Is it now time to iron out the wrinkles? Health of Shar Pei dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK

Abstract

Background The Shar Pei is a common dog breed with a distinctive appearance caused by hyaluronosis that has been linked with several health conditions. Anonymised primary-care veterinary clinical records were explored to extract data on the demography, common disorders and mortality of Shar Pei in the UK in 2013. Results The study population of 455,557 dogs included 1913 (0.42%) Shar Pei. The mean adult bodyweight was 22.26 kg. The most prevalent fine-level precision disorders were entropion (prevalence 17.88%, 95% CI: 16.16-19.59), otitis externa (16.36%, 95% CI: 14.70-18.02), ear disorders (6.69%, 95% CI: 5.57-7.81), aggression (5.23%, 95% CI: 4.23-6.22), and pyoderma (4.29%, 95% CI: 3.38-5.19). The most prevalent disorder groups were ophthalmologic (prevalence = 22.27%, 95% CI: 20.40-24.13), dermatological (21.01%, 95% CI: 19.19-22.84), aural (18.66%, 95% CI: 16.92-20.41), traumatic injury (7.53%, 95% CI: 6.35-8.71) and behavioural (7.21%, 95% CI: 6.05-8.37). The median longevity of 190 Shar Pei that died during the study period was 7.28 years (IQR 5.04-10.05, range 0.04-15.04). Of 184 deaths with a recorded method of death, 157 (85.33%) deaths involved euthanasia and 27 (14.67%) deaths were unassisted. Among 136 (71.58%) deaths with a recorded biomedical cause of death, the most common causes of death at group level precision were neoplasia (15.44%, 95% CI: 9.37-21.51), renal disorders (13.24%, 95% CI: 7.54-18.93), and behavioural disorders (11.03%, 95% CI: 5.76-16.29). Conclusions Almost one fifth of Shar Pei receive veterinary care each year for entropion, a condition linked strongly with the extreme conformation of thickened and folded skin and bristly hair that characterises the Shar Pei breed. Several other common disorders are also linked to hyaluronosis. Current UK legislation can help support efforts to avoid breeding or acquiring animals with extreme conformations and to promote adequate veterinary care for already-owned animals with extreme conformations.

Prioritization of Appearance over Health and Temperament Is Detrimental to the Welfare of Purebred Dogs and Cats

“…Hypertypes of several dog breeds including the French Bulldog, Bulldog and Shar pei have excessive skin folds that predispose them to recurrent and chronic dermatitis and pyoderma [32][33][34]. Although it is possible to treat these conditions they are nevertheless painful and many may not be addressed because owners frequently do not recognize the clinical signs (37% of owners of English Bulldogs in a Finnish survey [32,35]).…”

Comprehensive Review of Canine Entropion: Types, Surgical Techniques, and Prognosis

“…Entropion is an ophthalmic condition characterized by the partial or complete inversion of the eyelid margin, being highly prevalent in certain canine breeds, especially among brachycephalics [1,2]. A study conducted by OʹNeill et al [3], revealed that, in a population of 455,557 Shar Pei patients (brachycephalics), the prevalence of entropion reached 17.88%. Continuing this trend, Costa et al [4] reported a prevalence of 22% out of a sample of 98 brachycephalic canines.…”