Pug Dog Facial Reconstruction Surgery?

Question

Hi,

When my pug was 1 year old (he is 6 now) I brought him to a vet for a check up and the vet recommended that he have surgery to shorten his palate (to stop his snoring and snorting) and also that he have surgery to reduce his wrinkles (the way he described it, he wanted to cut right along his face, along the wrinkles, and remove, tighten, and stitch the wrinkle).

At the time, my partner and I thought he was just psycho, but I'm wondering if any pug or dog owner has been recommended similar? The facial surgery just sounds bizarre to me . . . but I'm also interested in the palate shortening (is this necessary?) because sometimes now when he is excited or after running alot he seems to be gasping for air or gulping air (and I'm worried trachea/palate collapsed) and it sounds like when choking and trying to get air?

Thanks!

Hello, thanks everyone for your answers.

I've got my pug using a harness now (he was using a nylon martingale before) and also holding him to to calm him down when he is out of breath from too much running and excitement . . . thanks for those suggestions!

He is actually a little underweight (6.8 kgs) so I think his breathlessness isn't due to obesity (thankfully! unlike alot of Pugs I see at the dog parks here is Oz).

Also, thanks for your validation of the facial surgery. I always thought it sounded suspicious (it was actually about 5 years ago that the vet suggested it and his wrinkles have always been fine . . . not even heat spots, but I clean the wrinkles every couple of days), but until I read the answers I always had a tiny doubt as to whether I was just being overly suspicious of the vet!

Thanks for the suggestions and answers!

Answer 1

I would get a couple of opinions on this. It is a pretty big surgery. I have had pugs for years and the snoring and snorting is just part of their charm. And there are things you have to be cardful with because of their shortened snout and bulging eyes. For example they are more susepitble to heat stroke and you should use a harness instead of a normal collar to lower the risk of their eyes popping out. It may just be that you have to watch making him run harder or longer than he wants. If he is just running around in the backyard or around the house, he should be able to know his limits and stop for a break and a drink of water, but I would not take him jogging where he is forced to run to keep up. There have been times we would take our pug for a walk and when she got tired and my toddler was ready to run, in the stroller or wagon she would go. She just takes it as her due because she is the princess.

Unless several doctors tell you it is medically nessesary for your dog to breathe I would hold off. To me it seems like vets are becoming a to proactive with what can be done instead of focusing on what NEEDS to be done.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have never heard about surgery to decrease the wrinkles. That sounds really weird to me. Do you have a photo of your dog? Are his wrinkles over his nostrils or something?

I have heard about surgery to shorten their palates. It is actually one of the more common pug problems.

The first time I took my pug to the vet when I got her at 8 weeks, the vet scared me and said that my pug had stenotic nares (narrow nostrils), that she was going to have to have surgery that cost $2000 and that her skull wasn't closed . It really scared me. Human babies skulls aren't fused, either.

She never had problems with her nostrils and she is even in agility now. She occasionally has the "reverse sneeze" where it sounds like she gasping for air, but it is really just her clearning her nose. It's not a big deal at all. So, your dog may be suffering from the reverse sneeze. But, if this ONLY happens when he is running around, you may want to be concerned.

Also, how large is your pug? If you have a large pug, putting him on a diet will help with a lot of the problems.

Anyway, I think if i were you, i would get a second opinion. Surgery is costly and potentially dangerous, and you want to make sure that it is the last resort.

Answer 4

Hi, really the vet shouldn't have mentioned surgery for the wrinkles thats just plain stupid on his/her part. Would that vet say the same to a shar pei? I think not.
Concerning the palate, That is something to think about in the future. Smushed faced dogs, such as a pug, have collapsable traechas. If they get too excited, nervous, hot or such they start to do a backwards sneeze some people call it. You would only do surgery if it begans to be a huge problem because they can suffocate and die. If that does happen with your pooch, try to take their mind off it. Some suggestions... lifting up their rear, smacking their butt (not too hard), picking them up and calming them down. What I do for my poodle is, I cover her nose with my finger for a few seconds so that it stops her from breathing. ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS.. Ususally that makes her stop.

Answer 5

I have pugs and have never heard of such a thing. The snort and snoring is just part of having a pug, and without the wrinkles it would not be a pug. Unless the snorting is life threatening as far as asthma or something of that sort, I would leave it alone.

Answer 6

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