Alice White
The life span of a pug depends on its lifestyle, diet, quality of care. On average, they live about 14 years. But in favorable conditions, animals live up to 20 years. Females, according to statistics, live 1-2 years longer than males.
How to Increase Your Pug’s Lifespan
One of the main problems encountered in the breed is the tendency towards obesity. Pets love to eat, so you need to control the amount of food they eat. It may seem that the pet is hungry, although it has recently eaten. In such situations, the owner pampers the animal with treats between feedings or increases the daily portion. As a result, the animal overeats gains excess weight, which in turn leads to diseases of the joints, heart, and breathing problems. Disease shortens the life span of the animal.
Therefore, it is important to focus on the pet’s health, which largely depends on the quality of food and living conditions. It is necessary to draw up a balanced diet, taking into account the level of activity of the animal and its age, and feed the pet according to the schedule. Certain foods in natural feeding and dry food should be avoided. These include foods containing gluten, white rice. The basis of the pug’s nutrition is a protein diet from such types of meat as beef, lamb, lean poultry. Be sure to include vegetables in the diet. You should not accustom your pet to food from the human table. Additional vitamins and minerals will not harm if the dosage is determined by the veterinarian, taking into account the type of feeding.
Pugs don’t always die of old age. Pets are prone to cancer, neurological and urological diseases. The risk of developing certain diseases, such as cancer, is reduced by spaying or neutering your pet. Some bitches have a hard time giving birth, die on their own, or give birth to stillborn puppies. Less commonly, pugs die from congenital diseases (heart disease). High mortality of representatives of the breed due to infectious diseases, which the body of young individuals does not always cope with. Older individuals are prone to arthritis.
Representatives of the breed are sensitive to cold and overheating, therefore, during the hot season or on cold days, you should limit the time for walking. Walk your pug for at least 30 minutes twice a day. At the same time, it is important to provide the pet with physical activity. Even indoors, you can captivate your pet with an outdoor game, purchase an interesting toy for him. Regular exercise helps to improve the health of the animal, but excessive exercise leads to breathing problems.
How many years the pug will live in the family is unknown, but it is up to every owner to extend the time spent with the pet. Taking care of your health involves visiting a veterinarian, routine examinations, vaccinations, deworming, and a flea treatment. It is also important to take good care of your pet’s coat and skin. Thoroughly cleanse and regularly examine the folds of the skin, ears, otherwise, skin diseases develop. It is necessary to monitor the hygiene of the oral cavity, brush your teeth with special toothpaste, regularly give the animal edible treats or toys that help clean the surface of the teeth.
