The average life span of a Pug is about 12- 15 years of age.
I recommend having your vet, a veterinary technician, or an experienced groomer walk you through your first "refresher" course in expressing anal sacs. It is a pretty easy procedure but there is the potential for causing pain, and/ or damage to the anal sacs or rectal wall if the technique is done improperly.
You need a glove, lots of Vaseline or KY jelly, and some paper towels. Once your gloved finger is well lubricated you gently insert it into the dog's anus. The anal sacs are located just inside the anus at the 5:00 and 7:00 positions. You need only put your finger in up to the first joint, then bend it back to the outer wall (back toward the anus) and hold the anal sac between the gloved finger on the inside and your thumb on the outside. Hold the paper towel over the anus with your other hand to catch or at least block the anal sac secretions. Gently use your gloved finger to express the anal sac by pushing against your thumb on the outside and milking upward. The anal sac secretions can vary in color from cream, to very dark brown, almost black. It can vary in consistency from very creamy to very chunky. If it is yellow, green, or bloody, that is evidence of infection and needs to be addressed with antibiotics. If the secretions are very chunky they can be difficult to express and it is best left to someone with lots of experience.
Edited by Vet help on May 15 2006 at 1:22am
