— Written by Dr. Patrick Martin —
Pugs come with a plethora of unique issues, and one of the ones we deal with most frequently is their eyes. There are two factors that make pugs have such frequent eye issues; their unique brachycephalic (pushed nose) anatomy and their genetics. The two most common pug eye issues we see as a result of these two factors are:
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), also known as “dry eye”
- Corneal ulcerations and trauma
These two factors do not act independently and often can synergistically make their eye issues worse. KCS is thought to be genetic in origin due to how frequently pugs present with this issue. Essentially, there is an autoimmune response or autoimmune deficiency that causes their tear glands to not produce enough moisture to lubricate their eyes adequately. This alone can cause discomfort, excessive discharge, and pain for our four-legged, grumbly friends. If the eye is not lubricated properly, it can make the eyes more susceptible to trauma. We typically get them on immunosuppressant medications, such as Optimmune® or Tacrolimus. Usually, they must stay on these medications for life. If left untreated for too long, their eyes can dry out completely, leaving enucleation (surgical removal of the eyes); the only treatment option to help manage their pain.
The other common eye issue we see in pugs is trauma to the cornea, which most commonly manifests as an ulcer. The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye, and when it gets scratched or compromised, it can be very painful. Every dog can get a corneal ulcer, but pugs are more susceptible to this condition because of their shallow eye sockets and lack of a snout. The very anatomy of your average pug makes their eyes incredibly vulnerable to trauma. Their anatomy also makes the healing quite difficult and abnormal- so much so that pugs often need e-collars during the healing process, whereas other breeds don’t. Pugs’ eye sockets are so shallow that if enough pressure is put on their head (say a big dog plays too rough or sits on their head), it can cause the eye to drop and pop out of place.