Lens Luxation Study at the University of Missouri
Primary lens luxation is an eye problem which is hereditary on the Chinese Shar-Pei. The lens is held in place in the eye by fibers called zonules. If these fibers are weak, not located properly around the circumference of the lens capsule, or break, the lens can fall out of its normal position or “luxate”. The lens typically moves forward against the iris blocking the pupil and interfering with movement of aqueous fluid into the drainage angle which is located around the base of the iris. This can result in an increase in intraocular pressure known as secondary glaucoma which can result in loss of vision.
When the lens luxates immediate veterinary attention is required to remove the displaced lens and prevent secondary glaucoma and loss of vision.
The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine has developed a DNA test for primary lens luxation in the Chinese Shar-Pei. It has been found in the same gene that causes primary lens luxation in other breeds but is caused by a different mutation at this location. Dr. Gary Johnson is requesting blood samples from Shar-Pei to test for the mutation. He suggested that any Shar-Pei with glaucoma should be evaluated for primary lens luxation. The accompanying PDF download has all the necessary information for Shar-Pei owners to participate in the study. Thanks, in advance, for your help in this study.
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Health Issues that may effect the Shar-Pei
In general, dogs with any of the following conditions should not be bred. You want to make sure that
the parents of the puppy you may be considering have been cleared or checked for any of these conditions.
If your veterinarian requires more information about the Chinese Shar-Pei, send the name and address
of your veterinarian (for overseas orders, send $2.00 in U.S. funds for postage) to:
Jeff Vidt, DVM
210 S. Park Street
Westmont, IL 60559-1940
Entropion
The Shar-Pei are 1 of 14 breeds that can have this condition. This is where the eyelid rolls in towards
the eye, rubbing against the cornea and irritating this sensitive structure. Watery eyes, infection, even
a corneal ulcer, can occur. Surgical correction may be required. Dogs with this condition should not be
bred, as a genetic component is suspected.
Eye Tacking
Puppies open their eyes at about 10-14 days of age. In Shar-Pei, this is often when the first symptoms
of entropion appear. Typically the puppies open their eyes, but quickly they begin squinting and closing
them. Often there is a mucous eye discharge and these puppies usually don't eat well or gain weight
like their littermates. EYE TACKING is a temporary measure in which sutures (stitches) are placed in
the eye lids to roll the lids "out" of the eyeball. Often this can be done without anesthesia in very
young puppies (2-4 weeks of age). Sometimes gas anesthesia is used. Nylon sutures are placed in the
eyelids which opens the eyes. Often an antibiotic eye ointment is dispensed to help heal any corneal
ulcers and prevent secondary bacterial infections. These sutures are left in place for as long as possible - up
to 4 weeks in some cases. The tacks can be replaceed as needed until a permanent repair procedure can
be done. If the sutures loosen up or are causing problems, they can be removed. Eye tacking can result
in permanent repair of entropion, but its primary goal is to prevent serious eye damage until the pup is
old enough to undergo permanent entropion repair - around 6-8 months of age. Puppies who have their
eyes tacked may or may not need permanent entropion repair later on - there is not much correlation
between the two.
ENTROPION IN YOUNG PUPPIES CAN RESULT IN CORNEAL ULCERATION
AND IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY - SEE YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY!
Entropion Surgery
Permanent ENTROPION SURGERY is often done in Shar-Pei after they reach the age of 6-8 months
old. This is the age at which most pups are full grown and have "grown into" their heads. Permanent
repair is a surgical procedure that will result in correction of the eyelid problem. Its success depends on
the experience and artistry of the surgeon and often times referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist
is recommended. The procedure involves various techniques to remove excessive eyelid tissue from the
lids, tighten up the eye opening and sometimes remove extra folds of skin around the eyes.
Typically the dogs look worse for a few days after the surgery due to the swelling that occurs and they
often sport an Elizabethan or "lampshade" collar to protect the sutures. Stitches are usually removed in
7-14 days.
It should be noted that CSP’s eyes can be very sensitive to allergies and can swell shut due to
environmental allergens (dust, cigarette smoke), this can cause the appearance of entropion but doing
the surgery will not solve the problem. Tracking down the offending allergen and removing it from
the environment will correct the problem. Entropion can also be cause by stress – commonly referred to
as "stress entropion" – this is again a temporary situation and once the dog is removed from the
stressful situation, the eyes will recover. If their cornea gets a scratch, or if they bump their eye again
the tissue surrounding the eye can swell, causing the eye to shut, tacking is advised for these situations,
as it is a temporary problem.
Cherry eye
Cherry eye – protrusion of the third eyelid - is another fairly common problem in the breed. The gland for
the third eyelid becomes unattached and can be seen a round red blob in the inner corner of the eye.
When particularly large it can in fact obscure the entire eye. Whilst it doesn’t hurt the dog or affect it in
any way it is unsightly and if left untreated can cause problems. Treatment consists of surgery to place
the gland back into place and tie it down with sutures. This type of surgery is generally very
successful though there are rare occurrences when the gland pops back out. If this should happen then it
is generally recommended that the entire gland be removed. Should the gland itself be removed then
drops have to be put in the dog’s eye for the rest of its life to prevent what is commonly referred to as
"dry" eye. It should be noted that if one of the glands comes lose, the other eye will also be affected.
Should this happen to your dog it is worth trying to wait an extra couple of weeks, if possible, to see if
the other gland goes so your dog doesn’t have to go through two doses of anesthesia in a short period of
time. Unfortunately, there is no way "preventive" surgery can be done, the gland actually has to come
out before it can be repaired.
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid glands secrete a hormone which controls the basic metabolic rate of the entire body.
Inadequate hormone levels reset the body to function at a lower metabolic level. In that case, dogs
fatten easily on a normal diet, become sluggish, and are easily chilled. Hair changes are most noticeable
and include loss of hair from the flanks and back, increased pigmentation of the skin, scaling and
seborrhea (an abnormality in the production of skin cells.) Secondary bacterial infection of the skin is
common. The ears may also be affected, filling with thick, yellow greasy material which may predispose
the dog to ear infections. Blood tests will determine the level of thyroid function and administration
of thyroid hormone can treat the condition.
Familial Shar-Pei Fever and Amyloidosis
Familial Shar-Pei fever also known as "Swollen Hock Syndrome" (SHS) typically may include the
following symptoms:
- Swelling of the hock joint and sometimes other joints can be affected.
- Reluctance to move.
- Sometimes a swollen painful muzzle.
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and shallow breathing.
"Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) is an episodic fever disorder. Shar-Pei with this disorder have one or
more bouts of unexplained fever, usually 103-107 degrees but rare cases may go higher. Fevers usually
start when they are less then 18 months old but sometimes the first attack is not until they are adults.
Fever episodes usually become less frequent with age. Fevers last 24-36 hours in most cases
without treatment". The disorder is "thought to result from an inability to regulate the immune
system. Dogs suffering from this disorder are at risk of dying from a related disorder, amyloidosis.
Affected Shar-Pei with amyloidosis have an inability to break down chemicals released in the
bloodstream when inflammation results from abnormal deposition of amyloid protein throughout the
body. While not all dogs with Shar-Pei fever die of amylodosis, when they do, death most commonly
occurs between the ages of 3 and 5 years".
Demodectic mange is caused by the demodex mite, ALL dogs have these mites living in their skin.
In a healthy animal the parasite and host co-exist in relative harmony. The dog's own immune system
will keep the numbers of the mites in check and maintain the balance. Certain periods of growth
(adolescence) or times of stress (vaccinations, coming into heat for bitches) can cause temporary impairment
to the dog's immune system, which leads to a proliferation in the mites numbers. What will be seen is
small patches of hair loss (generally circular) particularly on the head and sometimes on the trunk, this
is referred to as juvenile or localized demodex. Current veterinary theory is to leave such small patches
well alone, in a healthy puppy or dog the immune system will re-assert itself, the patches of hairlessness
will recede and the hair will grow back. More of a problem is when the immune system cannot, for
some reason, cope with the large numbers of mites and it turns into generalized demodex.
Generalized demodex shows large numbers of mites in a skin scraping, large patchy hair loss, and in very
bad cases, total baldness. Dogs with generalized demodex have a faulty immune system and should
NOT, under any circumstances, ever be bred. Treatment consists of Mitaban dips once every two
weeks until several concurrent negative skin scrapings have been obtained or more popular now,
Ivermectin given either orally or via injection. Mitaban is a highly toxic chemical, and care should be
taken when using it both for the people and the dog, use in puppies under six months is contra-indicated
and dips should NEVER be closer than two weeks apart. Ivermectin as a treatment of demodex is
becoming more popular and is generally considered to be less toxic on the dog's system. Whichever method
is used though, it should ALWAYS be done with veterinary supervision.
Seborrhea Oleosa
Severe rancid body odor which comes from raw, scaly, bloody skin. Could be caused by
hypothyroidism, yeast infections, and or food allergies. This situation should be immediately discussed
with a veterinarian and the appropriate shampoos and medication can effectively treat this condition.
Ears
Due to the breed standard calling for small ears, this results in the Shar-Pei having very narrow ear canals.
The primary problem with ear cleaning in the Shar-Pei breed centers around inadequate training and lack
of control of the dog. If the dog will not let you clean the ears you will not be able to treat the ears.
The training process begins in puppyhood and involves discipline and positive reinforcement methods
which are beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that you should train you dog as a puppy
to tolerate ear cleaning. I will also be the first to say that some of the problem in cleaning the ears rests
in the most common method of ear cleaning used today - the cotton swab. Improper use of the cotton
swab results in trauma to the ear canal with swelling, pain and an uncooperative patient.
The best way to clean the ear canal is to "float" debris out of the canal using an ear cleaning solution. A
wide variety of such solutions are available on the market with none being better than any of the
others. Try different ones and see which works best for you. My personal favorites are Pan-Otic
and Nolvasan Otic. Do not use hydrogen peroxide! The foaming action bothers the dog and the
peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water in the ear. It is usually wise to clean the ears outdoors
because the principle here is to allow the cleaning solution to loosen the debris and the dog to shake
the material out of the ear.
The ear canal is filled up with the cleaning solution, gently massage, and then the dog is allowed to shake
its head. Stand Back! Material tends to catch on the inside of the ear flap where it is wiped off
with cotton balls and the whole process is repeated. This is done several times until no more debris
in collected. At this point a cotton swab can be gently inserted into the ear canal to soak up any
remaining ear cleaning solution. Do not clean the ear with the cotton swab! After the ear is
thoroughly dried, the appropriate ear medication is instilled into the ear canal as directed by
your veterinarian. It is often a good training technique to give the dog some sort of a special treat at
this point to positively reward the dog. This may make future sessions more pleasant. In ears that
have severe disease, it is often a good idea to treat the ear for several days with medication first
before attempting to clean the ears. This allows the swelling and pain to subside first and allow the dog
to tolerate the cleaning procedure better. In such cases it may also be a good idea to have your
veterinarian anesthetize the dog and clean the ears before any home therapy is done. This also allows
your veterinarian the opportunity to examine the ear more thoroughly.
Carpal Laxity
This is a weakness is the carpal ligaments which causes instability and bowing forward in young
puppies. Decrease the protein level and exercise on a non-slippery surface. In severe cases soft wraps
will be in order.
Patellar Luxation
Is where the knee cap slips out of its socket. Any Shar-Pei with this condition should not be bred.
Hip Dysplasia
A dysplastic dog has an abnormal hip joint where the femur and acetabulum are misaligned. This can
range in severity from mild (controllable) pain to dogs in such agony they must be put down. Make sure
the parents of any puppy you consider has been cleared of Hip Dysplasia through the Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals.
Regurgitation/Vomiting
"Megaesophagus and or diaphramatic hernias may not be detected until the dog is much older when they
will appear underweight or emaciated with a history of vomiting. This is a developmental defect
possibly a delayed maturation of the esophageal nueromuscular system. Mild cases in young dogs can
improve with careful feeding." Feeding the dog by elevating the food in such a way as to raise the
dog's front end. Putting food bowls on a stair or two and then allowing them some time to digest in the
same position may help.
Cutaneous Mucinosis
"Mucin is the substance in the Shar-Pei skin that causes all the wrinkling. It is clear and stringy and acts
like glue in fight wounds." Some Shar-Pei have an excess of Mucin causing it to form clear bubbles on
the skin that may rupture and ooze. May be associated with possible allergies and can be treated
by a alternate day steriod therapy. Mucin is what makes Shar-Pei skin wrinkle and gives them
padding on their muzzles and hocks. It is normal for Shar-Pei. Sometimes excessive mucin
bubbles up in the skin, forming vesicles. This is called cutaneous mucinosis. These vesicles
can be fragile and spontaneously break if the condition is severe or the bubbles of mucin may
rupture during rough play, etc., causing the sticky substance to ooze out. It is normally not a
problem for the dog. If it is excessive, e.g. causing much spontaneous rupture followed by
healing scabby areas or if the skin is tearing frequently, the production of mucin can be shut down
by low dosages of prednisone or other corticosteroids. Usually very low doses of alternate
day prednisone result in dramatic improvement. If it is not bothering the dog, I would not
treat it because corticosteroids are not without risk. Sometimes Shar-Pei will “lose” their
muzzles because of steroids administered medically or because they are stressed by fever or illness
and their own body’s production of cortisol by the adrenal glands will cause the mucin to “shrink”.
Usually, they will return to normal with time but sometimes they never regain their old appearance.
Mucinosis frequently occurs on the neck, forelimbs, shoulder area, hocks and about the anus.
This is a picture of Shar-Pei skin with cutaneous mucinosis:
Torsion/Bloat
Being one of many deep chested breeds, bloat can occur in Shar-Pei. Can also be caused by the way you
roll your dog. Although similar to colic in horses, "bloat and torsion occur when the stomach swells with
gas and then twists and cuts off its blood supply. Without timely surgical intervention the condition
is fatal". The dog must see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Often complicated by food allergies and or Chronic stress diarrhea. Usually responds to a strict
hypoallergenic diet.
Cancer
"In regard to cancer, several forms have a high incidence in the breed. At present, the CSPCA is
surveying club members to determine which are most prevalent. Once isolated, the organization's
Charitable Trust plans to fund relevant cancer research".
Allergies
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Both inhalant and food allergies are very common in most dogs. The symptoms generally express
themselves in hair loss, intense itching and infected ears, the skin between the toes of the feet might
well be swollen and red. Allergies are caused by an over-reaction of the immune system and again
can be split into two groups, acquired and inherited. Acquired allergies show up in a mature dog
which previously never had any problems. Trying to find the offending substance can be like searching
for a needle in a haystack, various allergy tests are offered and can be either by the traditional "skin
scrape" method or by blood tests. The blood test is mostly used in an attempt to track food allergies,
it is not a terribly reliable test, but it is useful in indicating what direction to go in. The "skin scrape"
is similar to the kind of testing done in people.
Food allergies whilst hard to track down are also relatively easy to treat - the offending food substance
is removed from the dog's diet. The best way to prevent food allergies is to feed your dog a high
quality, PREMIUM dog food, without soy, corn or wheat.
Inhalant allergies are, for the most part, impossible to treat. The best that can be hoped for is maintaining
the dog as comfortably as possible. Inhalant allergies are generally worse in the summer and fall when
pollen, molds and seeds are abundant. As with people, it is possible to get "allergy" shots for dogs
which might help to alleviate some of the symptoms.
Inherited allergies will generally show up in a much younger dog, sometimes as young as three months
but nearly always by the time a dog has turned a year. Again dogs with inherited allergies should
NEVER be bred. The treatment for dogs with inherited allergies is the same as for those with acquired.
Another very common cause of skin problems are fleas. Many dogs are very allergic to the saliva of the
flea. Symptoms are intense itching and scratching; it can take only one bite to set a severely allergic dog
into ripping its skin apart. The best solution for fleabite allergies is PREVENTION. These days there
are some excellent flea preventives available, both Frontline and Advantage are highly
recommended, Program is another method, however this particular method does not actually kill the
fleas that are biting your dog but sterilizes them so they can’t re-produce. If fleas are a problem they
you also have to treat the environment your dog lives in by removing fleas from your house and yard.
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Diet
Food allergies may cause skin and stomach diseases. This breed should have a well balanced,
preservative free diet and one that is low in protein, approximately "(16-21%)." Some alternatives
to rawhide and store bought treats are raw or cooked veggies when ever you are steaming some up
for yourself, nothing from the cabbage family or onions, and most fruits such as bananas, apricots, apples,
etc. are also healthy alternatives to store bought treats. No table scraps because we as humans tend to
dress up our veggies with butter, margarine, salt, sugar, and/ or gravy. Anything with soya or beef, dyes,
or chemical preservatives liked BHA, BHT, or Exthoxyquin should be avoided. Instead look for foods
that are preserved with vitamins A, C, or E. A chemical-free food is often enough to make a huge
difference in a dog's health.
Grooming
The Shar-Pei requires minimal maintenance. Brushing with a good bristle brush every other day keeps
its unique coat in excellent condition. Bathing may occur occasionally using warm water and a good
shampoo recommended by a vet. Contrary to popular belief the Shar-Pei do not need to be bathed
every week. This constant bathing will make the skin dry (increase itching) and cause the coat to look
dull. By doing this you will wash all of the dog's natural oils away. Only bath the dog if he/ she
smells with a vet recommend shampoo for general bathing needs. The nails of a Shar-Pei grow fast so
frequent clipping is in order. Always touch your puppy's paws and the puppy all over to get them
used to grooming. Because the Shar-Pei have tiny ears frequent cleaning is a must. Usually once every
week or every two weeks depending on the individual dog. Use cotton swabs or make-up pads
(cotton ones) with an ear solution from your vet. Do not use Q-tips as it may push the waxy
build-up further down the ear canal. After you have cleaned the ears let them shake and then later
clean the excess. The ears, eyes, and the whole body in general should be inspected frequently to
have a happy, healthy Shar-Pei.
Puppy Buyer's Guidelines
These are just a few suggestions a new prospective owner of a Shar-Pei puppy should be aware
of and consider when looking for a new puppy:
* Puppies should at least be 8 weeks of age before going to a new home. A puppy needs adequate time
with his/ her littermates and mother for proper socialization to begin.
* Buyers should see both parents. "Although it's normal for a Shar-Pei to behave in a standoffish
manner when in the presence of strangers, neither the sire nor the dam ( nor puppies) should behave in
a shy or aggressive manner.
* Buyers should look for a puppy that is confident not shy, aggressive or fearful.
* Health should be of the utmost importance for a new prospective owner. No discharge from the
eyes or nose, distended or potbellied abdomen, dull coat, and no lethargic behavior.
* Check with the kennel club in your area if you are not sure about what papers you are entitled to, but
you should not be asked to pay extra for the registration papers of your new puppy. Papers included in
the purchasing price of your pup are a signed pedigree, copies of the contract of sale and health guarantee,
a complete health record that includes the dates of worming and a veterinarian's certificate
proving inoculation. "The breeder also should provide written proof he or she will take the puppy
back within a limited period of time if it is found to be ill or suffering from some defect. Dogs
should be examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours of the sale. Pet quality dogs should be sold
with a spay/ neuter contract or limited (i.e. non-breeding) registration".
NO Grapes or Raisins
Grape and Raisin Update: based on report provided by VMRCVM Veterinary Notes
(a bimonthly publication of the school)
Animal Poison Control Center has documented multiple cases of grape and raisin poisoning in
dogs within the last couple of years. Presumably this has occurred for years but has been attributed
to other causes in the past.
The source of the problem has been varied. Grapes of all varieties and growing conditions
(including homegrown) have been implicated. Raisins are usually made from white seedless grapes,
but all raisins of any source should be considered kidney toxic (chocolate covered raisins as well).
The toxic principle is unknown. Grapes contain low amounts of tannins compared to acorns, a
known kidney toxicant in large animals. Grapes lack significant amounts of Vitamin D, another
known kidney toxicant. It is unlikely pesticide residue is involved due to the wide variety of grape
types involved.
So far the majority of toxicosis reports have been in dogs. The minimum toxic dose is
approximately 0.3 oz/kg body weight. This would correspond to about 2 grapes per kg body
weight. Raisins, having lost their water content are considered more toxic at 0.1 oz/kg body
weight (or 6 raisins per kg). Feeding grapes or raisins to cats and ferrets should also be
discouraged, as poisonings have been reported in these species as well.
Clinical signs onset within 6-24 hours after ingestion (average is 12 hours). Initial signs are GI
related followed by kidney problems. Vomiting is usually the primary sign, with
diarrhea, depression/lethargy, anorexia, colic, dehydration and sharply decreased urine output.
The course of the toxicosis is anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. Dogs with kidney problems
have a guarded to poor prognosis.
Diagnosis is based on history of recent exposure and clinical signs. On bloodwork, the kidney
values are increased. Typically BUN, creatinine, phosphorus and potassium are elevated
(sometimes serum calcium as well). The urine sediment will have hyaline casts and the urine
specific gravity will be either hyposthenuric or isosthenuric (diluted to the concentration of water
of less concentrated than water) at SG 1.006 to 1.010.
Treatment is based on preventing further absorption if appropriate and maintaining urine output
and electrolyte balance. If the raisins or grapes have been ingested within 2-3 hours, vomiting should
be induced followed by activated charcoal to limit further absorption and an osmotic cathartic (to
speed up GI passage of toxin without absorption. The animal should receive an isotonic saline
solution IV at twice maintenance rates for 48 hours. Anti-nausea medication, diuretics and
peritoneal dialysis may be needed in some cases.
