Nothing is more scary that having your dog fall ill. You feel helpless, guilty and worried. You can help your dog remain healthy if you take a bit of time to watch out for health warning signs and if you perform daily checks for any potential health issues.
Once able to look for the very beginning of an issue, your Pug will have a much better chance of a quick diagnosis and a fast recovery. There are also some medical issues that you can avoid all together by following some simple guidelines.
Quick Prevention Rules
There are some quick rules to follow that will prevent certain medical issues to happen to your Pug:
Never allow your dog to overheat, if you dog is in hot weather and begins to show signs of weakness, follow heatstroke prevention care.
Keep all danger products out of the reach of your Pug.
Always check for ticks after being outside
Any swelling, trouble breathing or limping cannot be ignored.
How to Know If Your Pug is Sick
There are many health care topics to be discussed regarding your Pug. Each week, in our Topic of the Week section, we will address a new subject. However, the following are some health issues to keep in mind regarding your dog. See Topic of the Week
Temperature: One of the most effective methods of determining if your dog is ill is to take his or her temperature. The normal temperature of any breed of dog is between 101 and 102 degrees (38.3 to 38.8 Celsius). The temperate must be taken rectally, this will just be done in the gentle way that it is performed with a human baby. If your Pug dog has a fever, this is a red flag warning to bring him or her to the vet immediately.
Discharge: If your Pug is having unusual and excessive discharge from the ears, mouth, nose or eyes this is also a health warning sign. Discharge is normal, however a noticeable increase is a reason to have your dog checked out at the vet.
Oder: Dogs most often smell like...dogs! However, if a dog is sick they may have a strange smell that emits from the ears or mouth. Never dismiss this and bring your Pug in for a checkup.
Breathing: It will be normal for your dog to pant in hot weather or after exercise. You will know what is normal panting and what is something else. If your Pug is panting very heavy, making wheezing noises or seemingly struggling to breath normally, rush your Pug to get medical help.
Pug Dog Diseases
Every dog breed is prone to certain canine diseases and health issues. Just because a dog breed is prone to a health conditions, does not mean that the dog will become ill.
Read about common Pug dog diseases
Safe Instead of Sorry
It is important to understand:
The health issues that Pugs are most prone to
General health issues (some very serious) that can affect any dog breed
Health issues that puppies are specifically prone to