Pugs might be compact and cuddly, but their nutrition needs are anything but basic. With their charming flat faces, round bellies, and love of lounging, Pugs can be prone to weight gain, breathing issues, and sensitive skin — all of which can be managed more effectively with the right food choices.
In this guide, we tap into expert insight to break down what your Pug really needs in their bowl — from high-quality proteins to anti-inflammatory ingredients that support joint health. Whether you’ve just welcomed a Pug into your family or you’re fine-tuning their feeding routine, this guide will help you make more confident, informed choices about the best food for your Pug.
Read more: Pug breed insights: care, personality & expert tips
How nutrition can help common Pug health concerns
Weight gain and obesity
Pugs can be notorious snack lovers — and unfortunately, their love of food combined with a low activity level can make them highly prone to obesity. Extra weight puts pressure on their already compact airways, worsening their brachycephalic breathing issues, and increasing the risk of joint problems and metabolic disease.
Try this:
Choose custom-portioned meals like Lyka that provide all the daily nutrients your Pug needs without the excess. Monitor treats — they should make up no more than 10% of their daily caloric intake and consider opting for single-protein, low-fat options like Lyka’s Chicky Chews.
Read more: Lyka’s vet guide to healthy dog weight (with charts and videos)
Skin allergies
Pugs often experience skin sensitivities that present as itchiness, redness, or recurrent infections, especially in their skin folds and ears. Diet can play a major role in both causing and relieving these symptoms. Avoiding common allergens and incorporating ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties can be a game-changer for your pup.
Try this:
A novel protein diet, such as Lyka’s Hypoallergenic Pro with goat, avoids common triggers like chicken, beef, wheat, corn, soy, and dairy.
Read more: Dog skin allergies: triggers, symptoms and itch relief treatment (with photos)
Joint issues
Despite their size, Pugs can be susceptible to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and arthritis — painful conditions that can be impacted by excess weight. Supporting their joints early with the right nutrients can help reduce inflammation and discomfort.
Try this:
Include ingredients with anti-inflammatory qualities like turmeric, ginger, and omega-3s from fish and fish oil in their meals to help protect joint health and mobility.
Read more: Hip dysplasia: how can your dog’s diet help?
How to choose the best food for your Pug
Fresh food, raw, wet or dry? Supermarket, pet shop, or delivered to your door? There are so many dog food options on the market — where do you begin?
1. Complete and balanced
Pugs, like all pups, need a complete and balanced diet containing the right nutrients in the right proportions.
Australia has pet food standards, but they’re largely unregulated. Many brands follow AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) or FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) guidelines.
Meeting AAFCO and FEDIAF standards is just the start. Lyka meals are formulated by a team of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists to ensure they’re complete and balanced for all life stages.
Read more: Dog food ingredients: a glossary of common and confusing terms
2. Optimal nutrition for your Pug
Not all dog food is created equally. Variety and quality of ingredients and cooking methods can all impact the nutrient availability of your dog’s food.
Many raw dog food options present a good balance of high-quality protein, fresh produce, and superfoods. But not all dogs can easily digest raw food, especially pups with a weakened immune system, or digestive issues.
Dry food (kibble) often contains high amounts of carbohydrates and synthetic vitamins and minerals. The animal protein used in kibble is often pet-grade, like meat meal or meat by-products, that vary in quality and are not subject to the same checks as human-grade meat. Kibble is usually cooked at high temperatures which can reduce digestibility and can lead to the potential formation of harmful compounds, like acrylamides.
Home cooking can be a great option for your dog, but making sure each mouthful is complete and balanced is not easy to do without expert guidance.
Lyka meals are made using human-grade ingredients and are gently cooked then snap-frozen to retain their nutritional value and digestibility. Each meal is high in protein and custom-portioned to meet your dog’s daily needs.
Want to dig deeper into which type of food is best for your Pug? We’ve created a series of guides to help you make an informed choice.
Read more: Freshly cooked vs kibble for dogs: which is better?
Read more: Freshly cooked vs raw meat for dogs: which is better?
Read more: Fresh vs home cooking for your dog: which is better?
Read more: Freshly cooked vs wet food for dogs: which is better?
How much food does a Pug need?
Serving size recommendations based solely on weight don’t tell the full story. Your dog’s energy level, lifestyle and body condition score are all part of the picture.
That’s why Lyka calculates your Pug’s portion sizes based on their personal profile, not just on their weight.
Establish a consistent feeding routine with your Pug to support their digestion, especially if they have a sensitive stomach.
Do Pug puppies and senior dogs need special food?
Not necessarily. Nutrient-dense, real food meals formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists for all life stages — like Lyka — cover the daily requirements of both growing pups and dogs in their golden years.
Read more: What should puppies eat? Expert nutrition tips for optimal development
Read more: Why real food is the healthiest choice for senior dogs
New to Lyka? Let’s rethink dog food together
Parenting a Pug comes with plenty of decisions. Choosing what’s in their bowl is one of the most important.
Designed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists and made with real, human-grade ingredients, Lyka meals are custom-portioned to match your dog’s needs.
Pugs across Australia are already thriving on Lyka — yours could be next.
Join our pack of proud Pug parents today.
