With a height at the withers of 44 to 51 cm, the Shar-Pei is a medium-sized dog. His loose skin forms folds, especially at the withers and wrinkles on the skull. The tail is set very high with a strong base and tapers towards the tip. The coat is short, harsh and spiky and all solid colors except white are possible for her coat. The ears are small and triangular. The skin of the body does not wrinkle.

The Shar-Pei is classified by the Fédération Cynologiques Internationale among the molossoid dogs, mastiff type. (1)

The Shar-Pei is native to the southern provinces of China. Statuettes bearing a strong resemblance to the current dog and dating back to the time of the Han dynasty in 200 BC have been found in this territory. More precisely, he was originally from the town of Dialak in the province of Kwang Tung.

Shar-Pei’s name literally means “sandy skin” and refers to her short, coarse coat.

Another clue to his Chinese origins is his blue tongue, a unique anatomical feature that he shares only with the Chow-Chow, another breed of dog also native to China.

The breed practically disappeared during the establishment of the People’s Republic of China at the beginning of the second half of the 1th century, but it was saved by the export of animals, especially to the United States. (XNUMX)

The Shar-Pei is a calm and independent dog. He will never be too “clingy” with his master, yet is a faithful companion.

He will also be able to be affectionate with all the members of the family. (1)

According to the 2014 Kennel Club Purebred Dog Health Survey in the UK, almost two-thirds of the dogs studied had a disease. The most common condition was entropion, an eye condition that affects the eyelid. In affected dogs, the eyelid curls inwardly of the eye and can cause corneal irritation. (2)

As with other purebred dogs it can be susceptible to hereditary diseases. Among these may be noted congenital idiopathic megaesophagus, familial Shar-Pei fever and hip or elbow dysplasias. (3-4)

Congenital idiopathic megaesophagus

Congenital idiopathic megaesophagus is a condition of the digestive system that is characterized by permanent dilation of the entire esophagus, as well as loss of its motor capacity.

Symptoms appear very soon after weaning and are mainly regurgitation of undigested food directly after a meal, and swallowing difficulties which are manifested in particular by lengthening of the neck.

Auscultation and clinical signs guide the diagnosis and the x-ray allows you to visualize the dilation of the esophagus. A fluoroscopy can measure the loss of motor skills in the esophagus and an endoscopy may be necessary to assess potential damage to the stomach.

It is a serious disease that can lead to death, including pulmonary complications due to regurgitation. The treatments are mainly related to nutrition and aim to improve the comfort of the animal. There are also drugs that can partly improve the functioning of the esophagus.

Shar-Pei family fever

Family Shar-Pei fever is a genetic disease characterized by the appearance of fevers of unexplained origin before 18 months and sometimes in adulthood. Their duration is approximately 24 to 36 hours and the frequency decreases with age. Fever is most often associated with joint or abdominal inflammation. The main complication of the disease is the progression to kidney failure due to renal amyloidosis.

The predisposition strongly guides the diagnosis which is made on the basis of the observation of clinical signs.

Fevers usually go away on their own without treatment, but antipyretics can be used to shorten and control seizures. Likewise, it is possible to relieve inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs. Colchicine treatment can also be combined to treat amyloidosis. (5)

Coxofemoral dysplasia

Coxofemoral dysplasia is an inherited disease of the hip joint. The malformed joint is loose, and the dog’s paw bone moves abnormally inside causing painful wear, tears, inflammation, and osteoarthritis.

Diagnosis and assessment of the stage of dysplasia is mainly done by x-ray.

Dysplasia develops with age, which can complicate management. The first-line treatment is often anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids to help with osteoarthritis. Surgical interventions, or even the fitting of a hip prosthesis can be considered in the most serious cases. A good medication management can be enough to improve the comfort of life of the dog. (4-5)

Elbow dysplasia

The term elbow dysplasia covers a set of pathologies that affect the elbow joint in dogs. These elbow conditions usually cause lameness in dogs and the first clinical signs appear quite early, around the age of five or eight months.

Diagnosis is made by auscultation and x-ray. It is a serious condition because, like hip dysplasia, it gets worse with age. The surgery, however, gives good results. (4-5)

The Shar-Pei’s guardian instinct has not faded over time and the adorable, wrinkled little furballs that puppies are will quickly grow up to be strong, hardy dogs. They require a firm grip and from an early age to avoid socialization problems in the future.