Pug Diet

Pugs are often described as the small dog with a big personality. Fans of the breed appreciate their loyal and loving natures as well as their woeful faces. However, pugs come with a history of breed-specific health issues, most of which are related to their short snouts which often lead to compromised respiratory systems. And those breathing problems are complicated by the second most common pug health complaint: obesity. Pugs are crazy about food, and they will wolf down just about anything offered to them. A healthy, balanced diet is one of the best ways for owners to keep health problems at bay and ensure their pugs live long and happy lives.

  1. Basic Pug Nutrition

    • A balanced pug diet has three main components: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Proteins provide the nutrition needed for normal growth and development and beef, chicken, lamb, liver and animal byproducts should make up roughly 50 percent of a pug's diet. Pugs play hard and carbohydrates from foods such as wheat, barley, rice and cornmeal keep their energy levels up. Fats help keep a pug's skin and coat in healthy condition and most experts recommend diets that include about 15 percent fat from sources such as animal products, corn or oils .

    Commercial vs. Fresh Homemade Food

    • Opinions vary over whether a pug does better with a fresh homemade diet or commercially prepared food that's been supplemented with nutrients tailored to a small dog's needs. When opting for commercial pet food, experts recommend reading the labels to ensure that some type of protein is the first and most plentiful ingredient. Also, pug owners should be aware that commercial foods contain animal by products such as ground up animal bones, blood and organs as well as significant percentages of filler with no nutritional benefit. On the other hand, preparing homemade meals for a pug can be time consuming and expensive. However, owners can make sure their pets are getting quality ingredients without fillers and preservatives. Stewed chicken or ground turkey mixed with rice are two dishes often recommended for those who cook for pugs. Home cooking also allows owners to add fresh vegetables into their dog's diet. Carrots, cut green beans, sweet potatoes and zucchini are said to be pug favorites.

    Dry vs. Canned Food

    • Although some vets and breeders say a diet of high-quality dry food contains all the nutritional elements any dog will ever need, dry food is the one dish a pug might leave unfinished. Instead, they seem to prefer semi-moist dry food which not only contains moisture but often has higher amounts of sugar than regular dry food. Pugs tend to gobble, often swallowing without chewing and semi-moist dry foods seem to work better for them. Most pugs would probably prefer straight canned food,but it has the highest fat content. The general recommendation from experts is a mix of premium dry and canned food or dry food mixed with a homemade recipe.

    How Much is too Much?

    • Rather than one meal a day, the usual routine for larger dogs, most experts recommend two smaller meals for a pug. As for the size of those meals, whether the pug is dining on a can of supermarket food or a home-cooked gourmet pug meal, the amount will differ from dog to dog. For a young male weighing 20 or more pounds, a half cup of dried food mixed with two or three ounces of wet food is probably a good meal. However, for a 15-pound female that's eight or nine years old, a meal half that size may be enough. If a pug is putting on weight, gradually trim down its meals. Usually the amount of food to feed a pug depends on size, age, activity level and the climate in which the dog lives. Pugs are extremely sensitive to heat and they tend to be less active during warm spells and summer months. They will need plenty of fresh water when it's warm, but their meals might need to be cut back slightly.

    Pug Snacks

    • Because they are prone to obesity, experts urge owners to avoid the temptation of sneaking them snacks under the table at dinner time. The best between-meal snacks are non-fat dog treats, either commercial brands or homemade. There are many recipes for healthy dog treats available online. Some pugs also enjoy pieces of orange, watermelon or small pieces of carrot as a snack between meals.