Proper Shar Pei Care
No commentsShar Pei’s not only have a unique personality but they also have health problems that are just as unique to their breed as their personality. Due to the wrinkles in a Shar Pei’s skin they face many Shar Pei health problems such as ear infections, skin problems and eye problems.
It is a good idea to purchase an ear wash from your veterinarian and use it at least once a week. An ear wash will help to loosen the wax inside and further down the ear canal. You should also place a special salve in the ears at least once a month in order to prevent any ear infections.
If you notice any signs of an ear infection it is important to get your dog to a veterinarian right away. The key to keeping your dog healthy is getting medical attention for conditions such as ear infections as soon as possible.
You will know your Shar Pei has problems with their eyes when they begin pawing at them. Due to their wrinkles, the Shar Pei has problems with the lids rolling in. Sometimes it can affect just the top lid or the bottom lid and occasionally both lids will be affected. It is important to correct this Shar Pei health problem as soon as possible because without the operation your Shar Pei can eventually go blind. For the dog it is the same as having an eyelash stuck in your eye and everyone knows how painful that can be.
Skin conditions are the most common Shar Pei health problems. Your dog is actually rare compared to other Shar Pei’s if they don’t have skin problems. Occasionally too much bathing can results in skin problems. It is important that you rinse your Shar Pei very well after you bathe them. You can use human Benedryl in order to help with the itching and it won’t harm the dog.
Another important part of Shar Pei health is to check between their paws from time to time. Sometimes a Shar Pei can get sore paws and you will know this when your dog starts to constantly lick their paws. Your veterinarian can recommend an antibiotic salve that won’t harm your Shar Pei if they lick it. The antibiotic will also help to relieve the soreness between the paws.
Despite their health problems the Shar Pei makes an excellent pet. If you are getting your dog from a reputable breeder there is less chance that your Shar Pei will develop breed specific health problems. On the other hand, getting a Shar Pei from a puppy mill or unknown source could have health problems.
It is important to carefully consider the puppy and the person you are getting them from before taking a Shar Pei into your household. If you have any concerns about your Shar Pei’s health then you should talk with your veterinarian who is trained to handle breed specific problems.
Saturday, May 31st, 2008 at 8:35 pm and is filed under Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
