Dry food for pugs – adult, puppy, pregnant girl

Dogs of decorative breeds, which include pugs, are prone to allergies and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, you need to choose dry food for your pug very carefully and taking into account the recommendations of the veterinarian.

We analyzed the market for food for small and medium-sized dogs, studied the composition and characteristics of popular dry food for pugs, and read reviews from veterinarians and owners. Based on this information, we compiled our rating of dry food brands.

How to choose dry food for a pug

The brand of industrial food is selected taking into account the age, weight, physiological condition and activity of the dog. For muscle development and a healthy coat, pugs need a diet rich in animal proteins. In addition, the food formula must contain healthy fats and all necessary micro- and macroelements.

What to look for when choosing ready-made food for pugs:

1. The diet for puppies should contain at least 22% protein components. For adult dogs this figure should be 18%. Preference should be given to those brands in which the protein components are represented by animal sources (meat, fish). They contain all the amino acids necessary for the growth and development of a pet; their nutritional value is higher.
2. Pug food should be low calorie with moderate fat content. The best sources of crude fat are fish oil and chicken fat.
3. The carbohydrate component should be slow-release complex carbohydrates to prevent your Pug's blood sugar levels from spiking throughout the day. The best sources of carbohydrates for this breed: brown rice, sweet potatoes. Carbohydrates and fiber should account for no more than 5% of a dog's daily diet.
4. The food should be well digested by the dog, so you should choose grain-free brands. A good alternative to grain components in feed are vegetables and legumes.
5. A good food should be complete and carefully balanced. Ideally, imported products should have an AAFCO (American Association of Feed Inspectors) opinion on their packaging.
6. For pets with increased activity, choose “Active” brands.
7. For dogs prone to obesity, the “Light”, “Diet” and “Fitness” diets are suitable.

Important: when choosing food for your pet, focus on the composition, not the brand.

What not to feed

I told you what components can and should be used to feed pug puppies. Now let's move on to foods that should not be given to pets:

• remains of human food: they contain spices, fats in which food was fried, smoked meats;
• tubular bones of adult birds: they injure the stomach;
• by-products: puppies’ digestive enzymes are not prepared to digest such food;
• peas and other grass legumes - they cause fermentation in the intestines;
• milk: after 5 months, pugs lose the enzymes that digest lactose;
• Sugar, chocolate, confectionery, and yeast bread cause obesity and provoke fermentation processes.
• Boiled potatoes - contain a lot of easily digestible starch, which contributes to obesity.
• Corn and wheat grits are sources of glutens, which cause allergic reactions.

If you have any questions, ask in the comments.

Norms and rules for feeding adult dogs and puppies

It is important to strictly follow the recommended feeding standards - pugs are prone to gluttony, and because of this they can gain excess weight and suffer from liver and gastrointestinal diseases. Adult pets need only two meals a day. Puppies are fed according to their age from 3 to 7 times a day.

The daily food intake is calculated for each dog individually. The dog’s weight, age, activity level, physiological state (pregnancy, lactation period), and the presence of health problems are taken into account. Packages of industrial feeds contain tables with recommendations for calculating daily portions; it is important to adhere to them.

Tips for feeding commercial dry food to pugs:

• the decision about which dry food is best for a pug is made with the participation of a veterinary specialist;
• It is not allowed to mix feed from different manufacturers into one feeding;
• transfer from one type of food to another, as well as a change of manufacturer, is carried out gradually over 1-2 weeks;
• You should not frequently change brands of industrial food, this can lead to indigestion of the dog and cause allergic reactions;
• when feeding complete food, there is no additional need to provide vitamin-mineral complexes;
• It is not permissible to fill dry granules with hot water - this leads to the destruction of useful substances.

Important: the dog must have 24/7 access to fresh, clean fresh water; bottled or filtered water is best. The water bowl should be washed daily, the water should be changed 1-2 times a day.

Natural food

You can create the right menu yourself by first familiarizing yourself with the list of foods allowed for dogs.

Required for admission are:

• lean meats;
• sea ​​fish;
• skim cheese;
• offal: liver, heart, kidneys, lung, liver;
• dishes with vegetables, seasoned with vegetable oil.

This is interesting: “>What types of cabbage can be given to dogs

Expert opinion

Anna Abramenko

An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.

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It is prohibited to mix meat with other foods. It should be cut into large pieces.

Among the cereals that are beneficial for dogs are rice and buckwheat.

The best dry food for a pug

Now let's talk about which granule food is best for pugs. No matter how much you want to save money, remember that a high-quality dry diet cannot be very cheap. Do not spare money on good, proven brands - this can negatively affect the health of your pet. A well-balanced diet is one of the main components of a dog's longevity.

To feed puppies and adult representatives of the pug breed, choose well-known brands of at least “premium” class. It is best to opt for “holistic” food for pugs, which contains ingredients completely suitable for human food. But you can also buy premium and super-premium brands if your pug is not allergic to their composition.

TOP 5 industrial food for pugs

1. WELLNESS CORE Healthy Weight (USA) – grain-free formula for small breed dogs, based on meat ingredients (up to 53%). The main component is boneless dietary turkey meat. Vegetable ingredients: broccoli, sweet potatoes, cabbage, apple, carrots. For joint health - glucosamine. Protein content – ​​33%, fat – 11%. Contains only natural dyes and flavors. Recommended for obese dogs.

2. Acana Heritage Adult Small Breed Grain–Free (Canada) – grain-free holistic food made from fresh meat. The formula features a balanced ratio of protein (31%) and fat (17%). The food contains 40 natural ingredients and only two additives: zinc and vitamin E.

3. Guabi Natural Adult Dog Mini (Brazil) – formula for small breed dogs contains 28% protein and 19% fat. The main source of protein is chicken meat. Vegetable protein is represented by two varieties of rice. Contains 33 ingredients, including vitamins and minerals.

4. Grandorf Adult Mini 4 Meat & Brown Rice Hypoallergenic (Russia) – formula with 4 meats and brown rice. Hypoallergenic food for adult pugs. High-quality granulated food is produced in Europe (Belgium, Italy). Crude proteins account for 27%, fats – 15%.

5. Royal Canin Adult Pug (France) – specialized food for pugs. Protein content – ​​23%, fat – 14%. A complete diet for pugs. Contains all essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Belongs to the premium class.

Important: individual intolerance can occur to any brand. It is necessary to gradually transfer the dog to a new diet, carefully observing its reaction to the food.

Pros and cons of homemade food

Dogs are known to use high temperatures when preparing their food. Heat treatment of any product leads to the loss of nutrients, as well as vitamins and minerals. Therefore, the dog may experience a lack of important substances and elements.

Boiled food is an unhealthy product. It lacks vitamins and minerals, enzymes and amino acids. This product brings little benefit; the animal’s immune system is weakened, which causes various diseases. The pancreatic gland becomes overloaded and the production of digestive enzymes becomes less pronounced.

As stated above, raw meats and fresh produce must be given, as well as vitamin supplements. There is no need to give a vitamin complex at every feeding. Balance is achieved gradually, naturally - as it happens in nature.

In any case, you should always consult a specialist, especially in such an important issue as nutrition.

So, the following products are allowed:

• meat. Preferably lean meat for pugs is rabbit, chicken, turkey, lamb, veal;
• vegetables. Carrots, eggplant, garlic, cabbage, greens. They are well crushed and given with the main food;
• cereals. Buckwheat and rolled oats, with the exception of corn, rice and millet groats;
• fermented milk products, cheese, cottage cheese;
• eggs. Boiled chicken yolks and quail eggs.

List of prohibited products:

• flour and pasta products;
• semolina;
• corn;
• potato;
• sugar and confectionery;
• bread;
• smoked meats and pickles.

CAREFULLY!

All of the above foods prohibited for dogs cause gastrointestinal upset and can lead to other diseases.

Dry food for pug puppies

A growing body needs more protein, calcium and phosphorus to form bone and muscle systems. In addition, babies are just developing their immunity - they need more antioxidants and certain vitamins. Food for adult dogs is not suitable for a pug puppy, so manufacturers produce special lines:

• “Puppy” – for puppies from 0 to 6 months;
• “Junior” – for teenage dogs from 6 months to 1 year.

Important: puppy food granules are smaller in size - this is necessary so that it is easier for babies to chew them.

The best food for a pug puppy:

• Orijen Puppy Grain Free – high-quality Canadian-made holistic formula designed specifically for puppies of small and medium-sized dog breeds;

• Piccolo Small Dogs Salmon & Venison – the food contains two types of meat: venison and salmon. The formula is designed for puppies of breeds that do not reach 10 kg as adults;

• Applaws Puppy Small & Medium Chicken Grain Free – diet with chicken without grains, the share of animal protein in the feed is 75%;

• Royal Canin Puppy Pug – a line of specialized food for pug puppies.

Is it okay to use wet only?

Wet food is made from meat components. Most super-premium and holistic options are complete nutritional and suitable for daily use as a staple diet.

Unlike dry food, they have a fragrant and attractive smell and appeal to the most picky eaters of pugs.

An undoubted advantage will be a huge saving of time with a fully balanced diet than when feeding with natural food. The only disadvantages include the significant cost of the diet and, if not properly cared for, after eating, food particles may accumulate in the folds of the muzzle.

Dry food for pregnant and lactating pugs

Owners of pug girls are concerned with the question: “How to feed and what food is best for pregnant and lactating bitches?” This is not an idle question. During the period of waiting for offspring and after giving birth, dogs undergo active hormonal changes. The body's energy needs change significantly. Bitches need to receive more nutrients in order to bear and feed healthy puppies.

Dogs that receive dry food are switched to puppy diets from the second half of pregnancy - due to their vitamin content and calorie content, they are excellent for pregnant and lactating bitches. Royal Canin Starter food has good reviews from pug owners and veterinarians. It is important during this period of time to feed the bitch more often, but in smaller portions.

According to reviews from veterinarians, the best food for pugs during pregnancy and lactation is Royal Canin HT 42D LARGE DOG. Experts advise switching bitches to this formula from the 1st day of estrus. The food is given to dogs throughout pregnancy. It has a balanced composition, the content of vitamins, protein and calcium necessary for a pregnant dog. Dogs on this diet do not gain excess weight. Lactating bitches have good lactation – this is important for feeding healthy offspring.

What to do if you choked?

The opposite situation occurs when the pug has an excessive appetite. In this case, when eating food quickly, inaccurate swallowing of granules is inevitable.

The most severe complication will be food getting into the respiratory tract. At the same time, the pet begins to cough, choke, and spin around in place.

If your tongue begins to turn blue and breathing is clearly difficult, urgent help is needed.

To remove stuck food from the esophagus, sit your pug on your lap, with its back facing you. With your left hand you need to hold your head from above, slightly tilting it forward. With your right hand, clenched into a fist, make forward movements to the middle of the sternum, forward and upward.

How can I help besides this?

If food is stuck in the upper part of the esophagus, you may be able to remove it with tweezers. However, in this case, the help of a second person is necessary, since the procedure is unpleasant and resistance is inevitable.

If the manipulations do not bring relief to the condition, you need to take the pug to a veterinary clinic as quickly as possible.

Which dry food is best for feeding pugs with health problems?

Pugs, like all purebred dogs, have genetic and acquired pathologies. Some of them can be solved by selecting a special therapeutic diet. The pet industry produces special lines of dry granular food for dogs with certain health problems. Dogs may only be switched to such food if prescribed by a veterinarian.

Hypoallergenic food

Allergies of various origins are a common problem in this breed of dog. Pugs may have an allergic reaction to industrial food, household chemicals, natural food, dust, and polluted air. Suitable food for an allergic pug is selected by a veterinarian after conducting research and establishing the cause of the allergy.

Popular brands of hypoallergenic food:

1. Hill's Prescription Diet z/d;
2. SANIMED dog Hypoallergic LR
3. Barking Heads “Doggylicious” Adult Small Breed Duck Hypoallergenic Grain Free;
4. Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic;
5. Grandorf Adult All Breeds Duck & Potato Hypoallergenic Grain Free;
6. Royal Canin Hypoallergenic DR21.

Food for joint diseases

One of the breed diseases of pugs is hip dysplasia. Due to the special structure of their limbs, dogs' joints are under a lot of stress, so a special diet is necessary to maintain their health.

Dry food brands for joint health:

1. Royal Canin for joint health;
2. Hill's Prescription Diet j/d Joint Care
3. Happy Dog Supreme Fit & Well.

Food for excess weight problems

We have already said that all pug owners must control the amount and calorie content of the food their pet eats.

Dietary brands of food for pugs:

1. Advance Veterinary Diets;
2. Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic;
3. Bosch Light;
4. Arden Grange Adult Light;
5. Brit Veterinary Diet.

Important: the therapeutic diet is selected and prescribed only by professional veterinarians.

For allergy sufferers

Itchy skin, hair loss, ear problems, unpleasant odor, etc. - This is a manifestation of an allergy. The cause is dry food containing the following ingredients:

1. Poultry meat.
2. Wheat, rice, corn.
3. Soy protein.
4. Eggs.
5. Artificial additives, flavors, preservatives.
6. Some types of fruits.

If your pet shows signs of allergies, consult your veterinarian and switch to hypoallergenic food.

All well-known brands produce lines of hypoallergenic diets. “Hill's”, “Royal Canin”, “Brit”, “Acana”, “Orijen” have proven themselves well.

Reviews from owners and veterinarians about food for pugs

Victor Leonidovich, veterinarian: “I always recommend to all my clients to select nutrition for their pets from holistic food. Yes, these are not the cheapest foods, but pets’ health is more expensive. By feeding cheap economy food from supermarkets, you are risking the health of your dogs. Restoring health after such a diet will require even more expensive food and not the cheapest medical procedures. I can’t recommend a specific brand; each dog reacts individually to this or that food. I’ll just say that most of my clients choose food from a Canadian manufacturer (Acana, Orijen).”

Svetlana, pug owner: “On the advice of our veterinarian, we immediately switched our puppy to Royal Canin Puppy Pug dry food. This is a premium brand. When the baby grew up, we switched him to Royal Canin food for adult dogs. I can't say anything bad. Our dog is in great shape, he is not overweight, he is cheerful and very active. Apparently the composition of this brand suits him.”

Denis, pug owner: “We adopted an adult dog from a shelter. Her previous owners went to live in another country, but left Motya behind. At the shelter she was fed what was available. Because of this, she developed allergies. We spent a long time studying reviews from veterinarians online about which food is best for pugs with allergies. They showed Motya to doctors in several clinics. As a result, they started feeding her the Hill's medicinal brand. A year later, there was no trace of Motina’s allergy!”

Watch a video about food for a pug with allergies

Inexpensive

When choosing an economical food option, you need to carefully study the composition. Most often, manufacturers replace high-quality ingredients with cheap fillers and thereby reduce the price. The situation with new Russian manufacturers is a different case. It is among them that you can find inexpensive food without dangerous additives.

For example, feed from the Grand Dog , produced in the Krasnodar region. According to the stated composition, the diet corresponds to holistic feeds, and at the same time has an economy class price level. Due to the lack of aromatic additives, the food is not always attractive to picky dogs, which is the only significant disadvantage.

A similar situation is with another Russian manufacturer – Zoomenu .

Another good food with a good price and good composition is Organix . The only downside is the presence of corn. However, if the pug is not prone to allergies, this food is perfect.