Pugs have been long known as wash and wear little dogs with the good fortune of having minimal grooming requirements. While these delightful little compact dogs may not need the grooming of a toy poodle, they still have their own grooming needs.
For the Pug the grooming includes keeping their nails trimmed, which I recommend you cut them once a week to keep them nice and short. Be careful not to cut the quick and make them bleed. You can use regular dog clippers or a nifty little tool called a Dremel, which uses sandpaper disks to grind the nail down. Use whichever your Pug is most comfortable with. However, don't expect complete compliance as I have yet to meet a Pug that enjoys having it's nails trimmed.
Another grooming requirement for the Pug is to clean the fold of their nose roll daily or every other day. I use a unscented baby wipe to do this. Simply, wipe out the deep fold and if this will help keep it clean and keep bacteria and yeast at bay. If you find that your Pug's nose roll appears slightly irratated you can sprinkle a little Gold Bond powder in it. Just be sure to avoid getting any in the Pugs eyes. If your Pugs nose roll has a foul odor or looks red and inflamed, seek counsel with your Vet as this could indicate an infection.
Pugs can be prone to having dry skin, so in order to avoid over drying their skin I recommend you not bathe them more than once a week. I prefer to bathe them every other week and use a nice coat conditioner made for dogs. Unless your Pug wallows in mud or comes in contact with something foul smelling, there really isn't a need to bathe them more often. After bathing try and minimize the use of a blow dryer as this will dry out their coat and skin even more. Instead hand dry them with a towel and if it's warm outside let them run and play afterward. Never let a damp Pug outside after a bath if it's cold.
Clean your Pugs ears at least once a week. If your Pug is prone to excessive build up in it's ears your Vet may recommend cleaning it's ears more often. Use a ear cleaning solution found at most pet supply stores or one provided by your Vet. Squirt the ear solution into the ear and rub the ear so it loosens any debri. Next take a unscented baby wipe and gently wipe out the debri.As part of your grooming regiment, it's important to check your Pugs eyes for any scratches. If you notice your Pug "winking" or one of his eyes is watering more than usual, it could mean that he may have scratched his eye. Some eye injuries are very obvious and you can see a milky white area on the eye, while others are not so obvious. If you suspect an eye injury take your Pug to your Vet immediately. Additionally, run your hands over your Pugs body daily to make sure you don't feel any unusual lumps or bumps. Since Pugs can't do self exams like women can, it's important that we do this for them. This is particular important for the Pug that is getting on in years so that we can watch for any benign or malignant lumps that may appear. While not all that common, it's just a good idea to check them over. In doing so, you will also be checking for burrs or ticks that may have attached themselves to your Pug during your last jaunt in the woods.
We are not Veterinarians, just fellow Pug owners ourselves. If you ever suspect a problem with your Pug, always consult your Veterinarian.
Kelle Arvay is owned by several show Pugs and writes about life with them on her blog:
http://www.journeywithpugs.blogspot.com © Copyright 2008
www.ArvayPugs.com You may reprint this article as long as the authors bio and links are included.
