My 9-year-old pug pants and struggles to breathe on walks, what to do?

Unfortunately pugs are extremely brachycephalic dogs and it is not rare that they cannot breathe properly and fall unconscious due to lack of oxygen. You will need to take your dog to a veterinarian for assessment and an exam. The extremely flat face and nose causes two problems: the opening of the nose is often obstructed and can be surgically enlarged to help with breathing. Also the soft palate is often way to big as there is no snout, and often obstructs the larynx, cutting off the air flow. This can be surgically adjusted. Both these conditions can also cause heart failure. Please take your dog to a veterinarian or veterinary surgeon for an exam soon.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some common issues in pugs and other small breed dogs that can result in trouble breathing include heart disease and pneumonia. There are other conditions such as inflammatory and infection diseases that can affect dogs. I highly recommend that you have Leo evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Good luck and have a good night!

If Troy is having breathing difficulties that are directly related to his heart problems, then he likely has pulmonary edema, or fluid in his lungs. This can be treated with the drug Lasix, but it must be carefully dosed under the advice of the veterinarian who is familiar with his case, as it can cause issues with dehydration and kidneys if not properly monitored. It should also be considered whether Troy may be having breathing problems because of his anatomy, as Pugs often have difficulty breathing and can easily overheat in very warm weather.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sandy. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She may have a respiratory infection that is affecting her breathing. You can ask her veterinarian for an anti-anxiety medication for her to take in advance of her appointment if necessary. I hope this information helps!

This is a common issues in brachycephalic dogs like pugs, bulldogs, and frenchies. Many of these breeds require surgery to help assist them to breathe normally so depending on your dogs breed. This may be a consideration. Otherwise I would encourage your dog to sleep on its stomach with its head elevated. Make sure she is not overweight either as this will make the condition worse.

This situation does present challenges. Certainly keeping her lean is best for her in the long run. Too much added fat just makes breathing more difficult. A picture of your dog was not included, so I am not sure what her nose and nostrils look like, but a surgical procedure can be done to make the opening of the nostrils wider if they are very constructed. This can improve their ability to breathe without having to open mouth breathe. If your vet has never mentioned it, or maybe does not do the procedure-many vets do not- you can ask them for a referral to a veterinary surgeon who does. The surgery is basically like a cosmetic surgery but the benefits can be great. Other things to do are to reduce the humidity in your home, use a light fan where she rests, don't walk her too far or during hot parts of the day. It's great that she has a mom who is so willing to help her.

A consult would be a good idea in this case. If the vet was referring to laryngeal paralysis, a consult will help you figure out if treating medically vs surgically is the best option. If your dog is having difficulty breathing, blue gums or tongue or collapse is noted, get her to the emergency hospital immediately.