Caring for Senior Dogs: Pug Edition

If asked about their own pup, any devoted pug owner will adamantly express sincere admiration and joy! Who doesn’t remember that energetic little creature, zipping all over the place with careless abandon? That small bundle of love, constantly trying to stuff everything and anything into its mouth?

Unfortunately, they don’t stay young and exuberant puppies forever, a fact that bears no indifference even for one of America’s favorite lap dogs, the lovable pug. Age doesn’t change the situation one bit; our dogs are our kids for life.

That being said, there are several steps you can take to ease this life changing process for both owner and pet!

Though it may be hard to believe, pugs are considered seniors as early as nine years old. It’s especially important to monitor gradual changes in your pet because they will happen slowly over time. Sudden changes in behavior can be one of those subtle hints. Consult your veterinarian for precise advice in this area; prepare yourself for your pet’s changes as best you can!
Keep communication with your pet through close observation. Though his or her ability to hear and see may diminish over time, the natural capacity to display visual signals for you to pick up on probably won’t; it is up to you to pay attention. Try not to make too many changes to your pet’s home environment as vision loss becomes problematic; make an attempt to keep things as familiar as possible. Teach your pet hand signals if hearing loss begins to become an issue.
Subtly alter your pug’s diet as necessary; abrupt changes can easily cause digestive complications – especially in older dogs. Consult your veterinarian regarding these changes for the best possible options. Since your older dog may not wish to be as active as they once were, diminishing calories might be a good idea to keep your dog at a healthy weight.
Try to keep your pug comfortable in his old age! Beds with additional padding will help, as well as a calm, stress free environment. If you find your pet is having difficulty getting around, think about adding a supportive supplement, like DGP, to his/her diet. If your pet has difficulty chewing, wet food may be a better option, but make the alteration slowly and gradually.

Watching your loving pug age, a pet you grew up with, or simply watched grow for so many years, is never easy. Even so, with careful consideration and close observation there are steps we can take to make this process easier! Your pug never stops loving you, regardless of their age.

About the Author

Matt Barnett is an avid dog blogger. When he isn’t working on Dog Dojo, you can find him exploring Sydney and Australia.