History Health Standard Health issues
The Shar-Pei originated in China many centuries ago. They were used for herding, hunting, guarding and as combatants. When the Chinese Communists came into control they became nearly extinct. During the 1960’s there were very few left and they became the rarest dog in the world. In 1970 a man called Matgo Law began a rescue operation of his native breed. A few specimens found their way to interested parties in the United States. Thanks to this man the breed is no longer an endangered species.
Shar pei means a "sand-dog", maybe one reason is a short and harsh coat...
An alert, active, compact dog of medium size and substance, short coupled and square in profile. Preferred height 46-51cm (18-20") at the withers. Dogs are larger and more powerful than bitches. The Shar-Pei has a number of unique characteristics. The breed has a head which can best be described as "hippopotamus like", very small ears flat to the forehead, loose folds of skin about the head neck and shoulders and a short harsh coat. The Shar-Pei has a blue black tongue, a characteristic shared only with one canine breed, the Chow Chow. The loose skin and wrinkles are abundant in puppies, but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in adults.
Entropion
Permanent ENTROPION SURGERY is often done in Shar-Pei after they reach the age of 6-8 months old. This is the age at which most pups are full grown and have "grown into" their heads. Permanent repair is a surgical procedure that will result in correction of the eyelid problem. Its success depends on the experience and artistry of the surgeon and often times referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist is recommended. The procedure involves various techniques to remove excessive eyelid tissue from the lids, tighten up the eye opening and sometimes remove extra folds of skin around the eyes. Typically the dogs look worse for a few days after the surgery due to the swelling that occurs and they often sport an Elizabethan or "lampshade" collar to protect the sutures. Stitches are usually removed in 7-14 days.
"Cherry eye" is properly called PROLAPSE OF THE GLAND OF THE THIRD
EYELID. Dogs have a third eyelid in the inner corner of the eye nearest the
nose. It serves as a "windshield wiper" distributing the tear film
over the eye. It also contains a tear-producing gland which accounts for about
50% of the tear production in the eye. In young Shar-Pei puppies, this gland
will occasionally break loose from its attachment in the third eyelid and "pop"
up and appear as a swelling in the corner of the eye. It often will appear red
and inflamed, although it doesn't seem to bother the dog too much. This condition
must be surgically corrected using a "tacking" procedure which re-attaches
the gland to its position in the third eyelid or a "pocket technique".
While it is not a difficult surgery there is about a 10-20% recurrence rate
and the surgery has to be repeated. Some veterinarians advise removal of the
gland, but this could result in decreased tear production later on and a condition
known as "dry eye" or KCS. In my opinion the "pocket technique"
is the easiest procedure and should be tried first. In the Shar-Pei, entropion
may be a complicating factor in cherry eye in that the eyelashes rub on the
third eyelid and may cause irritation resulting in prolapse of the gland. The
eyelids may be tacked along with the cherry eye correction.
Ears
The number one cause of ear problems in Shar-Pei are primary yeast infections.
Yeast likes a warm, dark and moist environment and that is exactly what the
typical tight, closed ear canal of the Shar-Pei provides. It is essentially
similar to having athlete's foot in the ear. Usually, this organism produces
a moist, chocolate-brown, musty smelling discharge.
The best way to clean the ear canal is to "float" debris out of the
canal using an ear cleaning solution.
Lips
Shar-Pei pups often have a condition called "tight lip syndrome" in which the lower lip pushes against the lower incisor (front) teeth or may even extend to cover those teeth.
Skin
Allergics, tumors and cutaneous mucinosis...
Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is the deposition of an abnormal substance called amyloid in the tissues of the body. Amyloidosis is not a disease as much as it is a specific biochemical arrangement in which a precursor protein or protein fragment accumulates and forms filaments. These filaments align and stack themselves in a beta-sheet conformation forming fibrils that twist around each other and are deposited in the tissues as amyloid deposits. Amyloid deposits differ due to the nature of the protein precursors that form there. Due to this structure amyloid is insoluble and can be thought of as “wax".
Familial Shar-Pei Fever
Episodic fever is the most important and consistent clinical sign of this disorder. The temperature commonly is in the 105-107°F range. The fever is generally self-limiting lasting 12-36 hours. Another common clinical sign often accompanying the fever is swelling of a joint, usually the hock (tibiotarsal) joint and is known as Swollen Hock Syndrome (SHS). This painful, hot swelling can also involve the carpus (wrist) and the lips. Dogs with FSF are sick -- they are reluctant to move and when they do walk they have a characteristic "walking on eggs" gait. They often are painful in the abdomen and have a characteristic "roached" back.
All Shar-Pei with FSF should be on colchicine and be regularly monitored
via urine samples and blood work for development of complications. Dogs with
FSF should not be used in breeding programs and should be neutered. Dogs with
a family history of FSF should be on colchicine and monitored. Dogs with FSF
should be maintained as stress-free as possible.
ORIGIN : China.
FCI-Standard N° 309 / 09. 08. 1999 / GB
PATRONAGE : F.C.I.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 14.04.1999.
UTILIZATION : Hunting- and watch-dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossians and Mountain-and Cattledogs.
Section 2.1 Molossian, Mastiff type. Without working trial
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : This Chinese breed has existed for hundreds of years in the provinces bordering the South China Sea. The town of Dialak in the province of Kwun Tung is probably the place of origin.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Active, compact, short coupled and squarely built dog of medium size. Wrinkles over skull and withers, small ears and « hippopotamus » muzzle impart to the Shar Pei a unique look. Dogs larger and more powerful than bitches.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The height of the Shar Pei from withers to ground is approximately equal to the length of the body, from point of shoulder to point of buttock, especially in males. The length from nose to stop is approximately equal to the length from stop to occiput.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Calm, independent, loyal, affectionate to his family.
HEAD
Rather large in proportion to body. Wrinkles on forehead and cheeks continuing to form dewlap.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Flat, broad.
Stop : Moderate.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Large and wide, preferably black, but any colour conforming to general coat colour permissible. Wide opened nostrils.
Muzzle : A distinctive feature of the breed. Broad from root to tip of nose with no suggestion of tapering. Lips and top of muzzle well padded. Bulge at the base of the nose permissible.
Mouth : Tongue, roof of mouth, gums and flews : bluish black is preferred. Pink spotted tongue permissible. Solid pink tongue highly undesirable. In dilute-coloured dogs the tongue is solid lavender.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong with a perfect scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Padding of lower lip should not be so excessive as to interfere with the bite.
Eyes : Dark, almond-shaped with a scowling expression. Lighter colour permissible in dilute-coloured dogs. Function of eyeball or lid in no way disturbed by surrounding skin, folds or hair. Any sign of irritation of eyeball, conjunctiva or eyelids highly undesirable. Free from entropion.
Ears : Very small, rather thick, equilaterally triangular in shape, slightly rounded at tip and set high on the skull with tips pointing towards eyes; set well forward over eyes, wide apart and close to skull. Pricked ears highly undesirable.
NECK : Medium length, strong, set well on shoulders. The loose skin under the neck should not be excessive.
BODY : Folds of skin on body in mature dogs highly undesirable except on withers and base of tail, which show moderate wrinkling.
Topline : Dips slightly behind withers; then it rises slightly over loin.
Back : Short, strong.
Loin : Short, broad, slightly arched.
Croup : Rather flat.
Chest : Broad and deep, brisket reaching the elbow.
Underline : Rises slightly under the loin.
TAIL : Thick and round at the root, tapering to a fine point. The tail is set very high, a characteristic feature of the breed. May be carried high and curved, carried in tight curl or curved over or to either side of the back. Lack of or incomplete tail highly undesirable.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight, moderate length, good bone. The skin on forelegs shows no wrinkle.
Shoulders : Muscular, well laid and sloping.
Metacarpus (Pastern) : Slightly sloping, strong and flexible.
HINDQUARTERS : Muscular, strong, moderately angulated, perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Wrinkles on upper thighs, lower thighs, rear pasterns as well as the thickening of the skin on hocks undesirable.
Hocks : Well let down.
FEET : Moderate size, compact, not splayed. Toes well knuckled. Hindfeet free from dewclaws.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : The preferred gait is trot. The gait is free, balanced, active with good forward reach and strong drive from the hindquarters. The feet tend to converge to a center line when the speed increases. Stilted gait undesirable.
COAT
HAIR : A distinctive feature of the breed : short, harsh and bristly. The coat is straight and offstanding on the body, but generally flatter on the limbs. No undercoat. The coat may vary in length from 1 cm to 2,5 cm. Never trimmed.
COLOUR : All solid colours acceptable except white. Tail and rear part of thighs frequently of a lighter colour. Darker shading down the back and on the ears permissible.
SIZE :
Height : 44 - 51 cm at withers (17,5 - 20 ins).
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
SERIOUS FAULTS :
· Deviation from a scissor bite (as a transitory measure, a very slightly overshot mouth is permissible).
· Snipy muzzle.
· Spotted tongue (except pink spotted tongue).
· Large ears.
· Low set tail.
· Coat longer than 2,5 cm.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
· Flat foreface with badly overshot bite; undershot bite.
· Solid pink tongue.
· Lower lip rolled in, interfering with the bite.
· Round, bulging eye. Entropion, ectropion.
· Skin, folds or hair disturbing the normal function of the eye.
· Pricked ears.
· Absence of tail; stumpy tail.
· Heavy folds of skin on body (except withers and base of tail) and limbs.
· Not a solid colour (albino, brindle, patches, spots, black and tan, saddled pattern).
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
REMARK : Any artificial physical alteration to the Shar Pei (in particular lips and eyelids) eliminates the dog from competition.
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