Raising dogs, especially providing care for the shar pei, is a specialty of humans across the world. Some historians speculate dogs were first domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all dogs evolved from wolves. Since those days, humans have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-ft stature earns them the title of the tallest dog. However, the most widespread pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The shar pei is another popular pick among canine owners. Some owners are oblivious, however, of some of the most crucial shar pei care tips.
Cost of care for your shar pei
The annual budget for caring for your shar pei—including everything from meals, to vet bills, toys and license—could vary between $420 and $780. This doesn’t even include capital expenses for spay/neuter procedures, dog collar and a leash, dog carrier and a dog crate. Note: Be sure you have obtained all of your supplies before bringing your shar pei home for the first time.
Typical shar pei Care
shar pei Feeding Outline
- shar pei puppies between 8 and 12 weeks need four bowls of food every 24 hours.
- Feed shar pei puppies 3 to 6 months old 3 meals daily.
- Feed puppies six months to 1 year old two times a day.
- By the time your shar pei makes her 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a day is usually enough.
- Many times shar peis might eat 2 smaller servings. It is your duty to learn your shar pei’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry dog food provides a well-rounded diet for adult shar peis and may be mixed with water, canned food, or broth. Your shar pei may dig cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, and cooked eggs, but these additions should be less than ten pct of her daily nutrition intake. shar pei puppies should be fed excellent-quality, name brand puppy food. Please cut down on “table food”, though, because it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and might cause extremely picky food choices as well as obesity. Give fresh, potable water always, and make certain to clean water and food bowls very frequently.
shar pei Care Tips: Your shar pei needs physical activity daily
shar peis need some physical activity so they can burn calories, recharge their brains, and keep healthy. Daily exercise also really helps shar peis fight boredom, which can often lead to difficult behavior. A little fun and games will appease most of your shar pei’s instinctual urges to herd, dig, chase, retrieve and chew. Individual exercise needs depend on your shar pei’s age and his level of health—but a couple of walks down the street every day and 10 minutes outside probably will not suffice. If your shar pei is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be higher.
shar pei Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your shar pei clean with brushing. Inspect for ticks and fleas every day during the summer or other warm weather. Many shar peis don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Prior to the bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the shar pei’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
shar pei Handling
Puppies are obviously the easiest to manage. To carry your shar pei pup, take one of your hands and put it beneath the dog’s chest, with either your forearm or other hand supporting his hind legs and rear. Don’t ever attempt to lift or grab your puppy by his or her forelegs, nape or tail. If you need to pick up a bigger, full-grown shar pei, pick it up from the underside, bracing his chest with 1 arm and rump with the other.
shar pei housing
shar peis need a comfy quiet place in order to rest away from all the drafts and away from the floor or ground. You might wish to think about buying a dog bed, or make one from a wooden box. Place a clean sheet, comforter, blanket, or pillow in the bed as cushion. Wash your shar pei’s bed covering frequently. If the shar pei will be outdoors much, make sure he has access to covering and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry shelter during the winter.
shar pei Identification
Heed the city’s licensing rules. Make certain to affix the license to your shar pei’s collar. This, together with an ID tag, can help secure your shar pei’s return should he become lost.
shar pei Behavior Info
shar pei Training
Well-mannered, companion shar peis are a blessing to own. However, when left untrained, your dog could be a big headache. Training your shar pei on the basics—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship with both your dog as well as the relatives. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin teaching him or her the appropriate responses as soon as possible! Use a treat as recognition and incentive. Puppies should commence obedience class when they are sufficiently immunized. Call your local SPCA or humane society for training classes. Invariably you should keep your shar pei on a leash while in public, even as a puppy. Be certain your shar pei will come back to you at all times whenever you say so. A disobedient or aggressive shar pei shouldn’t be allowed to play with children.
The Health of Your shar pei
Your shar pei should visit the veterinarian for a complete diagnosis, immunizations and a heartworm assessment every year, and immediately when he is ill or hurt.
The Oral Health of Your shar pei
Although we might simply dislike our shar pei’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may indicate. Bad breath is most commonly a symptom which means that your shar pei requires an oral check up. Dental plaque caused by germs creates a terrible odor that can only be cured with professional treatment. After you give your shar pei a professional cleaning, her gums and teeth can be be preserved in a healthy state by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. The veterinarian can give you more information for mitigating oral diseases as well as halitosis. You should brush your shar pei’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a paste made of baking soda and water once or twice per week. Brush them with a nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger, a sterile gauze pad, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the tooth and the gum, often affects shar peis. This troublesome condition can cause your shar pei’s loss of teeth and also propagate infections to the body. Veterinarians should clean the teeth as a regular part of your shar pei’s health appointment.
Halitosis (bad breath) in shar peis
If your shar pei has smelly breath, periodontal disease may not necessarily be the reason, as other diseases have that symptom. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may frequently be a sign of diabetes. Kidney disease may be the reason if your shar pei’s breath smells like urine or ammonia. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your shar pei has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Fleas and Ticks in shar peis
When it’s warm, it’s important for you to perform daily, regular checks of your shar pei for fleas and ticks. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are many new techniques of flea mitigation. Talk to your veterinarian about her recommendations.
shar peis With Heartworm Issues
The heartworm is a parasite that lives in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your shar pei by way of mosquitoes. Heartworm infections are known to be fatal. It’s important that you ensure your shar pei has a blood test for heartworms each spring. A monthly tablet given during the warm, wet time of the year will help to protect your shar pei. If ever you vacation south with your shar pei in winter, he must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some places, usually the places with milder climates, where the vets advise heartworm medication be taken throughout the year.
Poisons and Medications
If you’re considering giving your shar pei medicine that was not prescribed for him by his vet, forget it. As little as one ibuprofen tablet is known to initiate stomach ulcers in shar peis. Make sure your shar pei is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure you immediately call your shar pei’s vet if you have cause to suspect your shar pei has been exposed to a poisonous substance. You may also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hr. help.
shar peis: Neutering and Spaying
Male shar peis should be neutered – the extraction of the testes – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the breast cancer risk, a common and often deadly ailment for more mature female dogs. Spaying also eradicates the risk of a diseased uterus, a traumatic condition in older females that can only be treated with surgery. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, some hernias and certain types of aggressions can be prevented by neutering males.
shar pei Immunizing
- Your shar pei pup should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called the “five-in-one”) at two, 3 and 4 months old, and again once annually. This shot immunizes your shar pei puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The shar pei puppy’s immunization program cannot be finished prior to four months of age.
- If your shar pei has not been innoculated and is older than 4 months, she will need to be given two innoculations promptly, 2 to three weeks apart. After that you must immunize annualy.
- Your shar pei pup’s socialization should coincide with the innoculation program. You may bring your shar pei pup to socialization courses as early as eight or nine weeks old, as recommended by most doctors. At this age, they should have already received their first series of vaccines.
Regulations are so different around the country, that it’s best to call your local doctor to get rabies vaccination info. For instance, New York City statutes state that pets older than three months must be immunized for rabies. The original rabies shot must be followed by a subsequent shot a year later, and then every 3 years. There are many immunizations, many of which are effective for your shar pei. There are others that are not, however. Ask your shar pei’s vet for his opinion. Note, if your shar pei happens to get sick because he is not immunized, the vaccination should be administered after your pet fully recovers.
Intestinal Worms in shar peis
shar peis are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—in all areas, both urban and rural. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of shar pei puppies carry roundworms or hookworms. Getting an accurate, early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. This will ensure that the treatment is highly effective against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your vet can best figure out the culprit—and prescribe the most effective treatment.
shar pei Care Tips: Additional Info
shar pei Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for shar peis and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water dish
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb and brush for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with quilt or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to shar peis:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Coffee, tea, or chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured space, always keep your shar pei on a leash. And please, when your shar pei defecates on your neighbor’s grass, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about shar peis
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