What Do Pugs Usually Die From?

Pugs are amazing companion dogs. They form a meaningful bond with you. They become so intrinsically associated with your lives. They become family to you. Have you ever imagined what it is like to lose your pooch? You might have not imagined this, and it’s okay. But, it’s crucial to know about pugs when they reach old age. How do you take care of your pug then? It’s vital to understand how you can provide comfort to your fur babies at the end stage of their life. Let us know more about this.

How Long Do Pugs Live?

Pugs live for anywhere between 12-15 years. The life expectancy of a female pug is 13.2 years compared to a male’s 12.8. Under good conditions, your pooch can live anywhere between 15-18 years. The oldest living pug is 18 years old, who is known as King Tug, the pug from the United States of America. 

If you talk about recent evidence of pug’s age, there is plenty of evidence to state that smaller dogs live longer than larger dogs. But on a general basis, I think pugs rank somewhere in the middle or lower in terms of life expectancy.

The life expectancy of your pooch depends on many factors. You have to take care of your pug’s diet. You have to train your pug to be active. If you take some adequate measures, your pug will live a healthy life. 

How Long Do Fat Pugs Live?

Pugs are not active dogs. They tend to be lazy at times. This is when you have to act as a responsible parent and let them be out of their bed. If your pug is obese, it can suffer from severe cardiac problems. This means due to health problems they would not be able to live for their desired age of 15 years. 

How Do I Know If My Pug is Dying?

You will be seeing a lot of signs around you to know that your pug is in its last moments of life. There would be some strong signs that will be in front of you that will indicate your pooch’s ill health. These signs would include- loss of interest, extreme fatigue or loss of energy, bowel control loss, loss of appetite. 

Death is nature’s harsh reality and yet it is a process. You should not fight it. It’s better to make your pug mentally ready to face it. In the last moments make sure you can take care of your pug with all your heart. However, also look for certain signs that will be visible to you if your pug is dying-

Pug stops eating

Pug stopping eating can be a sign that they are not well. You will see that your pug who would love to eat generally will refuse to eat. Your pug will even refuse to eat the tastiest of treats. 

It must be frustrating for you as a pug owner to see your pooch rejecting food. It can also be that your pooch’s organs are shutting. This can lead to their hunger getting removed.

The reverse however can be true that just because your pooch has stopped eating, it is dying. To rule out all wrong possibilities, please visit a vet. 

Pug remains socially detached

When pugs approach death, you will see the remaining aloof for a while. You will see them being busy in their world. It is also quite unnatural for them to do so. Pugs love to have companions whenever they go. When they stop wanting companions, this could mean they are dying.

Your pug will not be excited when you come back home. They will only remain in their bed. They will stop following you. They will prefer to remain in their bed. These are some signs that say your pug can be dying. They have lost interest in doing things.

When death is close for your pooch, they will remain detached. You will feel like your pooch is becoming more physically and emotionally distant.

Pug being fatigued now and then

Your pug would not be able to do a lot of physical activities. They would like to sit at one place or lie at one place and not do anything. It would look so severe that your pooch won’t even want to lift its head. 

Your pooch can be so fatigued that you might have to help them with their daily ablutions. Maybe carry them so that they can pee. Fatigue can be caused due to many reasons, that includes, anaemia, lack of energy, or poor circulation. Look for your pug’s gums, make sure they are not white and pink. If they are white, it can mean that your pug suffers from anaemia.

Try to press on your pug’s pink gums and see if it turns white. If it does then it would mean your pug has anaemia. 

Do not have proper coordination and balance

Your co-ordinated happy pooch can lack steadiness in their feet. It can be difficult to move from one point to another. It can be caused due to impairment of the brain and not having good food. 

It’s a painful sight to see your pooch struggling. But, there is nothing much that you can do. Some research suggests a sudden unprecedented ear infection can make your pooch lose his balance.

If this is happening when your pooch is not in their old age, it can be a serious problem. Please visit the vet to ascertain the problem and why it is happening.

Pugs struggling to breathe

The other sign that will be prominent to you is that your pug struggles to breathe. Pugs as a breed they struggle to breathe anyway because of the heat. This could be a much bigger problem when they are old. So, please watch your pooch when they are old. They can suffocate if you ignore the problem.

Some signs of uneven breathing can be:

This is also one of the hardest things to see your pug endure. You can see them being helpless. And, there is nothing you can do about it. 

This is the time to say goodbye to your pooch. This is where you need to understand that your pug might leave you any minute.

Pugs seek extra comfort

You would see more signs of your pooch seeking comfort from you. They would seek unlimited belly rubs. They would come to you in odd times wanting love and comfort from you. It can also be a sign that the end of your pooch is near.

Pugs by nature are companion dogs. See their nature. They can just demand some belly rubs out of love. It might not be them being near to death.

Pugs can have muscle tremors

Your pooch can shake vehemently. It can be because your pooch hasn’t had food and water for so long. Their body would need some glucose to be fit and fine. Because of dehydration, your pooch can shake once in a while. It might feel to you that they are having seizures.

Your pug can invariably start shaking and twitching. Try to take them to a bed and prepare a warm bed for them. This will provide them with some relief.

Pug peeing in bed

You have to watch out for a pug accidentally peeing in bed. This can be a sign of their internal organs being weak. When your pooch’s internal organs stop operating properly you see them taking many pee breaks. When your pug attains old age, try to get your pug a waterproof bed. 

Pug losing weight

Pugs are also a part of geriatric dogs. Losing weight in old age is very common. Pugs can become very old and thin during old age. Weight loss however can be caused due to different types of malignancies, cancers, or other health conditions that can be responsible for your pooches discomfort.

Pug’s vomiting

Due to a virus or infection, your pug can start vomiting. Pugs can be pretty much dehydrated and might vomit a lot. The digestive system of your pooch might be facing some problems. And, all the undigested food might make your pooch more nauseous. 

If your pug for some reason cannot digest anymore food and throws up vigorously. It is a sign that your pooch is very sick. You might try to take them to the vet to know more about the digestion problem. 

What is the Oldest Living Pug?

There are claims made regarding a pug in South Africa. It is said that this pug might have lived for as long as 27 years. It makes him the easiest long-living pug. But as far as the oldest living pug as per records is concerned, King Tug the Pug, can be considered as the longest living pug. He has lived a whopping 18 years,

A study however has been published that tries to connect both humans and dog’s ages. To find your dog’s age in human years, all you need to do is multiply your dog’s age by 16 and then add 31.

By that logic, King Tug the Pug can be 95 years old. This is a universal formula and does not account for physiological differences between dogs. 

What Changes Do Pugs Experience When They Grow Older?

A pug reaches senior years when he is about 7-9 years. Many parents of furbabies miss the signs of their pug growing old. Some signs that your pug requires senior care:

Tips to Prolong Pug’s Lifespan

Truth be told, no pug parent or dog lover wants their pooch to suffer. As parents of our fur babies all we want for our pugs are healthy lives. We are all willing to go the extra mile for our pooch. 

But this love should motivate us to take extra care of our pug. Make sure that our pooches get all the benefits they need to remain healthy. There are certain tips that you can apply to increase your pooch’s lifespan.

Choose the right breeder

Choose the right breeder to choose a pooch that has all the vaccinations and paperwork done. Make sure that your pug is properly dewormed. That your pooch has taken all the medications and vaccines on time. If you do not consider these things, the pooch that you choose might have a host of medical problems that you won’t be able to treat.

Give your pug proper vet care

Take your pug to the vet often. Keep yourself updated with your pooch’s health history. Make sure your pooch is healthy. Do not miss the vaccination dates. Make sure you vaccinate your pooch right in time. 

Be very perceptive about your pooch’s health problems. Watch out for their responses and behaviour. Make sure that your pug receives the best health care in case they suffer from any health issue. 

Nutrition

Pug obesity looms as a problem in the US today. Human obesity is seen as a problem, but you will be shocked how fat our pets are? First of all, make sure that your pooch has gotten adequate nutrition. Don’t get lured by certain foods available at cheap prices. There can be many reasons why certain food items are cheap. You have to look out for signs to see whether what you are buying is good or not? If your pooch becomes obese for some reason, just outright reject the food product.

Exercise

Along with good nutrition, make sure your pooch has regular exercise. It might be the case that your pug might not be able to keep up with your exercise. Just make sure that your pug has some form of mental stimulation and fun. 

But under no circumstances you are allowed to compel your pug to do a lot of exercises. As you know pugs have a windpipe that is narrow in one end and that can cause a lot of breathing problems for your pooch. Minimal play and a bit of mental stimulation should be sufficient health activities for a pug.

Summer alert

Pugs pant a lot during summers. Your pooch can suffer from summer-related injuries. Humans and dogs are not alike, unlike humans, dogs pant to lower their heat levels. They sweat through paw pads like humans. But that is just one body part. 

Sweating helps a person to lower or limit their body temperature. In the case of a pug that may not be the case that’s why pugs can suffer from head injuries. 

Water alert

It’s a request to watch your pug when they are near a water body. If your pug is anywhere near a water body that has a water level above its waist that can be dangerous. Make sure to keep an eye on them. Many pugs have met their ends this way. 

If pugs are in a pool, they should never be alone. Either you allow them to be out in a shallow pool or be with them and watch them. Exposure to water can also lead to several health issues for their wrinkly skin. They can suffer from bacterial infections in their wrinkles. 

Genetic testing

This is a boon for many human parents of pugs. Genetic testing can help you to identify the health complications that your pooch can most likely face in the future. These tests likely look at the history of a pug and tell you about the health complications that your pooch most likely has. 

Making Last Moments of the Pug

Many human parents do not believe that there will be a time when their pooch will leave them. That can be a problem, you might not know and the moment can hit you. You can do several things to make the last moments memorable.

Final Words!

Your pug will eventually die someday. All you can do is accept the fact that death is impermanent. Spend all the extra time you have with your pooch in old age. Make sure you provide your pug with the best life they deserve till the end.