Understanding the characteristics of your dog's breed will allow you to care for your best friend easier and more thoroughly because you are aware of any potential health risks. It can positively impact their well-being, especially in their older years because you the prevention you have taken will result in fewer health problems.

While Hip Dysplasia is usually considered a problem restricted to larger dog breeds, pugs are also susceptible. Hip Dysplasia occurs when there is some malformation of the hip joint and the femur bone does not fit correctly, which can cause the dog a lot of pain and in severe cases the dog may need surgery or have to be put down. A proper diet along with a pattern of exercises on a regular basis are the best methods for handling milder cases.

If the pug's nostrils are narrow or constrained, he has a problem called "stenotic nares," which can strain his body and lead to an enlarged heart. This condition's symptoms include breathing through the mouth and foamy nasal discharge, and both can be corrected with surgery.

A condition in which the eyelids fold inward, causing eye trouble including ulcerations and scratches, is called entropion. The condition can be corrected by surgery, which is the most common form of treatment, but noticing the problem and taking care of it can be very critical to your pug's health and well being.

Dry Eyes is another condition that can fairly commonly occur in pugs. Dry Eyes is a deficiency in producing enough tears to keep their eyes nice and lubricated. When not enough tears are being produced by our tear ducts, this may be caused by blockage of the duct or the lack of nerve stimulation, and treatment depends on how severe the condition is.

There are two varieties of demodectic skin mites and they are a common problem with many dogs. In the first type, namely localized demodectic mange, which is that which shows up in tiny areas of skin minus hair, is found in canines less than one year old. The second form, generalized demodectic mange, appears as a large patch of skin that is hairless but healthy; this can appear on dogs of any age.

If you currently own a pug or plan to in the future, there are many health problems that you should watch for; contact your vet if you suspect your dog may have any of the conditions listed above.

Your dog's health is important. And there are some health issues common only to particular breeds of dog. If you're a pug owner, or thinking of adding a pug to your family, you'll want to find out all you can about pug health issues.