by Yasmin | 10 Jun, 2025 | Blog, Pug Health
Article by Helen McKee (MRCVS) PDWRA Vet Advisor.
How can I tell if my pet still has a good quality of life?
All pet owners want their companion to have a good life. As your pet gets older, or if they’re diagnosed with a serious illness, you may worry that they’re suffering and have more bad days than good.
It can be easy to tell if your pet has a really good quality of life – they’re still playful, active, comfortable and enjoying their food normally. Sometimes, it’ll be very noticeable that your pet is in pain and is suffering after an accident or a sudden illness. But it’s more difficult to notice problems when your pet’s quality of life gradually changes over time.
As owners, we get used to the ways our pets slow down as they age and the extra medications they might need to take. It can be difficult to tell when things start to deteriorate and, emotionally, we might not want to admit that they’re struggling.
It’s important for us to be aware of when things might be getting too much for our pet. It means we can start to prepare ourselves and ensure that our beloved friend won’t suffer.
Measuring your pet’s quality of life
Quality of life isn’t measured by just one thing; it takes into account all of the parts of your pet’s mental and physical wellbeing. This means it can be difficult to measure.
Your vet can help you measure your pet’s quality of life. But your vet only sees your pet during an appointment, and they know you are best-placed to understand how they are getting on day to day.
If their quality of life is getting worse, this doesn’t always mean that it’s time to say goodbye. It’s always best to visit the vet if you notice a change in your pet, even if they already have a diagnosis of a serious illness. There may be other medications or management techniques to help your pet. If other options are not right for your pet, then your vet can give you guidance on when it might be the time to say goodbye. It is particularly important if your pug has a terminal disease and medication cannot keep them comfortable.
You can use the pointers below to regularly check on your pet’s quality of life. It’s good to do this regularly as it can help you spot when things are starting to change.
- Are they in pain?
- Do they shake, tremble or pant, even when they’re resting?
- Do they hide away and not want to be touched or stroked?
- Does it seem to you that their pain medication has stopped working?
- Are they struggling to get around?
- Do they struggle to get up without your help?
- Are they unable to exercise, even just gently?
- Do they lie in the same place all day?
- Do they often fall over or lose their balance?
- Do they pant more than usual or seem to be struggling for breath?
- Are they eating and drinking normally?
- Have they lost interest in food, even turning down their favourite treats?
- Are they being sick or suffering from diarrhoea?
- Are they losing weight?
- Are they going to the toilet normally?
- Is your dog struggling to let you know when they need to go outside?
- Is your pet pooing and weeing where they rest?
- Can they keep themselves clean?
- Do they smell of wee or can’t keep their bum clean?
- Does their fur look duller and less healthy than it used to?
- Has the way they behave changed?
- Have they stopped greeting you when you come home?
- Are they hiding or sleeping in strange places?
- Have they stopped being interested in what’s going on around them?
- Does your pet seem unhappy or unwell in themselves?
- Do they seem confused in normal situations?
- How are you coping with looking after them?
- Do you feel overwhelmed by caring for them?
- Are you worried that you can no longer meet their needs?
- Is it becoming more stressful to give medications to them?
- Are they coping overall?
- Are they having more bad days than good days?
- Is your pet finding being medicated very stressful?
- Put yourself in your pet’s position – how do you think they would rate their quality of life?
If the answers to many of these questions is yes, it’s a sign your pet is struggling. You can use these questions as a guide to see if their quality of life is changing. You may feel like you’re able to help them through the changes for a while longer or perhaps that it’s time to consider having your pet put to sleep.
You also need to consider what is important from your individual pet’s point of view. If, at their best, they love to chase their ball, then it will have greater impact on their wellbeing if they can’t do this anymore. Other pets may be fairly happy as long as they’re comfortable and not in pain, even though they can’t race around as well as before. As well as considering the questions above, make a list of your pet’s favourite activities. Think about whether your pet is able to do those activities as normal, less than normal but still acceptably, or not at all. It can help to keep a diary or a log to track changes over weeks, or even months.
What should I do next?
Now is the time to speak to your vet. Talk to them about your pet’s quality of life and what your concerns are. The vet will be able to guide and help you make the right decision.
In Summary
Unfortunately, it is rare for a dog to die peacefully at home without some intervention.
We have to decide if there are more bad days than good, and also ask ourselves, are we doing the best by the pug, or are we being selfish.
For me, I feel it is a gift that we can give our beloved companions, so there is no suffering (unlike humans!) and I personally would rather say goodbye a little earlier than leave later when they could be suffering.
Wishing everyone the strength to make the difficult decision we all need to make at some stage as an owner of a pet.
Helen McKee (MRCVS)
PDWRA Vet Advisor.
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For other informative pug health articles, please see our web section: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/pug-health/
by Yasmin | 10 Jun, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
Way back, I have wanted to have a dog, particularly a pug but I felt blessed to have neighbours who have a grumble and allowed us to care for them when they went away. These were great times. My partner was also very keen to have a dog, but a big one, particularly a German shepherd. After hours of discussion, we agreed that fostering was a good option for us, and a pug would be more suitable to manage. We completed the online forms to be a foster parent, and had a home check and I think at the time I was not expecting to hear anything again. But less than a fortnight later, I received a call from PDWRA asking if we could foster a little girl for 2 weeks who was about to be surrendered. Of course, we said yes, and arrangements were made between the multiple volunteers to make this happen – they really are heroes – the volunteers put their own lives on hold at a moment’s notice, for free to save pugs.
As our foster girl was coming a long way, we met halfway in a service station. The volunteers passed on the information available, and I sat in the back of the car cuddling and soothing a frightened little black pug who cried all the way home.
Once we were back home, we let her explore and she stopped crying and ate her tea. She had a little walk and was a bit more settled. When darkness fell, the howling started, so we spent the night soothing her. Luckily, nothing wrong with her appetite! After a few days, she was slowly becoming more confident, as we were too. After a week, she seemed more settled and happier and the howling stopped. She was enjoying walking with other pugs, exploring the woods, seeking new sniffs and the outdoor sunshine. I recall a particular day, she had just eaten, worn out from a walk, and she jumped on my lap whilst I was on the sofa and just sat still using me for warmth. This was the moment I realised that she could not go to another home. Arrangements were quickly made, and we formally adopted Martha. I love that we failed at fostering!
Since then, Martha has become the boss – Breakfast is 8am and dinner is 5pm and there is no deviation permitted! Carrot lunch is 12.30 and must not be forgotten. We never knew how strict a pug routine was! She has suffered from the usual pug things, BOAS surgery, eye ulcer and usual pug tummy issues, but thankfully quick to bounce back. We have adjusted to life with a full-time pug jointly enriching our lives. She comes camping with us, loves the beach and exploring. Martha loves company and lucky to be spoiled rotten by grandparents, she walks daily with the grumble in our neighbourhood and is always first to lead us into coffee shops and restaurants, where she behaves impeccably. She will do anything for treats which we do need to watch!
The PDWRA are amazing, they help change lives for many, and we remain ever grateful. I have transported other pugs and love reading about pug adventures from other fosterers and adopters. Each pug is a lovable force that deserves to live their best life.
by Yasmin | 10 Jun, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories
Why pugs, why rescue, why the PDWRA? This for us began a long time ago, my eldest son (now 16) fell in love with pugs when he was 4 after meeting a very handsome pug on the Isle of Wight called Dave. A love affair began, which never dwindled, however we could never own a pug because my husband was allergic to pet hair. Fast forward many years and a divorce later, also back on the Isle of Wight, a pug was on holiday in the caravan next to us !! It is fair to say that my son did not relent in his persistence over owing a pug & fate has a funny way sometimes. When we returned home, the research began. I knew I wanted to rescue a dog, there was no way I was buying a puppy when so many dogs need a forever home and the most important part was that whoever came our way, their name had to be Dave.
I researched local pug rescue teams, found the PDWRA and applied. Thankfully we passed all the interviews and were placed on the adoption register. A call came through sometime later asking if we would consider a lovely boy with wonky legs and with a resounding ‘yes’ from our little family of 3 Dave became ours.
I knew nothing about pugs, a lot about dogs but not pugs. I have totally fallen in love with their wacky little characters, their need to be with you, the fact that they are as excited to see you if you have gone into the garden and come straight back in or if you have popped off to the shops, the fact that they have to be on your lap if you are sitting down.
We were smitten! We utterly adored Dave and his existence in our lives changed a lot of things for the better. Sadly, he became very ill, very quickly, a year after we adopted him and was put to sleep in December of 2023. I have known heartbreak but nothing on this level, so whilst scrolling the PDWRA Facebook page in the following January, getting my fix of puggy beauties, I saw a post asking if anyone could give a cute, tiny little innocent looking lady a home! Cue Sandra ….. a sign from Dave I think! She is a pint-sized hurricane of a dog…
We adopted our chaotic 4kg bundle of energy, also known as Sandra, in February 2024 and have not looked back. She is hilarious, stubborn and totally adorable, she absolutely has us wrapped around her little paws. She is our world and owns us, it is not the other way around and our lives are infinitely better with her in charge of our house.
by Yasmin | 5 Jun, 2025 | Blog, Rescue Stories, Volunteering
Finding the right match of pug to adopter can mean literally going the extra mile for the pug in question, and this was the case for Wilfred.
PDWRA have a network of Volunteers who generously give up their time to transport pugs for us, collecting from owners, being part of a transport run, or taking to waiting homes.
In Wilfred’s case he needed to join his adopter near the South Coast, so getting him from his Foster Carer in the North, all the way there, was going to be a challenge!
We already had another pug, Michael who was due to be rehomed further along the South coast to Wilfred’s destination. His journey was already arranged and he was due to travel by train from London. So it made sense for both pugs to travel together, and our Volunteers stepped up to get Wilfred to London in good time to catch his train.
Both Wilfred and Michael travelled in style down to Brighton, attended by Michael’s Foster Carers, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
It’s not usual for pugs to travel by train and we don’t insist on first class ! However, we do welcome those who are able to give up some time on the odd occasion to drive a pug, or pugs, to their destinations.
At the Station they were met by their respective adopters who were overjoyed to make the acquaintance of the new members of their families. Everyone was beaming!
It is such a rewarding way to participate, albeit in a short but important part of a pug’s life.
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Wilfred, at the end of a long day & just the beginning of his new adventure!
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Volunteers are welcome in all parts of the country, and it may be that the trip could be incorporated into a planned visit for business or a family occasion. One of our Volunteers even dropped a pug off to its Forever Home on her way to a funeral !
We are grateful for the time freely given by our Volunteer transporters; pugs could not join their respective fosterers or adopters without their support.
If you are able to help a pug along its life journey by transporting between homes, sometimes in a convoy for longer journeys, please complete the online application form here:
Volunteering for PDWRA | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association
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by Yasmin | 4 Jun, 2025 | Blog, News, Volunteering, Fundraising
💖This week is National Volunteers’ Week, and the perfect time for PDWRA to celebrate its ongoing gratitude to ALL Volunteers! 💖
🤗 THANK YOU ALL! 🤗
We could not help Pugs in Need without the voluntary contributions each & everyone makes with their skills, experience & time. Our costs are covered solely by public donations & fundraising!
Volunteers contribute to all stages that enable rehoming, from Trustees in Management to the regional rehoming co-ordinators (Voluntary Area Co-ordinators – VACs), who facilitate local pug rescue/surrenders, health & welfare assessments, rehabilitation where needed, and organise the onward placements to the pugs’ best-suited homes.
This is where regional, local, Home-checkers & Transporters are essential, volunteering their time to achieve the goal of rehoming Pugs in Need safely and securely.
Additionally, to support these operations, are the dedicated small teams for the PDWRA Facebook Mega Auction group’s Fundraising, plus Communications, managing PDWRA’s Website and Social Media, keeping everyone informed & updated.
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Here’s a recent, wonderful example of Volunteers going the extra mile to get pugs along their life’s journey to their Forever Homes. In this case, Wilfred & Michael reaching their respective Forever Homes.
Read the full story with more photographs, here: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/thank-you-pdwra-volunteers-transporters/
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Volunteers are welcome from all parts of the country.
We are grateful for the time freely given by our Volunteer Transporters, as well as Home-Checkers; Pugs could not join their respective Fosterers or Adopters without them!
To find out more about Volunteering to Transport or to Home-check or Foster, please see our webpage: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/volunteering-for-pdwra/
For other dedicated Voluntary roles to consider. See our Vacancies at: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/volunteer-opportunities-at-pdwra/
