Best Dog Food For Pugs: Rated by Dog Experts in 2018
Pugs are the clowns of the canine world because they are silly and like to show off. Pugs reserve a lot of personality in their sturdy, compact bodies. The AKC describes pugs as small dogs with medium energy.
Pugs love to be held in your lap. They love companionship and will truly be your best friend. They love children and other pets and they aren’t afraid of strangers. They are considered a toy breed which makes them a perfect size for apartment living. Novice dog owners will adapt easily to the sweet and playful Pug.
Pugs are not just all lazy and loving. They love to be exercised and played with. Pugs are smart and need to stay busy. When they are bored, they dig and chew.
If there is a down side to Pugs, it’s that they are stubborn and somewhat hard to train. They have a double coat, so even though they have short hair, they shed a lot. While they are not an overly yappy dog, they tend to wheeze and snore quite a bit.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison: Best Food For Pugs in 2018
* click on the product name to be taken to Amazon where you can check the current price and read customer reviews.
Below you’ll find in-depth reviews of each of the above products.
What’s the Recommended Calorie Intake?
Pugs weigh about 14-18 pounds. According to Petpug.com, Pugs should eat about 50 calories per pound. That translates to 700-900 calories. Pugs are not as active as some other breeds, so this is just a general guide. Monitor caloric intake compared to activity level.
Pug puppies need about an ounce of food for each pound of his weight. Adult Pugs should eat ½ ounce per pound of their weight. Reserve healthy snacks for obedience training.
General Nutrition About Pugs
Pugs love to eat! They eat greedily, and when you combine that with their mild activity level, it makes them prone to obesity. Obese dogs need to lose weight so that it doesn’t place too much pressure on their stout legs. Pugs need a diet that is rich in high-quality protein and carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables. Corn and grains aggravate the Pug’s joint problems.
Some dog food manufacturers sell dog food brands that are low-fat and calorie-restricted. These brands work well to manage weight for Pugs who like to overeat and have trouble running off the extra calories.
Look for dog foods that list meat as the first ingredient. Avoid dog foods that contain meat or chicken by-products and fillers with empty calories.
Common Health Problems with Pugs
Dogtime.com lists a variety of health problems that are common with Pugs.
Cheyletiella Dermatitis, or Walking Dandruff, looks like heavy dandruff. It’s really a skin condition caused by small mites. Chafing will typically appear down the Pug’s back. Cheyletiella Dermatitis is contagious, so when it surfaces, treat all household pets.
Pug Dog Encephalitis, or PDE, is a brain disease that only affects Pug dogs. PDE causes the dog’s brain to become inflamed. It causes seizures and blindness, and it can be fatal.
Pugs are also prone to another condition that causes seizures called idiopathic epilepsy. There is no known cause for these seizures. If your pet is seizing, take him to the veterinarian immediately.
Another serious problem that affects Pugs is nerve degeneration. This disease doesn’t seem to cause Pugs pain, but it causes lack of mobility in their rear legs and backside. This condition impedes jumping and running.
Pugs have large, pronounced eyes. Eye injuries and corneal ulcers are common. Pugs are also plagued by dry eyes. Two conditions, called keratoconjunctivitis sicca and pigmentary keratitis, are diseases that cause eye dryness. Both conditions are treatable, but not curable.
Still other health problems include:
- Eye problems-proptosis, distichiasis, progressive retinal atrophy, and entropion
- Allergies
- Demodectic Mange-a genetically linked mite infection
- Staph infections
- Yeast infections
- Hemi-vertebrae-misshaped vertebrae
- Hip dysplasia
- Legg-Perthes Disease-hip condition
- Patellar luxation-knee dislocation
- Vaccination sensitivity
Feeding Guidelines by Age
Acclaimed dog behaviorist, Cesar Milan, recommends feeding according to this schedule:
- 0-3 months/4 times daily
- 3-6 months/3 times daily
- 6-12 months/2 times daily
- After 1 year/1-2 times daily
Switch to adult dog food at 10-12 months of age. Pugs need ½ to 1 cup of high quality dry food per day.
Editor’s Choice – Best Dry Dog Food For Pugs
Here’s our pick of some of the best brands available on the market.
1. Royal Canin Pug Dry Dog Food
This dog food was designed especially for Pugs. The small kibble is easy for them to eat than other brands. It is made with high-protein chicken meal, brown rice, rice, ground corn, oatmeal, and chicken fat. The formula promotes healthy skin and joints.
2. Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Turkey & Oatmeal
Wellness Complete Health makes this recipe that has turkey as the main ingredient, which is supplemented with oatmeal. It has extra boosts of glucosamine and Omega 3 fatty acids for a healthy coat. It’s a balanced blend that improves bone and joint health, as well as the digestive system. The small kibble makes it easier for Pugs to eat.
3. Holistic Select Lamb Natural Dry Dog Food
Lamb meal is a high-quality protein source for dogs and it’s the main ingredient in Holistic Select Lamb Natural dog food. The formula doesn’t contain meat by-products, wheat, corn, or soy. It has a good balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as Omega 3 fatty acids for a shiny coat.
4. Eagle Pack Lamb & Rice Natural Dry Dog Food
This recipe has a good balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. They are supported by omega fatty acids and glucosamine. It’s made with lamb meal, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, and flaxseed.
Final Choice – Royal Canin Pug Dry Dog Food
The best feature of this dry dog food is that the kibble is especially designed with the Pug in mind. It’s easy for Pugs to eat, which means they ingest less air when eating. While it does contain some fillers, it’s still high in protein and supports common problems with Pugs, like skin and joint problems.
What We Like
- Kibble is designed for the short-muzzled Pug
- High in protein
- Supports Pug’s skin
- Promotes joint health
What We Don’t Like
- It’s made with corn
- It contains soy
- It contains gluten