on a medical emergency. Insurance can give you peace of mind, and that may make it worth it for you, if you don’t have savings available for medical emergencies for your dog. Personally, we choose not to go the insurance root, and pay for treatment. Most of the time it will cost you less. I don’t know which are better. You want to make sure you understand what the insurance covers, and what it doesn’t cover, before you invest.
Best to your pug, no matter what you decide.
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:17 pm
To various above comments, we can’t really give medical advice, best to consult a vet, and no the pugs eat meat and kibble with meat products, but love lots of veggies and fruits too.
Best place to find a pug is check recommended breeders from the kennel club, or adopt a rescue dog!
December 15th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Hello, I’ll be becoming a proud puggy owner very soon … I just had a question in regards to wrinkle care, at what age should this begin, and is scented (baby vaseline) vaseline okay to use?
Also, do you have any tips that will help in house breaking?
December 20th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
I have a female pug in my house for nine months i am takecare her so much i love her similar her is my daugther, now she is so heavy she is weight about 10 kilograms and she was sick on her face skin and her neck ,a little on her leg and on her stomach i brig her to the doctor many times he is inject for treatment her skin but now he is inject thrid time. she dose not get well i am worry in this case i do not know how can i do to make her get well i think i must to chang the doctor .I am forgot i am usually to take a bath i take a bath two days a time because she is sleep with me .Please answer me soon thank you so much.
I have a female
May 12th, 2007 at 1:48 am
I have a question for you all. I know this is a tough topic but I want to do the right thing. My pug is 6 months old and I am wondering if its ok to breed her with another Pug when she goes in heat the second time. I live in a small town that doesn’t have many Pugs and alot of people have commented they would love to have a Pug Puppy. Would this be wrong to just have one litter and keep the great breed going or am i just adding to more animals. I am really thinking this thru and need as many comments about this as I can so I can make the right decision before she hits her first heat. Thank youl
May 12th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Jennifer, there are a lot of things to consider when deciding to breed your pug, there are always risks. There could be complications that may endanger the life of your pug, or her puppies, or both. There is always risks involved in breeding a dog. Most responsible breeders do genetic testing of the dogs to be bred to insure that the puppies will be healthy and free of genetic disorders. Most breeders recommend waiting to breed a bitch until she is in estrus closest to her 2nd birthday, not before. Your dog has a better chance of being able to bear healthy puppies safely once she has completely matured. Breeding at an earlier heat than this increases possibilities of problems. Puppies are cute, but a lot of work, worming and vaccinations, medical checkups. There are other issues that I haven’t really gone into detail with. I would suggest you really research carefully before you decide. You may be lucky, have everything go great, have happy healthy puppies. You may be unlucky, and lose your dog and the pups in this process. Make sure at the very least that you discuss this with your vet before making a final decision. All the best, let us know what you decide, and how it turns out.
September 10th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I have been feeding my rescue pug a mostly raw diet the last few years and it has agreed with her. Her skin is better, her waistline is better, and her teeth have cleaned up. Raw feeding for pugs is great!
September 14th, 2007 at 11:20 am
my pug puppy is 7 months old and has a really red face he’s lost most of the hair on his face and now his head is red and scaby and he also has red bumps under his armpits and on his legs we’ve tried malaseb and it doesnt seem to help we cant take him to the vet now due to lack of money but if this persists we will as soon as we can, please is anyone knows what this might be and let me know if there are any remedies.
October 9th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
i have a female pug, she is almost two years old. her skin is so dry she scrathes all the time. i was wondering what i can do for this. also i bath her once a week because she has started stinkin. what can i do i know she is miserable. my vet says she is fine but i know how she acts and she doesn’t have fleas. please help.