There are few dogs more lovable and magnetic than the Pug. With their sweet squished faces and soulful brown eyes, pugs are a popular toy dog breed that has captured hearts around the world. Unfortunately, pugs can suffer from certain disorders that can shorten their life span drastically. So why do pugs die early?
Why Do Pugs Die Early?
Pug Dog Encephalitis and Brachycephalic Syndrome are two health issues specific to pugs and other flat-faced dogs. These health problems can cause pugs to die early.
We’ll discuss these two health issues further below as well as what you as a Pug parent can do to protect your furbaby.
#1 Pug Dog Encephalitis
What is Pug Dog Encephalitis?
Pug Dog Encephalitis, also known as Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis, or more simply PDE, is a fatal brain disease occurring primarily in Pugs but more rarely in other small breed dogs.
PDE causes swelling of the brain. It is an autoimmune disease passed down genetically. Pugs diagnosed with PDE must not be bred since there is a high chance their offspring will inherit the disease.
PDE is aggressive, sometimes causing death within weeks of diagnosis, but some dogs can have a longer life expectancy with supportive care.
Pug Dog Encephalitis occurs in 1.2% of pugs and is more commonly found in fawn females. It usually occurs in young dogs, seven years and under.
What Are The Signs Of Pug Dog Encephalitis?
PDE can present with symptoms similar to other, less serious issues, so it’s important to always get your dog seen by a vet if they start to behave strangely.
The most common symptoms of PDE are:
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Ataxia, or abnormal gait
- Disorientation
- Collapsing
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Behavior changes
What Is The Treatment For Pug Dog Encephalitis?
Unfortunately, PDE is always fatal, and there is no cure. There are measures that can be taken to make the dog comfortable, though.
The treatment of PDE focuses on minimizing the symptoms. Medications may be prescribed to reduce the seizures some PDE suffers may experience. These anti-epileptic drugs can have severe side effects, so the dog will need to be monitored closely by a veterinarian during treatment.
Steroids and immunosuppressive drugs are also commonly prescribed to help minimize inflammation and suppress the immune system’s response.
To prevent PDE, a genetic test can be performed on dogs before they are bred to determine if they have the genetic markers that predispose them to PDE.
Since PDE is genetic, it is imperative that dogs with these markers be removed from breeding.
How Is Pug Dog Encephalitis Diagnosed?
A veterinarian can diagnose PDE according to the symptoms the dog is experiencing and by ruling out other medical issues that present with the same symptoms.
While this process of elimination diagnosis is reasonably accurate, the only way to know for sure if the dog is suffering from PDE is by biopsy or necropsy of the brain tissue.
Some tests a veterinarian may perform to get a tentative diagnosis are:
- Blood tests
- Imaging, such as MRI
- Cerebrospinal fluid tap
A biopsy is a very invasive procedure, especially for brain tissue, so diagnosis by other testing methods is preferred.
Pug Dog Encephalitis is a serious disease for pugs, with no current treatment besides palliative care. With more research, scientists are hopeful they can find a cure for PDE to prevent the deaths of young pugs in the future.
#2 Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
What is Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome?
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, or BAS affects this breed. It is the abnormalities of the airway affecting brachycephalic dogs.
A brachycephalic dog is one that has been bred to have a shorter skull. These breeds include Boston terriers, boxers, French bulldogs, and pugs.
Brachycephalic dogs have shorter or flat muzzles, and because of this, the structures in the mouth and throat can be deformed.
While not usually fatal, untreated BAS can result in more serious medical conditions like heat stroke and heart