What’s the Best Dog Foods for Pugs?

A nutritionally balanced food is essential for Pugs but what does this mean? How do we find what’s the best dog foods for Pugs?

What do we Know about Pugs?

First, let’s take a look at these iconic little dogs. There are a myriad of dog breeds, dogs in all their different guises. Then there are Pugs. These guys are almost a breed on their own. They are rumbustious, playful, funny and very affectionate. Children love Pugs and Pugs love children.

The breed are easily recognisable, they are small dogs usually between 6 to 10kg. There snout is short, their face wrinkly and their tail has a double curl. They are stocky in the body and their coat is short being either fawn with a black face or black all over. 

They have a long, long history and are one of the oldest domestic breeds. Originating in China, they are known to have first been brought to Europe in the sixteenth century. Pugs have been kept by British Royalty through the centuries and Queen Victoria is known to have bred them. They were originally bred for ancient Chinese nobility where they were prized for their companionship. Centuries later, their instinct is still to cuddle up by their owner’s side. They are truly delightful little dogs.

What are Pugs like as Pets?

Pugs make great pets and they do not need masses of space as long as they can stretch their legs. They are almost always great with children and have loads of love to give to everyone. They are smart and have their own individual character always being ready to play.

All good so far? There is a ‘but’ though and it’s a big one. Pugs have lots of potential health concerns. First of all they are what is known as a ‘brachycephalic’ breed. That is to say that they have been bred to have a short snout. This can present breathing difficulties which may need to be addressed at some point in their lives with BOAS surgery. The breed has an absolutely insatiable appetite and are quite obsessed with food. This means that is is easy to allow them to become obese, and coupled with their breathing issues this can present heart issues. For this reason it is essential that you keep your Pug on strict rations and never allow them to become obese. It really is the kindest thing you can do for a Pug. Other health issues Pugs are known to have are eye and eye lid issues; skin infections; Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE); and hip dysplasia. All of these means that you may spend much time and money at the vet and you will find that pet insurance will be higher than most. Although you can’t prevent health issues, it will help if you feed the best dog food for your dog.

How do we find what’s the best dog foods for Pugs?

The Pugs enthusiasm to eat can be quite astonishing. Puppies and adolescents will attempt to eat anything from stones to wood. Their food must be measured and treats kept to a minimum. You will see so many overweight Pugs and must not allow this to happen to your’s. It is essential that Pugs are fed a high quality complete nutritionally balanced food.

Protein should be high end and sourced from either salmon, beef, chicken or turkey. A Pug will benefit from a protein content of around 18 – 20 percent and maybe up to 30 percent if your pug is particularly active. This is lower than some breeds because Pugs are not so muscular as many breeds. Check the ingredients and steer clear of unknown meats and meat by-products as these can be harmful.

Some fat is essential for your Pug but because of their propensity to gain weight, the crude fat content should be as low as possible. However Pugs will benefit from foods with Omega fatty acids which are good for the coat and skin and support cardiovascular health. Oily fish such as salmon and trout contain high levels of Omega 6 and 3.

Avoid foods which contain cereals but opt for grain free recipes instead. These will usually contain complex carbohydrates such as sweet potato and peas instead of grains such as wheat, soya and barley. Complex carbs are much better for dogs as they release a steady supply of energy throughout the day

Choose a recipe that has plenty of fruits and vegetables as these will provide the vitamins and minerals required by your Pug. Some vegetables are antioxidants and are very beneficial in keeping your Pug in good shape. You can avoid allergens in food by choosing to buy grain free puppy food for youngsters or grain free adult for grown ups.

Do we need to know anything else about Pugs?

Pugs are small dogs and although they are quite active when they are awake, they tend to lounge around and sleep rather a lot too. Their calorific intake should be between 500 to 900 per day depending upon size and activity level. It’s best for your Pug to have two smaller meals per day rather than one large as they have small stomachs.

What’s the best dog foods for Pugs?

Let’s take a good look at our selection to find what’s the best dog foods for Pugs.

Naturo Adult Grain & Gluten Free Cans

Naturo Adult Grain & Gluten Free is a complete wet food free of grain and gluten suitable for adult pugs. The recipe contains 50% turkey which is an excellent source of protein. There are plenty of quality fruit and vegetables in the recipe too such as the superfoods cranberry, broccoli and carrots. The entire meal is brought together with a delicious herby gravy. The food is also ideal for dogs with digestive sensitivities and allergies. This product is low in carbohydrates and calories which is also beneficial for Pugs.

Fifi Beaumont’s Superfood Salmon with Dill, Spinach, Fennel, Asparagus and Tomato

Fifi Beaumont’s Salmon is a complete dry food ideal for Pugs. It’s taste tantalising Superfood Salmon Recipe includes our specially selected five superfoods dill, spinach, fennel, asparagus and tomato. Salmon is rich in omega 3 and a great source of protein. It’s combined with five different superfoods, each with their own unique benefits:

• Dill – A source of Vitamin C important to maintain healthy bones.
• Spinach – A source of Iron to help the circulation.
• Fennel – A good source of Calcium which helps to maintain healthy bones and teeth.
• Asparagus – A source of Folate to support cell growth.
• Tomato – A good source of Potassium to support the muscles and the nervous system.

As well as all of this healthy goodness, the recipe contains naturally occurring collagen which helps to maintain healthy joints and skin.

Poppy’s Picnic Mighty Mince

Poppys Picnic Mighty Mince Beef is a complete food suitable for Pugs.

It is nutritious and tasty tender beef and vegetable boosted with botanicals, fresh herbs, seeds, berries and oils. It is supplied in pulp trays with a bio-laminate liner and are fully compostable or can be recycled with paper, reducing plastic use by over 90%

There are no unrecognisable ingredients, no chemicals, flavourings, fillers or artificial additives  just raw dog food, freshly prepared and frozen for your Pug to enjoy.

These no-bone recipes make these products safe to cook, which is ideal for switching fussy dogs to raw, or for poorly dogs who temporarily need a cooked diet.

The bone has been replaced with alternative, natural sources of calcium to ensure they are fully balanced and complete.