The Pug fancy is working very hard to eliminate the genetic diseases that are harming our breed. Yearly shots and a vet's "okay" are NOT an equivalent or substitute for health testing. Responsible Pug breeders today, in general, are testing for hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid disease, genetic eye disease, normal cardiac function, and normal liver function. Pugs are subject to KCS - keratoconjunctivitis sicca - or "dry eye" and does with this condition should not be bred. They also get atopy, the canine version of hay fever; brachycephalic syndrome, where the breathing passages have some sort of obstruction caused by the shape of the head and face, and the heart and lungs have to work harder than normal for the dog to breathe; demodicosis, where skin mites cause irritation to the skin and is believed to be an immune system compromise; entropion, an inward rolling of the eyelid which causes scratches on the surface of the eye; exposure keratopathy syndrome, a complex interaction of features causing the eyes to not blink enough or the lids to not fully close over the eye; skin fold dermatitis (facial and tail fold), where the skin is chronically infected or irritated in the folds; Hemivertebra, an spinal defect causing paralysis; and necrotizing meningoencephalitis (pug dog encephalitis, PDE), which may or may not be inherited, but affects 1-2% of all pugs. There is no known cure. Pugs are also affected by "sick sinus syndrome" which is irregular heartbeat, and XX sex reversal, which produces hermaphrodites, Pugs with the sexual organs of both genders. Cataracts, distichiasis (extra eyelashes growing on the inside edge of the eyelid), hip and elbow dysplasia (poor alignment of the joint bones where the joint becomes loose) and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (a disease of the hip joint where the joint degenerates causing severe pain and lameness) are all present in the Pug breed as well.

Another site with wonderful information about Pug health issues is Pug Central, where they have conducted a survey about what owners have actually experienced.

For more information about testing see this page.

A responsible breeder will be ready, willing, and able to show proof of all such tests and the results. You should not have to pay for this. Responsible breeders will not be offended that you ask - they will be glad you are doing your research! And, responsible breeders will keep you advised throughout the lifetime of your puppy about the ongoing health of the parents and of the siblings. They are also likely to seek out information about your puppy as it matures to help them make future breeding decisions.