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Health
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Written by Melissa Coleman
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There are many Shar Pei allergies that can be overcome with some
careful thought. Unfortunately there are also a number of autoimmune
problems that your Shar Pei will face that may end in medical problems
requiring professional medical care. Special veterinary care is usually
required for some of the allergic skin conditions and even when treated
will require constant future management by the pet owner. Combined with
strong behavioral tendencies the Shar Pei is not a low maintenance pet
and it is also quite an expensive pet to own.
As with all pet allergies, Shar Pei allergies are usually caused
by something we do to them. Often allergic reactions result from a
change of food or a change of shampoo. As owners we need to consider
the results of our actions at all times and given that the Shar Pei is
now a pure breed recognize that the pure breeds often exhibit less
tolerance for change of all forms.
A Shar Pei is a large dog and can weigh up to sixty pounds for a large
specimen. Its large number of wrinkles exacerbates the potential for
skin allergies on such a large dog. Of course these features of its
appearance are based on the historic uses of the breed. A Shar Pei can
be frightening when this rather unusual collection of skin and fur
faces you off. Their tendency towards aggressive behaviors can lead to
additional problems with routine care items such as nail trimming and
ear cleaning.
The Shar Pei even has a form of fever known as "swollen hock fever"
that is episodic in nature and peculiar to them.
Unfortunately it can
be fatal. On the other hand there are some common Shar Pei allergies
that are associated with their skin can simply be managed by frequent
weekly bathing and the use of good grooming habits.
Shar Peis that were not suitably trained may end up with some Shar Pei
allergies originating with dirty ears or damaged paw pads. Shar Peis
are in general rather easy to annoy, and because of their powerful
nature and their low center of gravity a fully-grown Shar Pei cannot be
physically subdued by an average person.
As we move into an era of increasing understanding of the dangers we
face from our own pets and the world we have created, the Shar Pei
continues to be one of the most common household pets.
Although the Shar Pei has some very well documented problems, all pets
do as they are after all simply animals, lower in the food chain than
homo-sapiens. Despite their aggressive behavior with a tendency to some
unusual Shar Pei allergies and tolerance issues they are very lovable
and friendly to those that they trust.
Furthermore, their mysterious origins appear to compensate for many of
their shortcomings, and there is an obvious demand in today's pet
markets for their very unusual look. However, the need for training and
the unusual nature of the health of this animal would nominally
indicate that this is one pet that needs a truly committed dog owner
and not a part-time pet lover.
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Melissa Coleman |
| About the author: |
| About the author: Melissa Coleman is a passionate lover of the Shar Pei
and owns a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy,
healthy and well behaved Shar Pei. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Shar Pei Health plus a whole lot more.
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Dr. Rosenberg is the owner, CEO & Chief of Staff at Veterinary Cancer Group.
Kymythy Schultze has been a trailblazer in animal nutrition for over two decades.
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