Pug keeps collapsing

[becki]

My pug Kermit is now one year old and is so cheeky and full of energy! A few months ago however he was asleep and jumped up barking at the door for no reason, he then just collapsed and peed himself. We took him to the vets and they said it was a seizure, which may be to do with toxins in his blood or brain issues, and advised to leave it as it may have been a one off. He's been fine until this past week... a few days ago exactly the same thing happened minus the peeing and then today I picked him up and he started making this honking, coughing noise (that he sometimes does after he's had a drink) I put him down and it seemed like he was really struggling to breathe and he was coughing and gagging and just collapsed and peed again :( I don't think he was breathing! So obviously this is happening when he can't breathe so has nothing to do with his brain or blood? I need some advice on what it might be and what to do because i'm worried it'll happen and he just won't start breathing again and we'll lose him, i don't know what i'd do :(:(
Thank you in advance!

[Nina_W]

I'm so sorry! That must be terrifying!

Have they taken a look at his soft palate and nares? Many pugs have very narrow nostrils (stenotic nares) and an elongated soft palate, which makes it hard for them to breathe.

[becki]

They haven't no but i'm gonna get him to the vets within the next few days and will suggest this! Thanks!

[AmyR]

Whereabouts in the UK are you? PM me if you would rather not post it on here. I don't mean your address, just the city etc

[AmberB]

I agree with Nina. Check into the things she mentioned. Also, get his trachea checked. Pugs can have collapsing tracheas that interrupt breathing and can also cause that gagging/honking sound. Also, switch to a body harness instead of a collar which can further irritate their delicate throats.

Hope you get the answer quickly and its an easy fix.

[LilyFayre]

So sorry to hear about poor Kermit - it must be really frightening for you too.

He's almost certainly going to need some specialist tests now to try and determine what is causing this, but if one of you can video what happens while the other tries to deal with it, that would be helpful for your vet to see.

Please let us know how you get on - really hoping that it's something easily solved

[AmyR]

I've PM'd you back :)

[becki]

Update!
Kermit has been to the vets today and they said it is most likely upper airway syndrome and he's basically fainting due to over-excitement in which he's not getting in enough oxygen. They said they will check his soft palate and throat when he gets neutered in the near future to make sure and if it is he will need to see a specialist surgeon to widen his nostrils and windpipe and reduce his soft palate. Because we took him to the vets the first time he fainted, which was before our insurance policy started, our insurance probably won't cover it and we'll have to wait until we sell our house (hopefully soon!) before we can afford to pay for the surgery :( (the vet said between £1500-£2000). In the mean time he said kermit should lose a little bit of weight (he's 7.7kg), we shouldn't over-walk him and try not to over-excite him... which will be very hard because he is the most hyper dog i've ever met!!
Also, the vet said in his experience pugs live on average between 6-8 years! Is this true?! How old is everyone's pug/s? I can't bear the thought of losing him in just five years:(
Thanks all again!

[Penny's Mom]

Good luck selling the house. As for the vet statement of pugs only living to 6-8 yrs that's not what I've heard. Many on here have pugs in their teens. Will keep you both in my thoughts for a smooth recovery.

[LilyFayre]

From what I know I'd say the average life span was probably 12 to 15 years, some even making it to 20 years!
It worries me a bit though as to how well informed your vet is regarding pugs. You must ensure that any vet doing surgery on your pug is fully aware of the different anaesthetic protocols needed for pugs and other short nosed breeds to ensure their safety.

I don't know whereabouts you are in the UK, but if you're near me in Hertfordshire I can thoroughly recommend my vet as being 'pug safe' and not at all phased or offended when I bombarded her with questions about the anaesthetic and surgical procedure or insisted that she was the only vet in the practice that I would give my permission to spay my puppy - just being an over protective pug mummy!

The insurance is a real pain - I got caught the same way with demodectic mange - now ANY skin condition is excluded!