Do Pugs have health problems?

1. Hip and/or Elbow Dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from properly meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly.

1. Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE): PDE is a deadly brain disease unique to Pugs. There is little known about this disease, which is basically an inflammation of the dog’s brain, and there is no treatment or cure. The inflammation may cause seizures, pacing in circles, loss of muscle coordination, lethargy, head pressing, agitation or aggression, blindness, and eventually death. PDE can only be officially diagnosed by testing the dog’s brain tissue after they die.

1. Legg-Calve-Perthes: This condition causes the head of the femur (located in a dog’s hind leg) to spontaneously degenerate. Over time, this will lead to erosion of the hip joint and arthritis. A dog suffering from Legg-Calve-Perthes will become lame, limp while walking, and experience pain when moving the hip joint. Surgery is the most effective treatment for the disorder.

1. Stenotic Nares: Stenotic nares are common in brachycephalic breeds — dogs with extremely short snouts like the Pug. Stenotic nares are present at birth and are caused by a defect of the cartilage in the nose. Over time, pinched nostrils can make breathing increasingly difficult. This is hard on the larynx and could eventually cause it to collapse, making breathing nearly impossible and often leading to death.

1. Entropion: Entropion is a genetic defect where one or both eyelids are inverted or roll inward and rub on the surface of the eye. The misshapen eyelid can cause scratches in the eye from foreign objects such as eyelashes or hairs.

1. Others: Pugs can also experience obesity, skin infections, ear infections (because floppy-eared breeds do not drain water effectively), epilepsy, patellar luxation (slipped kneecap), eye problems such as cataracts and dry eye, nerve degeneration (a slow progressing and painless weakening of the hind legs), and sensitivity to heat and anesthesia.