Pug Dog Encephalitis, unfortunately, has been a frequent topic of discussion, touching many of the pugs associated with Pug Village. With increased awareness perhaps there is a way to further support research into this terrible disease.

With time and increased research, we may even be able to develop a non-invasive test to identify those pugs that carry genetic markers of the disease. In this way, we could possibly breed this condition out of our beloved Pugs.”

The symptoms of PDE include seizures, walking in circles pressing heads against people, walls or furniture, staggered walking and neck pain. An early sign of the condition is change in behaviour, such as a reluctance to jump from a chair.

The Village of Hope campaign is working towards raising awareness of the facts currently known about PDE amongst vet and pug owners but also those thinking of buying a puppy.

Dr Alice Baruch, Pug Village member and infectious disease physician, believes this could make a real difference: "The thought that puppymillers and back yard breeders are perpetuating this horrible disease through indiscriminate breeding infuriates me. And so many people need to be educated about how to find a healthy puppy.” "We need to make it known that healthy, socialized puppies do not come from pet shops or breeders who have not done their homework”

The Village of Hope campaigners have linked up with the leading light in PDE research, Dr Kimberly Greer, in an effort to raise awareness of the disease, generate more funds, and eventually find a way of breeding PDE out of their favourite breed.

Assistant Research Professor Kimberly Greer, Ph.D, of the Laboratory Of Canine Genomics at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Texas, is conducting a detailed study in to the disease and hoping to find out more about PDE, such as why it affects certain pugs and how the disease originates.

One of the main problems hampering the research is that pug owners and vets are unaware of the condition, meaning many cases are unrecorded or diagnosed incorrectly.

Diagnosis can be sought through spinal taps, where a small sample of the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord is obtained and analyzed, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a test that allows visualization of the structures of the brain.

In treatment of past cases anticonvulsant, steroids and homeopathic treatments have been administered. Anticonvulsants, such as phenobarbital, has been shown to help control seizures to a degree and steroids appear to relieve some of the brain inflammation associated with the disorder, although the disease is inevitably fatal.

To aid research, Greer needs swabs from pugs who are suspected to be suffering from the disease, she says: “Participation does not require "diagnosis" of PDE...if a seizure disorder or any form of encephalitis is suspected, the information and participation can be extremely helpful to the ongoing PDE research. Medical records, cheek brushes, and pedigrees are the initial contribution, and if the participants are willing when their Pug passes away, I can coordinate a full necropsy and cremation.”

Pugs that have died from the condition can to be flown to Texas for a post-mortem.

A post-mortem will enable brain tissue analysis to be examined to aid diagnosis.

Currently PDE is a little known illness outside of devout pug circles, and the Village of Hope campaign aims to change this by raising awareness. Dr Greer said, “My time for this sort of contact effort is extremely limited, and I am excited to have the recent help of Pug Village.”

For further information about PDE, or if you suspect your pug has PDE please conact:
Kimberly A. Greer, Ph.D.
NIH Fellow/ Assistant Research Professor, Laboratory of Canine Genomics
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University College Station
TX 77843-4467
979-458-0128 (office) 979-845-9231 (fax)
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For further information on Village of Hope contact: Rona von Stein - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Rebecca Ward – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it To join the forum contact:

www.pugvillage.com/forum

A group of pug owners from across the world have joined forces through an Internet forum to save the breed from a fatal disease.

Members of the Pug Village message board have begun an awareness raising campaign, Village of Hope, in an effort to help find a cure for Pug Dog Encephalities (PDE), a fatal disease which strikes pugs between the age of six months and three years.

The condition has no known cause, or cure, but has several distinct symptoms that almost without exeption cause death.

Through discussing illnesses suffered by their beloved dogs, members of the forum became aware that some of their pugs had died with similar symptoms, but were receiving vastly different diagnoses by vets, ranging from meningitis to spinal problems.