It's not an easy life for short-nosed dogs. The nasal passages and pharynx in their deformed head are narrowed, the turbinates have grown incorrectly, the soft palate is too long and breathing becomes a chore for them.
Some can only sleep sitting up or not at all. Long walks or exuberant romps with other dogs are out of the question. They have to rest for a long time after even some short exertion.
By now, many people realize that such dogs should neither be purchased nor bred. But what to do with those that already exist? How can you make their lives easier? Two pug pros offer some tips on the subject.
A hot day can be deadly
The most important thing to remember: When it's hot, keep a watchful eye on your pet, advises veterinarian Jessica Delfs of the animal hospital in Hofheim, Germany. "In the summer we have many short-nosed patients which have been brought in due to heat stroke," says the throat-and-nose specialist for small animals. In the worst case, the animals can no longer be saved.
Why is this? Basically, dogs have few sweat glands in their paws and so they regulate their body temperature above all through the nose. During panting, the air brought in through the nose as well as through secretion is converted into evaporation cooling.
The warmed-up air is exhaled through the mouth. But with so-called brachycepahlas - small-headed breeds - this system rarely works, partially due to the narrow nostrils and the short nose, the veterinarian explains.
Cool tiles, a refreshing pool
Here's how you can help: "Time your longer walks for the early morning or late evening hours when it is not so hot," says Nadia Wattad of the German Animal Welfare Association in Bonn. Additionally, a dog pool can help cool the animal off. Many like to lie down at home on cool tiles. Cooling mats can also help.
"Create coolness wherever you can," is a tip from Jessica Delfs. There are also cooling vests for dogs. But remember: If you're heading to a hot country on holidays, avoid taking the likes of a pug, French bulldog or boxer with you.
If your short-nosed dog is panting heavily during a walk, you should quickly take a rest in the shade to make sure the pet doesn't collapse. Staggering, heavily reddened, very pale or blue mucous membranes, heavy breathing, slowed reactions and apathetic behaviour are clear warning signs that circulatory collapse is imminent.
"Some simply fall over," Delfs says. First-aid measures include cooling the animal off with water or perhaps cooling pads. And afterwards, taking the animal as quickly as possible to a veterinarian.
Dogs' breathing difficulties usually can be clearly heard. Some owners even need to turn up the volume on their TVs because their dog is breathing so heavily. Many people wonder why their dog can sleep only in a sitting position.
The reason is simple. Lying down, the dog would no longer get any air. Being overweight increases the suffering of the animals above all in the summer. "Just being a bit chubby is enough to worsen the breathing," notes Jessica Delfs. And so, the animals should be kept in trim shape. Those who keep an eye on the weight of their dog can really make its life easier.
Last resort: Operation
If the animal is suffering badly, thought should be given to an operation that can bring great benefit. Operations like nostril correction and soft palate resection have become standard procedures with ear, throat and nose specialists in wealthy countries and can be carried out even on young dogs.
There is no absolute guarantee of success, but veterinarian Delfs notes that afterwards almost every patient is feeling better. Some are even "like a normal dog" after an operation, she says.
Breathing is not the only limitation that this short-nosed breed has. What is especially treacherous is that puppies are symptom-free up to the age of six months. Delfs therefore advises owners to have their pet examined by a veterinarian starting around that age, at best by an ear-throat-nose specialist.
The list of limitations is a long one, ranging from eye problems to underbite to issues with the spinal column. Constant breathing problems can meanwhile put stress on other organs. The heart needs to work harder, and the animals must press harder with their abdomen in order to get as much oxygen as possible, leading to stomach ailments.
When some dogs play, their airways can convert the foam in the mouth to a thick slime so that the animals cannot swallow it and start to vomit. The resulting negative pressure can cause stomach acid to enter the oesophagus.
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