It’s been a tough few weeks for JD. After visiting the vet half a dozen times he was finally diagnosed with an indolent corneal ulcer in his right eye and underwent surgery on Wednesday. While his eye looks painful and is sutured half-closed for the next two weeks, JD is being one tough little dude and isn’t letting his recovery phase him too much. He still does his little pug dance when he sees me cooking dinner for him and Murph and he loves snuggling and resting his cone comfortably on my lap. This pampered pug even has a cozy soft cone that he wears to bed! All in all, JD is doing quite well, and we know that the kind wishes sent by our friends and customers certainly helped us feel better as we spent the past few weeks worrying about what would happen to JD’s eye. JD will be seeing the vet for his post-op follow up toward the end of October. He will get his sutures out and hopefully we will find that his eye is fully healed and feeling better. In the meantime, we may have to plan for JD to be Popeye for Halloween this year!

I cannot thank you all enough for being so concerned about my little man. While he is my business mascot and muse, he is, above all, my furry son and soul mate, and I have been one nervous mama watching my baby boy struggle over the past few weeks. It makes my heart happy to know that he is on the road to recovery, and to know that he has touched the hearts of people all over the world just as much as he has touched mine.

I will keep you updated about your favorite fashionable pug and his progress!

The post Popeye Pug: JD’s Eye Recovery appeared first on All You Need Is Pug.

Usually these types of ulcers clear up within about 5 days and we thought that JD’s was healed when we went to the vet a week ago and the ophthalmologist cleared him. A day or two later we noticed that he was still squinting and his eye was running. Another trip to the vet revealed that the ulcer either was never healed or had resurfaced. JD was put on another round of eye drops to encourage the ulcer to heal itself, but it has been resistant to treatment. What is odd is that his injury is not behaving like a usual non-healing ulcer, so the several doctors who have looked at him are a bit stumped by his case. JD and I met with his regular vet two days ago, and we learned that JD will likely need a small procedure in order to correct his eye. His vet believes she may have located a small cilia inside the eye that could be agitating the ulcer and preventing it from healing. A specialist will look at this today and determine the best course of action for JD. If he does need a procedure, it will happen this afternoon immediately after the specialist looks at his case. We will keep you updated about his progress. We thank all of you who have shared your love and concern with us. The kindness and care of our customers and friends never ceases to amaze us!

The post An Update on JD’s Corneal Ulcer appeared first on All You Need Is Pug.

One of our favorite health & beauty staples for both people and pets is coconut oil. This healthy fat works wonders both inside and outside of the body. The lauric acid in coconut oil is part of its magic, as it contains antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that dog owners have turned to in order to treat everything from dog breath to skin conditions. Coconut oil is also a good for the metabolism, helps to boost immunity, and may aid with weight loss and brain health. All in all, it’s one of the best natural resources available when it comes to promoting and maintaining health.

When I began adding small amounts of coconut oil to my dogs’ daily meals a few months ago, I didn’t expect to see large improvements, but hoped that their overall health would benefit from this small change. At the time, JD’s arthritis was developing and causing him a great deal of pain. He had a slight limp and was less active than he had once been, which, for any pet parent, is hard to watch when you are used to your pug running and playing all day long. As prescribed by our vet, I began giving JD daily doses of fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin. I remembered that while taking a nutrition course in college I had learned that coconut oil assists with nutrient absorption, so I also began adding 1/4 tsp of coconut oil to JD’s meals with the hope that it would help him to absorb the joint supplements and do its own part to ease his arthritis. Within 2 months I started seeing improvements. JD’s limp gradually disappeared and now only makes an occasional appearance on particularly rainy or humid days when the dampness causes him to feel achy.

Now that I have seen how much it has helped JD, both he and Murphy consume 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil per day in their morning meals.

Here are some ways that you can use coconut oil in your health and beauty regiments:

FOR DOGS:

• Start by adding 1/4 tsp of coconut oil to your dog’s meals for small dogs that weigh approximately 20 lbs. If your dog tolerates it well, increase to 1/2 tsp.
• Use topically to give your dog a shiny coat and healthy skin. Massage your dog with coconut oil for 5-10 minutes, then use a gentle dog shampoo to rinse the oil away. You may have to lather and rinse twice to make certain that you have removed the oil and that your dog won’t have a greasy coat.
• Though we have never tried it, some dog owners brush their dog’s teeth with a few drops of coconut oil! It helps to reduce dog breath and the antibacterial properties in the oil help to clean teeth.

FOR HUMANS:

• Swap out your usual cooking oil for coconut oil in some meals to start adding this healthy oil to your diet. If you are a smoothie drinker, you can add a teaspoon of coconut oil to your favorite blended beverage for a creamy texture.
• Use coconut oil as a hair mask. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and wash it out with gentle shampoo. As with the dog’s coat treatment, you may have to shampoo twice to remove all oil.
• Use coconut oil as a moisturizer or mask once or twice a week. While coconut oil may help to reduce acne, it can still clog pores, so use with caution if your skin is prone to breakouts. I like to use just a dab of coconut oil under my eyes, over my cheekbones, and around my lips overnight. This gives a dewy glow and helps to soften budding frown lines. If you use the oil on your entire face, I recommend leaving it on as a mask for 10 minutes, then washing the excess off with your usual cleanser.
• Coconut oil is a lovely addition to foot baths. If you are an athlete and prone to stinky feet, add a bit of coconut oil to your next foot soak. It helps to soften skin, reduce odor, and fight off toenail fungus!

I can’t sing enough praise for coconut oil, and I recommend adding this gem to your pantry!

Disclaimer: I am not a vet or nutritionist. I share this article from personal experience, but as with all health decisions, every person and pet responds differently to changes. You should always consult your vet before making changes to your dog’s diet and should also consult your doctor before making changes to your own diet. Speak with your vet or doctor about how coconut oil fits into your healthy routines.

The post Coconut Oil for Dogs appeared first on All You Need Is Pug.

Yesterday Ringo, our senior pug, gave us quite a scare. Ringo is my parents’ 13 year old, blind little old man who has arthritis and chronic bronchitis. With his age and array of health issues, we’ve come to learn that he will have his good and bad days. For the most part Ringo lives fairly comfortably and his health has vastly improved from what it was a year ago at this time. Recently, Ringo has been walking more and has been displaying more energy and activity, so we are thrilled to see these small changes in him. Since Ringo has been feeling so much better, I was surprised when my mum called yesterday to let me know that she saw blood in Ringo’s urine. My heart sank, as it does whenever I know something is going on with one of the boys. I ran every possible scenario through my mind as I considered what could be causing this issue, and tried to put these thoughts out of my mind as we made our way to the animal hospital.

At the vet we spent nearly 3 hours in the E.R. while we waited for Ringo to go through examinations, ultrasounds, and X-rays. At the end of the night the final prognosis was an aggressive U.T.I. infection. I was actually relieved. While Ringo may be uncomfortable for the next week or two as his body fights off the infection, the condition is treatable.

Senior dogs always bring surprises into the lives of their family members. Their health and behavior can be unpredictable, and every day with them if a gift. Ringo is a favorite among our customers and I wanted to share this story because I know that All You Need is Pug’s followers like to keep up with how Ringo is doing. Other than this slight speed-bump, Ringo is doing well for a dog of senior status. The good vibes and healing wishes that are sent to us by our clients and followers are always tremendously appreciated, and we hope to bring Ringo back to his healthiest possible state soon!

The post Senior Pug Love: An Update on Ringo appeared first on All You Need Is Pug.