The Canadian Family

There are some Shar Pei allergies that are easily managed and there are some that require very specific care. For instance Shar Peis have very sensitive paws and a quick temper when a stranger touches them. The Shar Peis paws will need to be carefully cleaned and examined. It is not unusual for Shar Peis to get sores associated with salts and other chemicals from walking on city streets in the winter. In the winter some pet owners even wash their pet’s feet after each walk.

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.

It is a fact that purebred dogs are typically more susceptible to allergic reactions than the common garden variety of mutts. After hundreds of years of breeding for a particular trait, skill or look many dogs suffer from a reduced ability to manage standard illnesses and a tendency to have some rather weird illnesses as well.

Training in grooming tolerance should begin when the dog is a very young puppy with the goal of establishing your dominance. A Shar Pei does not like their ears being touched or their nails being trimmed. Because of the rather aggressive nature of a Shar Pei this could lead to some real problems if the dog has not been trained early on its life to tolerate basic grooming of this form.

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.

It is unfortunate that such an unusual dog is hard to take care of in this manner given their tendency to exhibit certain health problems. A Shar Pei is clearly not your traditional pet. With a documented history going back hundreds of years in China they have largely been bred for their temperament and not for their robust health. Although Shar Peis can live to the age of fifteen most live for eight to twelve years.

Shar Pei allergies and skin issues are typically cosmetic and many Shar Pei specific allergies do not really contribute to this short life span. This short life span is rather more a factor of the size of the dog and its behaviors.

Similarly to mastiffs and the tougher hound breeds, a Shar Pei requires constant exercise with a commitment to manage the problems that come with owning a large animal. As with all large dogs there are typically hip issues and concerns with their gait as they age and they become victims to inflammations akin to arthritis. It is without a doubt that large dogs in modern society seem to exhibit a surprisingly large number of problems with their skeleton that most likely are worked out in previous times through rugged exercise and work. Generic heartgard