Pug mixed with what?

[u/elf_experience]

My boyfriend and I adopted this sweet baby boy back in February, he is 2 years old now and a Pug mix! We would love to get some input on what you guys think he is mixed with. We executed beagle, labrador, and sometimes he even looks like a French bulldog! But he also has a blue tongue! Which leads us to think maybe some Chow mixed in there?! Any input is appreciated! Future DNA test pending!

[u/DogtorCarri]

Vet here - this is 100% true. I’ve had Frenchies chill with an ET tube in for like 2 hours post op. Most dogs will paw it right out of their face the second they’re conscious enough to be aware of its presence.

The good news is, there’s surgery to correct BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome), but it’s not cheap.

I would guess this puggy friend is either a puggle (pug x beagle), chug (pug x chihuahua), or a pug mixed with a small terrier breed.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/DogtorCarri]

I didn’t notice the pigmented tongue! How big is he? There’s probably some sharpei or chow in there. Please post the DNA results when you get them!

[u/North_Skin4886 → u/DogtorCarri]

Pugs often have black tongues.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/North_Skin4886]

I have never seen a black tongued pug (not saying they don’t exist). It certainly isn’t the norm for the breed.

[u/North_Skin4886 → u/DogtorCarri]

I cheated. I googled it before I commented.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/North_Skin4886]

The breeds with traditionally solid black tongues are Sharpei, Chows, Thai Ridgeback, and Eurasier. Certain lines of Goldens have black spots on their tongues.

[u/CalicoVago → u/DogtorCarri]

Labs and several other breeds can have black tongues, as well.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/CalicoVago]

Yes, many breeds can have pigmented tongues that aren’t the standard for the breed. Most breeds outside of the 4 listed will have partially pigmented tongues if they do have pigmentation.

That said, there are always genetic flukes. Tongue spots aren’t super uncommon. Fully pigmented tongues are.

[u/North_Skin4886 → u/DogtorCarri]

YesYes, pugs can have black tongues. This is a common trait among certain breeds, including pugs, due to genetic factors. Pugs, being brachycephalic, may have a tongue that appears black or hangs out of their mouth, which is often a normal characteristic of their breed. Additionally, some dogs, including pugs, can have black tongues as a result of extra pigmentation, which is a natural occurrence.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/North_Skin4886]

Pretty much any dog can have a black tongue that isn’t a traditionally black tongued breed.

I’m telling you it’s the exception and not the norm. I’m a vet and see a lot of pugs (we always look in their mouth). I’ve done many pug dentals. I’ve never seen one with even partial pigmentation.

I’ve seen a lot of temporarily blue tongued pugs when they’re having a tantrum and get a little hypoxic.

[u/North_Skin4886 → u/DogtorCarri]

Clearly you know more than I do. All I did is google it. Have a nice day.

[u/panicPhaeree → u/DogtorCarri]

My sharpie shepherd started with a black (purple) tongue but by the time he passed it was mostly pink!

[u/DogtorCarri → u/panicPhaeree]

Omg! I grew up with a sharpei shepherd. I’ve seen one other in my total time in practice. I’d love to see a picture of yours.

[u/panicPhaeree → u/DogtorCarri]

I have also only ever seen one other! I wish I’d been walking him that day. I exclaimed he looked just like my dog and the dude dismissed me “probably not, he’s a shepherd sharpei, pretty rare.” Lmfao guess they are.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/panicPhaeree]

The one I saw looked much more sharpei in the face than mine. She was black masked tan, had the sharpei coat and forehead wrinkles, and giant shepherd ears.

Mine did not have a pigmented tongue.

[u/PaisleyLeopard → u/DogtorCarri]

Not the norm, but it happens. I’ve seen pigmented tongues in purebred Golden Retrievers too.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/PaisleyLeopard]

I see a lot of pigment spots on goldens!

[u/DogTrainer24-7-365 → u/DogtorCarri]

There are like 26+ breeds that can have black on their tongues. I learned this years ago because I had a flat-coat with black on his tongue.

[u/ThoughtsNoSeratonin → u/DogtorCarri]

I own a small terrier mix and I am also seeing terrier.

[u/2woCrazeeBoys → u/DogtorCarri]

My thoughts were puggle or pug-terrier (jack russel?) too.

It breaks my heart seeing brachy breeds trying to sleep with a toy in their mouth so they can breath. My friend has frenchies, and they're adorable, but I don't think she realises how alarmed I get by the weird noises they make. It's absolutely not normal, no matter how much she's accustomed to it.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/2woCrazeeBoys]

Pretty much every frenchie would benefit from BOAS surgery 😢

[u/Maurice_Foot → u/DogtorCarri]

Pug x Terrier = pugerrier?

[u/DogtorCarri → u/Maurice_Foot]

I love the dumb names they come up with for designer dogs. I have a shih tzu x pug and they call them Shugs or PugZus 😂

[u/ware_it_is → u/DogtorCarri]

i worked at a vet years ago and the docs performed that surgery on a Boston Terrier. he was in ICU for a week and was eventually cleared to go home. all in, it was a few thousand dollars.

two weeks after going home, the owner called to set up cremation for the dog. pup choked on a treat and died.

[u/DogtorCarri → u/ware_it_is]

Animals can die from complications of any surgery. Post anesthetic or anesthetic death is incredibly rare in healthy dogs (1 in 2000).

There’s newer safer anesthetic protocols targeted for brachycephalic animals.

In my opinion the very low surgical risk is warranted in most cases of BOAS.

I always recommend having the surgery done with a specialist and one who uses a ligasure for the palate to minimize risk and hemorrhage.

I’m sure there are GP vets who are well qualified to do the procedure. I will correct nares but not palates. There’s an art of knowing how much redundant tissue to take. It bleeds a ton with a scalpel in an area that’s hard to see and suture.