What's the Best Dog Food for Pugs?

AKC Classification: Toy
Exercise Required: 40 minutes/day

Ideal Weight
Healthy Male Weight: 14-18 lbs
Healthy Female Weight: 14-18 lbs

Breed Summary

Pugs pack a lot of personality into small, muscular packages. They are excellent house dogs and get along with people of all ages. Pugs are happy being an only pet or as a member of a pack and they do well in both city and country settings. They do best in a moderate climate that’s not too hot or too cold, but they can thrive anywhere with the proper care.

Pugs come in three colors: silver or tan with a black face, or all black. They have short, glossy coats that require minimal maintenance, but they do shed. Pugs love to eat and snuggle, which means they are ideal companions but also makes them prone to obesity. Their short snouts can give them trouble breathing in very hot areas.

Physical Traits
Large round head, short snouts, wrinkly face, small but muscular body

Personality Traits
Loving, mischievous, friendly, eager to please

View your pet's nutritional assessment

Health Considerations for Pugs

Pugs have very short snouts and lots of wrinkles on their faces, which need to be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent infection or irritation. Their shortened snouts can also cause eye and vision issues, since there is less space for the eyeballs in the skull. That can lead to dirt and dust getting into the eye.

Pugs are unfortunately susceptible to serious conditions like PDE and hip dysplasia, as well as more minor problems like eyelid and eyelash issues, skin infections, seizures, and allergies. Pugs are also prone to overheating, so be careful to keep your dog cool.

Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE)

PDE is an inherited disease in pugs, although it can occur in other small breeds. This disease is a serious autoimmune condition for which there is currently no cure, and it’s not known why some pugs develop the disease while others do not. Medication and a healthy diet may help.

Obesity

Pugs love to eat, so obesity can be a problem, especially with their small frames. A healthy diet and portion control along with regular exercise can keep them at a healthy weight. We recommend foods that are, or have:

Joint Issues

Pugs can face joint issues like Hip Dysplasia, Arthritis, and Patellar Luxation. Feeding them foods high in the following can help keep their joints healthy:

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome

Pugs’ short snouts mean they have short and often flattened airways, which can cause difficulty with breathing and eating, and exercise intolerance as a result. Obesity makes these symptoms worse, so keep your dog at a healthy weight and avoid allergens that could further inflame the airway.

Complete a nutritional assessment to view individualized diet recommendations specifically for your pet.

Start here

Foods We Recommend: Pug Puppies

When do pugs grow out of the puppy stage?
18 months old

Once pugs have matured and stopped growing, it can be easy for them to become obese, so adult pugs do best with a lower calorie food. Help them maintain a healthy weight with foods like:

Blue Buffalo
Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Potato Recipe Puppy Dry Dog Food

This diet is available at:

Purina®
Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food

This diet is available at:

Instinct
Be Natural Puppy Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food

This diet is available at:

The Farmer's Dog
Fresh, Personalized Ingredient Meal Plan

+ Custom, human-grade diet
+ More expensive than kibble

This diet is available at:

The Farmer's Dog | Save 20%

Foods We Recommend: Pug Adults

When do pugs become adults?
18 months old

Pug puppies are quite energetic and expend a lot of energy playing and growing, so they need a high calorie food to promote healthy development. We recommend the following foods:

Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula Lamb & Potato Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food

This diet is available at:

Nutro
Wholesome Essentials Small Bites Adult Farm-Raised Chicken, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Recipe

This diet is available at:

Instinct
Frozen Raw Bites Grain-Free Grass-Fed Lamb Recipe Dog Food

This diet is available at:

Taste of the Wild
Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

This diet is available at:

Foods We Recommend: Pug Seniors

When do pugs become seniors?
9 years old

As pugs age into their senior years, their metabolisms slow and they become less active, so they need fewer calories. They also may need higher doses of certain nutrients to keep their joints and guts healthy into old age. Look for foods like: