How long do shar peis live

Pottery would suggest that he was present during the Chinese Han Dynasty and more specific references are made to the Shar-Pei during the 13th century. At that time he was used by farmers to guard both houses and livestock. It was believed that his wrinkles and purple tongue had the ability to frighten away evil spirits, making him a very popular breed. Later, the Shar-Pei became a popular fighting dog.

His loose skin allowed him to retaliate even after he had been clamped onto by another dog. After the communist takeover of China, Shar-Pei numbers plummeted.

They were considered to be a symbol of an overly decadent lifestyle and were only kept on rural farms and in Hong Kong, which was still part of the British Empire. Matgo Law, who lived in Hong Kong in , took it upon himself to revitalize the breed which was rapidly nearing extinction. How many years a Shar-Pei lives depends not only on heredity but also on conditions of detention.

The first type of food is preferable for owners who do not have time to cook for the dog. For Sharpei, it is better to choose premium or super-premium food. It is desirable that they be free of wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, and dyes. In order not to shorten the already short life of Shar-pie, they cannot be fed with tubular bones, river fish, potatoes, sausage, pork, onions, and chocolate.

The use of these products has a bad effect on the digestive system of Shar-Pei, which leads to a decrease in their life expectancy. With age, Shar Pei become less mobile and quickly gain excess weight. And because of the special structure of the skull, long runs and intense physical activity are contraindicated for Shar-Pei.

With age, Shar-Pei often develops diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The duration of walks is reduced to a minimum so as not to harm the dog.

An old Shar-Pei is not allowed to jump and stay outside for a long time in damp or frosty weather. Since Sharpei do not have a dense undercoat, with the onset of cold weather, the duration of walks is also reduced. And before going out on the street, the dog is dressed up in warm clothes.

Most of these diseases appear in Shar-Peis at a young age. Many of them are treatable and, if started in a timely manner, do not affect the lifespan of pets. Therefore, when the first signs of malaise appear, the dog needs to be taken to the veterinarian. In addition to the above pathologies, there are a number of diseases that can lead to the premature death of a dog.

These include carnivore plague, parvovirus enteritis, leptospirosis, and rabies. Sharpei is regularly vaccinated with a complex preparation. The first vaccination is given at weeks of age and is repeated 21 days later. In the future, the Shar Pei is vaccinated once a year. Dogs that regularly walk outside can become infected with parasites that weaken the immune system and carry dangerous diseases.

Helminths provoke malfunctions in the digestive system, ticks carry piroplasmosis and Lyme disease, and fleas cause dermatitis. Shar-pies are regularly treated for external and internal parasites in order to protect the life of the pet.

Taking care of a Sharpei at home is not difficult at all. The main thing to remember is that regular hygiene procedures will help not only maintain a neat appearance of the dog, but also maintain health, and therefore increase its life expectancy.

Sharpies do not tolerate bath procedures very well. Therefore, you need to bathe them no more than times a year. It is advisable to use a hypoallergenic shampoo for washing. And after bathing the Shar-Pei, it is better to wipe it dry with a towel. Brush the dog weekly with a rubber glove or medium-hard bristle brush.

To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run hip, eye, knee, elbow, and thyroid tests on the dog. Megaesophagus is sometimes seen in this breed.

The Shar-Pei is also prone to fevers, and although its cause is unknown, it often occurs with Shar-Peis suffering from swollen hocks roughly equivalent to a human ankle. Some statues have even been discovered in this area bearing a strong resemblance to the Shar-Pei. Soon after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, many records about the breed's background were lost during the social upheaval.

It is known that the breed was used by peasant farmers as a working dog, and later serving as wild boar hunter, a property guard dog, and a fighting dog. As time passed, the Chinese Shar-Pei lost its allure and many of the dogs were removed, leaving just a handful of dog that remained along the city outskirts.

Many of these specimens would eventually make their way to the United States. In , a news article alerted U. Shar-Pei fanciers to the breed's dangerously low numbers; determined to be the rarest dog in the world, the dog lovers worked quickly to protect the remaining dogs. Since then, the breed has become very popular and is among the most recognizable breeds in the U.

Home Dog Breeds. Chinese Shar-Pei. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: February 23,