PUG HEALTH

**WARNING**

Xylotol, is DEADLY to dogs.  It is an additive as a sweetner, found in sugar free gum, mints, candies, some toothpaste.  Never let these things out or in reach of your dog, it can have a fatal reaction. Celtic Pugs has heard of one death from a Pug that ate a product with this ingredient. 

Nutrition is THE most important factor of the Pug Breed, or any breed or mixed breed. Celtic Pugs want to emphasize the importance of nutrition especially in the first year of a Pugs life, as to provide the proper nutrition for brain development. No longer is the "Farm Dog" mentality of feeding whatever you have a coupon for, or is on sale appropriate. Many diseases and disorders can be totally eliminated if proper nutrition is first and foremost on the list. Celtic Pugs recommends NutriSource. Not because we get a kick back, or free food. On the contrary we get neither. We recommend the food for its substance, period. Other foods comparable is Nutro's Ultra. Many times even Vet's are confused by what food is best, and some even sale food that in our opinion is crap. Loaded with by-products and corn and other filler material like peanut husk. Read the label, the first ingredient should ALWAYS be a Meat meal, like Chicken Meal, or Lamb Meal, or Beef Meal. Some people do not understand that a "Meal" is actually better than a meat listed first. The ingredients are listed in order of what is most in the food, and before it is cooked down. A meal will hold its protein value, because it is already cooked down. If chicken is listed first, it is cooked down and 80% is water, and you are left with 20% protein. Celtic Pugs strives to be on the leading edge to what is best for Pug nutrition, and we want to only promote what is good for our Pugs and yours.


*Treats and Biscuits should never be given to puppies under the age of one, unless you are training and we would tell you to used Nutro's "sticks" They look like "slim Jim's" and smell like them as well, but you can break them down into tiny little pieces for training. In our opinion no biscuit has the same nutrition as what your dogs food will have, and filling your puppy up with fillers, means they will NOT eat their own food and not get the proper nutrition. Avoid the temptation for treating them. Pugs put on weight very easy and it is very hard on their systems. Being overweight puts an added burden on their breathing and their short legs. It goes without saying that we NEVER encourage table food. ONIONS, GRAPES, RAISINS, CHOCOLATE should be avoided at all cost. Also prescription or over the counter medicines should be kept away at all times.

 

*This is the list of health problems that have been reported in pugs that can have a genetic nature.

The following problems can be found in Pugs. These are general statements and symptoms, but you should ALWAYS contact your Vet to run proper test to be assured. Only a Vet would be able to determine that a problem would be considered "genetic" as there are many instances where the problems can be from neglect, or improper nutrition, or environment.

Heart Disease - is a broad category of conditions both congenital and acquired that affects how efficiently the heart is able to pump blood. Signs of heart disease can include exercise intolerance, poor growth, weight loss, chronic cough, a pot bellied appearance, and even fainting episodes. Many heart problems can be detected on physical exam. A complete workup for heart disease can include radiographs, ECG, blood work, and even ultrasound.

Hypothyroidism - is a decreased production of thyroid hormone. Hypothyroid dogs are frequently overweight, have poor hair coats, irregular heat cycles and poor fertility. Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by measuring thyroid hormone levels in the blood.

Laryngeal Polyps - are small benign masses that grow on irritated vocal cords. They can be a sequelae to an elongated soft palate or airway obstruction. They are best observed under anesthesia.

Liver Disease - is a broad category of conditions affecting the liver. Signs of liver disease can include poor growth, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, a pot bellied appearance, and even seizures. A complete workup for liver problems can include blood tests, radiographs, ultrasound, and biopsies.

Pigmentary Keratitis - is the development of a brown film (pigment) over the clear cornea of the eye. It can be readily detected with a bright light and a little practice. Pigmentary Keratitis can be the bodies response to toughen the cornea in the face of irritation such as Entropion, Distichiae, injury or lack or tears. In mild cases the pigment is laid down on the cornea only at the location of the injury or irritation. Mild Pigmentary Keratitis may resolve when the irritation is corrected. Severe Pigmentary Keratitis is when the eye hyper-responds to an irritation and proceeds to pigment an area of the cornea larger than has been directly irritated or injured. Severe Pigmentary Keratitis can proceed to blindness, and improves very little when the source of irritation is removed.

 

Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) - is a fatal seizure disorder exclusive to the Pug. The exact cause has yet to be found. Dogs with PDE can exhibit seizures, progressive paralysis, periodic blindness, coma, and sudden death. The disease can be rapidly or slowly progressive. Some dogs even have temporary remissions. Dogs with PDE usually fail to respond to anticonvulsant therapy and progress to coma and death or elective euthanasia when symptoms are uncontrollable. To date, the only completely accurate diagnosis is postmortem examination of the brain. A tentative diagnosis of PDE is supported by ruling out other possible diseases, a characteristic white blood cell profile in cerebral spinal fluid that is seen in some PDE cases, or by magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

Renal Disease - is any disorder affecting kidney function. Dogs with chronic renal disease may drink a lot of water produce large amounts of dilute urine; have weight loss, vomiting, and ulcers. Dogs in acute renal failure may stop drinking and produce little to no urine. A complete workup for renal disease can include blood tests, urinalysis, and kidney biopsies.

Seizure Disorders - are any disease that can produce seizures. This includes Porto systemic shunts, Pug dog Encephalitis, hydrocephalus, and idiopathic epilepsy, high temperatures, poisons (including medications (and overmedicating), some foods and insecticides such as weed & feed), environmental concerns, head injuries. Pugs tend to have a lower “seizure threshold than most dogs. The administration of certain common drugs such as Ace Promazine or the brief oxygen deprivation can induce seizures in normal Pugs. Seizures can vary in form from a blank stare to a behavioral quirk, a muscular tick to a complete convulsion. A complete workup for seizures can include blood tests, a cerebral spinal fluid tap, and CT or MRI scans. Be aware that inner ear infections and allergies can cause stroke-like and or seizure like symptoms. PLEASE NOTE THAT VERY FEW PUG SEIZURES ARE ACTUALLY CAUSED BY PUG DOG ENCEPHALITIS.

Pyometra or Uterine Infection - This is a disease that can only affect intact female dogs of any breed. Some breeds have a tendency to develop faster than others. This is another reason that Celtic Pugs adopts our puppies with a spay/neudar contract only. Pyometra affects dogs that were not spayed, and especially older female dogs. Pyometra typically occurs in a female one to two months following her last heat cycle. This article does not give specific medical details, just some warnings as to what it is, and what to watch for. Pyometra has two ways to affect your dog. Either open or closed. With the open, there can be a discharge from the vagina. This means that the cervix is open and allows for discharge to eliminate from the body. While serious and needs Vet attention, the closed is harder to detect, and normally is much more serious. The closed locks in the bacteria, and the uterus will enlarge, and can erupt and spread sepsis throughout the body. Warning signs to watch for is lethargy or lack of energy, depression, lack of appetite, excessive water intake, excessive urination, pale gums. Treatment for this is normally to do a spay, and to remove the infected uteris and ovaries. If it is open, antibiotics can be given under the direction of your Vet. Other treatments can also be advised by your Vet. If you suspect this, don't wait, get into your Vet as soon as possible. Try not to pick up your dog from underneath, or allow her to jump, as this can cause the uteris to rupture. In our opinion, there really is not a good excuse as to why not to spay your dog. If your not a breeder, why allow your girl to go through the torture of a heat cycle. Here at Celtic Pugs, we have all our retired Moms spayed right after their last litter, as an added precaution from this disease.

Common canine diseases most often vaccinated for. Here at Celtic Pugs we use a puppy 5 & 1 shot. First given at 6 weeks old, then the second booster 30 days later, and then the final and third booster given 30 days after that. At this time it is common that your Vet will give a rabies booster, that is good for one year. The 5 & 1 shot covers Distemper, adenovirus 1 and 2, parainfluenza (kennel cough), and parvo. Celtic Pugs policy is that it does not allow visitors until after the first booster is given at 6 weeks. While the puppy DOES NOT have full immunity, it is mature enough to have more protection that when it is younger. Full immunity does not occur until after 30 days after the last booster is given. So travel to the Vet shoud be made with great caution, and taking your puppy visiting is not a good idea. There are several other vaccines that can be given including a 7 & 1 shot, and also an 8&1 booster. The 7&1 booster protects from Lepto. While there is controversy as to what to vaccinate for, we ALWAYS want everyone to engage their Vet as to what they feel is best to use in the area they live in. Lepto is most common in warmer and wetter areas, like the southeast. It can be found anywhere, but in the north, and normally cold Winters it does help to supress. Never allow your dog to drink from standing pools of water. It has also been our understanding that the Pug breed "can" have an allergic reaction to the vaccine using Lepto, and we have seen it first hand. This is why we choose not to vaccinate our dogs for it.

Parvo - is a contagious virus that affects mostly dogs. The disease is highly contagious and spreads from dog to do by direct or indirect contact with feces.  It can be mostly devastating with puppies that are not protected by their mother's antibodies or vaccination. It can be presented in two ways, a cardiac form or an intestinal form. Signs of intestinal are severe vomiting and dysentery. Cardiac causes respiratory or cardiovascular failure with young puppies. Your Vet must intervene immediately. 

Distemper - in dogs tends to orient its infection toward the lymphoid, epithalia, and nervous tissues.  It can be deadly in puppies.  The virus replicates in the lymphatic tissue of the respiratory tract.  The virus then enters the blood stream and infects the respiratory, gastorintesinal, urogential ephithelim, central nervous system, and optic nerve.  Can lead to secondary infection, because the disease causes immunosupression, and lead to pnemonia and encephalitis.

Kennel Cough - (parainfluenza) is an inflammation of the upper respiratory system., it can be caused by viral infections, including canine distemper, canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza virus, canine respitory coronavius, or orthomyxoridae influenza virus, or bacterial infections.  It got its name because it is so easily and quickly spread, especially in a kennel situation.  Both bacterial and virus forms are spread though the air by infected dogs sneezing and coughing.  Can also be spread with contact of contaminated surfaces and through direct contact.  It is extremely contagious, even days or weeks after symptom disappear.  If left go, can lead to Pnemonia.  Should always consult a licensed Vet for care, possible antibiotics and medications.

Infectious canine hepatitis - is an acute liver infection in dogs caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1). CAV-1 also causes disease in wolves, coyotes, and bears, and encephalitis in foxes.[1] The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys. The incubation period is 4 to 7 days.

Canine hepatitis - an acute liver infection in dogs caused by canine adenovirus type-1-CAV-1.  Virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva and nasal discharge of infected dogs.  Contracted through the mouth or nose where it replicates in the tonsils, it then infects the liver and kidneys.  Symptoms can be fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing and tender belly.  Corneal adema and signs of liver disease, like jaundice, vomiting and hepatic encephalopathy can occur.  Severe cases can have bleeding disorders, which may cause hemotomas that form in the mouth. 

Lepto or canine leptospirosis - is a bacterial diseases caused by a spriochete organism called sptospria interagons.  Lepto infection can affect the kidnesy or liver of infected dog.  Results in diney or liver failure or both. It is also contagious to humans.  Rodents are frequent cariers as are raccoons and other wildlife.  Also can be fond in ponds, lakes and puddles, or standing water that are contaminated by infected urine.  Vaccines are now produced for several strains, but do not cover all strains.  The vaccines to come with some risk, as they have shown to have a higher rate of allergic reaction.  You should speak with your Vet about the occurrence of the disease in your area, and if he/she feels the risk of the vaccine outweighs the potential good of the vaccine.  For instance, if you take your dog swimming in a lake or pond, your probably should have the vaccine given to your dog, but if your dog is a Pug that is pampered and spends most of its day on the couch, then it most likely is not needed. 
 
Rabies - is probably the most common disease known.  Most areas, if not all now require that a rabies vaccine be up to date.  And this is with very good reason.  This disease affects the brain, it is deadly, and contagious through saliva.  Not worth the risk of not vaccinating.  Many places offer a Rabies clinic, where the vaccine is given by a licensed Vet, at least in PA.  Usually the cost is much lower, but the same vaccine you get from your Vet.  That does not mean you get to skip visits with your Vet........Regular Vet care helps prevent many diseases.   

 

HOT WEATHER AND YOUR PUG.

 

When the temps rise above 80, every Pug owner needs to be alert and aware of the health risk with their dog. When the temps climb above 85 past 90, neither breed can be outside longer than 5 minutes. Try to limit their activity to early morning and late evening. A good first aid item to have on hand at all times is a spray bottle filled with 1 part lemon juice, three parts water. If your dog gets too much flem build up, quickly take them to a cooler location and spray this mixture at the back of their throat. This helps to break down the flem to open the airwa. While Pugs are more tolerable, they too can pass away from heat stroke or exhaustion. Please have at least one room where air conditioning is available, and have your dog set up in that room, even if you are away. Plenty of fluids should be offered. You may even have some pedialyte on hand. Ice cubes make a great treat, and most dogs love them. They also replenish fluid. Some people will purchase a kid pool, a hard plastic pool. Make sure that you use fresh water each time they use it. You can also fill the bath up a bit with cooler water. The water does not need to be deep, just enough that they can cool off, about 4 inches is plenty. While Pugs can learn to swim well.