by Yasmin | 8 Jun, 2023 | Blog, News, Pug Health
Written by Helen McKee (MRCVS), PDWRA Vet Advisor:
I thought I’d make my regular pug-health article a little different this time, partly in honour of both Lily and Missy whom we have lost in the last 2 months, but also to illustrate the number of (pug related/over represented) health issues of pugs.
From left to right: Lily, Missy (centre), Doug (back), Hugo, Suki (front).
To begin with, all 5 have had at least two dentals!
Doug came to us in September 2018. He had a large sub-dermal mast cell tumour, BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive airway Syndrome) and pigmentary keratitis (pigment on the cornea). He immediately had the tumour removed, along with BOAS surgery at Langford, Bristol Vet School’s Referral Hospital.
Since then, he has had surgery on both eyes to reduce exposure ( bilateral medial canthoplasty), and a further mast cell tumour removed.
Doug has also had chronic nasal infections (investigated with CT) as a result of a fistula between his mouth and and his nose.
Hugo we have had since young. In the 1st two years ,we used all of the £7,000 annual insurance premium on him, a total of £14,000! Something pug owners may be familiar with, or need to bear in mind when considering budgeting for potential medical cover and costs.
Hugo had seizures ( MRI), sudden onset wobbly back legs ( MRI- hemivertibrae revealed, along with malformations of his lumbosacral area) and a corneal graft to mention a few, all of which are pug related health issues.
He has had an overlong palate reduced ( BOAS) and unfortunately, in the last 2 years lost an eye when a foreign body penetrated his cornea.
Hugo has also recently developed a serious gut disease called PLE (protein losing enteropathy) , which is seen all too commonly in pugs. He is presently well controlled with immune suppressive medication but is unlikely to make it to the end of the year.
Missy and sister Lily only came to us in June last year, when their Mum knew she was dying and asked us to look after the pair for the rest of their days. We originally fostered Missy in 2019, who
then was adopted by the lady whom we became friends with, and who bequeathed us Missy and Lily.
Missy was almost completely blind due to pigmentary keratitis caused by (untreated) dry eye ( KCS-Keratoconjunctivitus Sicca). The thick pigment almost completely covered both her corneas but she managed very well and loved her walks despite very little vision.
In the last month her health deteriorated rapidly with swelling of her abdomen. Ultra sound revealed a tumour involving her stomach, bladder and spleen, and we put Missy to sleep at the beginning of May. This cancer was not to do with being a pug, but just very unfortunate.
Lily, however, came to us last June with significant ataxia ( wobbly back legs) and faecal incontinence due to spinal cord compression ( so called pug ‘myelopathy’) which many of you will have had the misfortune to have experienced. We knew she didn’t have too long and lasted until February this year, when Lily sadly could no longer walk and her bladder stopped working.
Finally, our dear Suki, whom we adopted in June 2018 at the age of 8 years. We thought she would have a very limited life span and here she is, still with us five years later at the grand age of 13!
When we picked up Suki, she had great difficulty breathing. She turned ‘blue’ just trying to walk.
Again, Suki was operated at Langford, and had BOAS surgery. Unfortunately, she had many secondary changes including grade 3 laryngeal collapse, which we manage with appropriate exercise.
Suki also had severe dental disease, so has had to have all her teeth removed, hence her lolling tongue, however she manages well with soft food.
In January 2022. Suki developed a non-healing eye ulcer, and because of the poor quality of her cornea, she had a conjunctival flap.
We count every day with this feisty character a blessing!
From left to right: 8 year old Doug,11 year old Hugo, 10 year old Missy ( black), 12 year old Lily and 13 year old (tongue out!) Suki.
RIP Missy (May ’23) and Lily (February ’23)
So in summary, the following are conditions that are seen in pugs due to their breeding/shape or are conditions we see over represented in pugs, and we have seen in all of our pugs:-
Dental Disease (February ’23 newsletter)
Seizures (April ’23 newsletter)
Mast Cell Tumours – over represented in pugs (December ’22 newsletter)
& for future newsletter articles:-
Eyes (exposed cornea, dry eye, corneal ulcers) and treatment
BOAS and treatment
PLE – over represented in pugs
Spinal conditions caused by malformations of the spine/compression of the spinal cord
What I wanted to highlight is the number of health issues pugs are prone to, which is worth considering before giving a forever home to a pug, as well as the importance of insurance or funds to be able to pay for, what can be, very expensive tests and treatment.
Helen (MRCVS)
PDWRA Vet Advisor.
For other pug health articles please see:
Pug Health & Wellbeing | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association (pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk)
by Yasmin | 7 Jun, 2023 | Blog, Rescue Stories
In her past life Lucy had been used extensively for breeding. She was extremely underweight when she was surrendered to us late last year and we reported on her progress in the new year after some amazing care and attention by her fosterer Anne, overseeing her much needed medical treatment.
Lucy, was finally in good shape to go to her forever home!
This is a description of her happy ever after from her devoted dad, Chris. Lucy also has a new name, Molly!
“She arrived still underweight but had a great start with her fosterers. She was on 4 meals a day, so our other 2 also didn’t mind having 4 meals a day too! She must have had to fight for her food before she was handed over to the PDWRA, and was very guarding of her food, although she’s a lot better now.
She soon settled in with our other pugs, Arthur and Bunty who get on brilliantly with her.
She’s now 7.5kg, and on 3 meals a day and daily walks which she loves. Molly is great with other dogs and has made friends with other dogs in the village.
Arthur is 13 and can’t walk very well, so he has a buggy, Molly often jumps in if she gets tired or just wants to snuggle with Arthur (they adore each other).
Like any pug, she’s like Velcro and will follow me or my partner from room to room. She can easily climb the stairs, but has to be carried down as she’s unsure about that part! She also gets carried upstairs every night even though she can walk up, it’s just become her routine.
Molly often sleeps under the covers, loves to be warm, and I can’t imagine life without her.”
If you could provide a forever home by adopting a pug in need, please apply at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/adopting-a-pug/
If you would like to help a pug along its journey by fostering, please apply at:
https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/fostering-a-pug/
by Yasmin | 5 Jun, 2023 | Blog, In Memoriam
Sheldon Pugglewin Passed away 03/06/2023.
Sheldon was the life and mischievous soul who would always make sure his presence was known at every PDWRA party, be it the Halloween parade or the Christmas pug parties.
He would make so many laugh with his antics 😂
Sadly, the day before his 10th birthday he started to develop seizures and we tried medications but sadly to no avail, and he passed away on Saturday 03/06/2023.
I knew his days were coming to an end so I took him to his favourite park, Woodbank Park, where we would meet other people from the pug groups and gave him his last bowl of ice cream whilst we watched the sun together.
I never knew how much Sheldon became my whole life or how much love one little pup could give to so many people just from the smile on his face.
Sweet dreams my little boy.
Sheldon Pugglewin 24/04/2013 – 03/06/2023
We send our sincere condolences to Jen and Sheldon’s family.
******
To pay tribute to your sadly lost and beloved PDWRA pug on our dedicated In Memoriam web page,
at: https://pugwelfare-rescue.org.uk/category/in-memoriam/
please email your story, or whatever you would like to say about them, with photos,
to: yasmin.t.pdwra@nullgmail.com
by Yasmin | 3 Jun, 2023 | Blog, News, Volunteering
Interview with Jane, Voluntary Area Coordinator for Cornwall, Devon and Dorset in the South West.
Our Voluntary Area Coordinators (VACs) provide an essential service to the charity, coordinating and running the process around taking in surrendered pugs, home checking new adoptive families and matching pugs to their adoptive homes.
Jane with her partner, Jon.
Can you tell us how you got involved in the charity?
I have always had a passion for dogs. Alongside work, I have volunteered and fostered for a local dog rescue. I was asked to foster a pug and the rest as they say is history! I started with the PDWRA in 2013 and initially i was asked to help coordinate and organise a sponsored walk to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the charity. I was pleased but surprised how many people turned up to support such a great cause.
Who do you work with in the local area?
I work alongside Coordinator Cara, who looks after Somerset and Avon – we can chat about pugs for hours. I also work alongside Maureen in Devon. Maureen’s voluntary experience originated many years ago from the Wales and West Pug Rescue, and her pug knowledge and connections are always valued.
As a national charity, I work with all the area coordinators. We work together as a team to help each other find suitable foster or adoptive homes across the country. Sometimes I also cover other regions for VACs when they are away on leave.
I also couldn’t do the role without all the invaluable support offered by home checkers, transporters and fosterers in the region.
What does it take to be successful in the role?
I think you have to be a real ‘people and pug person’ -happy to communicate in a non-judgmental manner with a broad variety of people. Each family wanting to surrender a pug has a unique set of circumstances and some of them need a lot of support around the emotional stress of giving up a pug. On the plus side, it’s great to oversee the pugs on their journey into adoptive homes. Because many of our pugs have such longevity, you often stay in touch with families for a long time over the pug’s lifetime.
You need passion, patience and dedication for the role. It obviously takes time, so that is a factor, but it is incredibly rewarding.
Please tell us about your grumble?
I currently live with three elderly pugs, two original rescues, Poppy and Teddy, that were fosters for my local rescue, and Percy who is from the PDWRA.
I have fostered many dogs and pugs over the years, often those that are at the end of their lives or who have medical conditions that make them difficult to rehome – I call them the ‘wonkies’. I like to be able to give those dogs a happy home for their final years.
Would you like to add any other comments?
I’d like to thank all those supporters of the PDWRA, who help pugs, particularly those in the less visible roles such as our home checkers, and transport volunteers. Last but not least my very patient family!
Also, if you are thinking of volunteering for PDWRA but are not sure, then please do talk to the trustees or your local VACs about it. There are so many roles available including for VACs, and all volunteering helps save and rehome a pug in need.
Volunteering for PDWRA
Fostering
Volunteer Opportunities at PDWRA!
by Yasmin | 2 Jun, 2023 | Blog, News, Volunteering
Volunteers Week takes place 1-7 June every year. It’s a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make, and to say Thank You!
PDWRA is solely run by volunteers, therefore we wanted to take the time to thank each and every one of our fantastic volunteers, without whom we would not be able to do what we do for Pugs, often in desperate Need!
From those at the front-line facilitating pug surrenders, fostering and rehabilitating with expert care.
To those matching and transporting pugs to fully vetted forever homes.
To those spreading the word about the PDWRA’s work, at Events, on Social Media, our Website and Newsletters.
THANK YOU! From PDWRA and All the Pugs!
