How long do pugs live? Pugs typically live to 13-15 years of age.
The life expectancy of the pug lower than typical life span for a small dog — most small dogs typically outlive big dogs, often surviving well into their teens.
Pug life expectancy is strongly influenced by their unique breed characteristics and genetics, impacting how long the average pug will live.
Their brachycephalic faces and screw tails are a distinctive feature of the breed, but can have a negative impact on their life span.
Pug Life Expectancy
One consideration when choosing a breed of dog is the typical life expectancy, obviously it is impossible to accurately predict exactly how long your pug will live, however the average life expectancy for pugs can provide some guidance regarding how long your pug will likely live.
In this article, we’ll look at how long do pugs live and what common health issues can impact the life span of pugs.
Pug Life Span
As you probably know, different dog breeds have varying average life spans, ranging from under 10 years to the mid-teens and longer.
A dogs average lifespan is affected by many things, such as the size of the dog (large breed dogs tend to have shorter life spans than small dogs) and the overall genetic health and health issues common to the breed.
How long do Pugs live? According to the American Kennel Club the typical life span of Pugs is 13-15 years.
Compared to other purebred dogs, the Pug ranks in the middle range in regards to their life span. Given that the Pug is a smaller dog, they don’t have an exceptionally long life span, but it isn’t short eithe.
There are some important considerations that could potentially impact an a pug’s life expectancy.
Pug Health Concerns
Pug’s are a brachycephalic breed, meaning they have a ‘squashed’ or flatter muzzle, with a short nose. This makes them more susceptible to some chronic health problems, particularly those related to their breathing.
It’s important to get your pug from an ethical breeder who only breeds with healthy dogs to minimise the risk of your dog having health issues
BOARS – brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Dogs with BOAS can suffer from a variety of problems related to reduced airflow to the lungs. They include:
- shortness of breath difficulty exercising, including exercise-induced collapse
- overheating, including heatstroke
- low blood oxygen levels
- sleep apnea
- vomiting and gagging.
- ‘reverse sneezing’ which is a sign of soft palate deformities.
Some of these problems, such as heatstroke and collapse, can be life-threatening and lead to death if a dog does not receive immediate veterinary care.
Eye Issues
The pug’s large, prominent eyes can increase their risk of eye injuries and chronic eye conditions like dry eye and several other eye problems commonly seen in pugs such as
- Lagophthalmos (inability to fully close the eyelid)
- Tear film deficiency/dry eye
- Medial canthal entropion and trichiasis (inverted eyelid and ingrown eyelashes)
- Pigmentary keratitis (melanin deposits in the eye)
- Ocular trauma
While these eye problems may not be life-threatening, they can lead to pain and loss of vision and can often require surgical treatment.
Other Pug Health Issues
Pugs can also be prone to health problems that affect the vertebrae and spinal column due to their corkscrew tails, and this can have a negative impact on how long pugs live and the lifespan of a pug. Some of the spinal and neurological conditions that affect the life span of pugs include:
Hemivertebrae
The corkscrew tail of the pug may be cute, but it can lead to a spinal disorder known as hemivertebrae, which is caused by a malformation of the spinal column. and causes the spinal cord to become compressed. This can lead to limb weakness, incontinence and even paralysis. This can cause a pug to have a limited life span and lower quality of life.
Pug Myelopathy
Pugs can also be prone to a neurological condition of the spine unique to the breed called pug myelopathy.
Like hemivertebrae, it is a compression of the spine caused by irregularities in the vertebrae and can cause paralysis.
Neurological Issues
Some pugs can also be prone to certain neurological disorders of the brain.
This includes epilepsy and a serious genetic condition unique to the breed called pug dog encephalitis.
Pug dog encephalitis is inflammation of the brain caused by the immune system, and sadly it is often fatal. It can strike young pugs and lead to death in a short period of time.
How to Increase Pug Life Span
The question of “how long do pugs live” depends on the individual dog and the genetic health conditions he may have inherited from its parents, however the best way to ensure that your pug enjoys a long, happy and healthy life is to choose a responsible breeder.
This person should perform health tests on all the dogs for inherited health conditions.
The current recommendations are that all pugs should have the following health tests prior to breeding:
- Hip Evaluation
- Patella Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
- Pug Dog Encephalitis DNA Test
Make sure you request to see the results of these tests prior to purchasing a pug puppy to ensure your pug will have the best chance of living a long and happy life.
You should feed your pug a premium dog food like Royal Canin Pug Dry Food to ensure optimal nutrition.
Finding Responsible Breeders
Responsible breeders will not breed dogs that carry genes for serious and potentially fatal genetic diseases.
Always choose a reputable breeder, and never buy a pug puppy from an online ad or a retail pet store.