The Shar-Pei, also known as the Da Li dog, is one of the rarest dog breeds in the world. In the past, the Shar-Pei was trained and raised as a fighting dog. By the early 1950s, there were still Shar-Pei fighting arenas in Guangdong. From the 1960s to the 1970s, this breed declined in China. However, since the Shar-Pei was introduced to the United States in the 1970s, it has become popular and the "Chinese Shar-Pei Club" is now established in various states across America, with over ten thousand officially registered Shar-Peis. The Chinese Han Dynasty paintings contain images similar to the Shar-Pei. At one point, this breed faced the danger of extinction but American breeders made significant efforts to preserve and continue this breed, which is ironic.
The Chinese Shar-Pei has a history of about 2,000 years. This breed is actually quite contradictory, loved by many but also disliked by many. The characteristic of the Shar-Pei is that it has many skin wrinkles, which may be considered unattractive from the perspective of Chinese aesthetics. However, the Shar-Pei is a popular breed overseas.
Recommended for dog lovers
1. Heart disease
Dog heart disease is often related to obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. Dog heart disease is difficult to detect, and when owners notice it, the dog is already seriously ill.
2. Infectious diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that are not vaccinated in a timely manner are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once they are sick, they will experience symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, high body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, one cannot ignore kidney disease. The terrifying thing about dog kidney disease is the unconscious process of the disease. Once owners discover it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells usually exceeds 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms usually include blood in urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, depression, diarrhea, presence of worms in feces, and pale gums and oral mucosa. Heartworms are parasites that parasitize in the dog's heart, and dogs will experience symptoms such as weak vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and ascites after infection.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases and often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral flu, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and high body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Newborn period: The newborn period is when the puppies are just born and they mainly rely on mother's milk for survival. They cannot regulate their body temperature and rely on the mother's heat for warmth. They have no hearing or vision for the first day, and rely on weak touch to find the nipple. Around day 13, their eyes open, and they develop hearing around day 15. They start teething around day 20. From day 21 to 28, the mother's milk is not enough, and they need to transition from liquid food to semi-solid food. During this time, they are prone to diarrhea and constipation, so it is important to feed them lactase, probiotics, or goat milk powder/pet milk powder. If they have constipation when consuming milk powder, they can be fed a small amount of vegetable oil and massage their belly to help with bowel movements. Deworming starts at 14-28 days old.
Puppyhood: 1 month to 2 months old. The digestive system of puppies is not fully developed yet, so they need careful care from their owners. Generally, they should be fed at least 3 times a day, and the amount can be adjusted based on the condition of the puppies, with small meals throughout the day. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed them little by little. Do not overfeed, as it may cause poor digestion. Make sure to provide them with fresh water and avoid giving them milk, which can cause diarrhea. You can give them a small amount of probiotics every day to regulate their gastrointestinal system. During this time, puppies have weak resistance to viruses and bacteria, so they should not be taken outside or exposed to cold patients to avoid getting sick. Immunization starts at 6-7 weeks old and ends at 3 months old. It is recommended to wait until after immunization to bathe them. Dry cleaning powder can be used for bathing in the early stage. They start teething at 19-28 days old and all deciduous teeth are grown by 2 months old. They have certain learning abilities and can start toilet training.
Adolescence: 3 months to 6 months old. At this time, puppies can gradually transition from soaked dog food to dry dog food. It is important to adjust their eating schedule and make it more regular. They still eat dog food and drink fresh water. However, at this time, their bones and muscles grow rapidly, and they need a lot of protein and calcium. Their fur is also changing into adult fur, which is a critical period for maintaining a healthy coat, but it may be awkward-looking. Puppies also develop dominance during this period, trying to establish their territory and dominate their owners. Their destructive ability increases. At this stage, their body length and height grow rapidly, losing baby fat, so they need moderate exercise every day to maintain their body development.
Sexual maturity: 8 months to 14 months old. During this period, dogs enter sexual maturity and have their first heat. The first heat can result in hormonal imbalances and menstrual disorders. They may continue to have heat, not have heat, or have pseudopregnancy with low pregnancy rates and high difficult delivery rates. They need to be supplemented with nutrients that promote reproduction, such as vitamin E, organic chromium, and folic acid. It is important to note that they should not be bred during their first heat. Pay attention to hygiene during the heat to prevent infections. If they are not intended for breeding, spaying can be done after the heat ends.
Adulthood: 1 year old to 6 years old. Dogs are considered adults at one year old, and they have already grown into their shape around the same time. There are no strict dietary restrictions at this stage, but it is still important to supplement them with appropriate nutrients. Do not feed them chicken or duck bones, and avoid salty and spicy foods, raw food, and animal fat. If they have a cold or become sick, take them to a pet hospital in a timely manner. Do not make blind judgments on medication unless you are a veterinarian; otherwise, you should be responsible for your beloved pet.
Old age: 8 years old to 18 years old. Dogs over 8 years old are equivalent to over 50 years old in human age, entering the old age stage of their "dog lives". At this time, their organ functions decline and they are susceptible to age-related diseases such as diabetes, reduced liver and kidney function, bone and joint diseases, etc. It is especially important to supplement them with calcium. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage, or use commercially available calcium supplements for dogs. Get more sunlight and exercise regularly. Pay attention to hygiene. With proper care, you can enjoy a longer time with your dog.
1. Do not bathe too frequently
When bathing your dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing should depend on the dog's hygiene condition. Bathe your dog more often in hot weather and reduce the frequency in winter, but in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when shedding is more severe. To ensure good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Owners can use dedicated pet combs to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathing
Basking in the sun is beneficial for the dog's hair growth. In addition to making the fur shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of nutrition, so deworming is indispensable. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Also, deworming medications can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is recommended to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have a shiny coat, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation, so pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed your dog nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that suits your dog and provides adequate nutrition to meet their needs. On the other hand, you can give your dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil, etc.
Pet Encyclopedia
