Any diets that contain soya, soy by products, lecithin and yes even brewers yeast contribute to the problem of unhealthy skin. Not only must you be certain that the diet is healthy but also the dog treats you are feeding your dog. If you dog is healthy and there is nothing wrong then they are tolerating the diet you are feeding them. If however you are experiencing problems including odour, then I suggest a change in diet is in order.
Some of the soaps I recommend are (in Canada available from Bulk Barn, in the U.S. you would have to find a bulk store that also carries home made soaps)
1) Tea Tree Oil Soap (cream coloured soap) good for an overall keep the coat. clean and healthy.
2)Carbolic (red soap) good for a deodorant or stinky dog.
3)Coal Tar (black soap) good for eczema and seborrhea and any parasites.
Three great maintenance soaps to have on hand.
A subject that I have researched and not found any conclusive information other than, veterinarians have linked Mucinosis (clear bubbles on the surface of the skin) to thyroid problems. Soaps I also recommend for this are
1) Tea Tree Oil Soap (cream coloured soap) good for an overall keep the coat. clean and healthy.
2)Carbolic (red soap) good for a deodorant or stinky dog.
3)Coal Tar (black soap) good for eczema and seborrhea and any parasites.
4) Sea Kelp Soap.
Mucin is produced
and is responsible for the large padded muzzle in our breed, and the
wrinkling and folding skin. Mucinosis is appearing more and more in the
breed. Mucinosis is the over production of mucin in body with the end result
being deposition of large amounts of mucin just under the skin, causing large
bubbles, blisters or grape like eruptions to be appear on the surface of the
skin. When these break open, either by the dog scratching, or just
becoming to full, a thick, stringy, very sticky clear fluid seeps out. Its
cause is still not fully understood. These grape like eruptions are not to be
confused with raised bumps, or bites, or hot spots, and generally may
appear all over the body. My research on mucinosis brought me to ~ i)
Mucinosis - a state of abnormal deposits of mucin in the skin, often
associated with hypothyroidism which led me up to and including ~ ii)
Myxedema - a condition resulting from hypothyroidism, a deficiency of
thyroxine possibly creating ~ iii) animals that have imbalances in body
processes possibly causing lethargic tired shar-pei, sensitivity to cold, dry
flakey coats, brittle nails, thirst, weakness to infection, irregular heat
cycles just to name a few. Few owners that have been put on thyroid
medication have found relief or any noted improvement. One all natural hint
would be to try to use something that replaces thyroxine-iodine naturally -
that being KELP.
My PERSONAL observations go just a little further.
During the early 1980's up to the early 1990's Mucinosis was almost
unheard of, at least from the breeding stock we had in this neck of the
woods. Running my breed 24 hour hotline has given me many opportunites to
talk to pei owners with conditions that bear signicant similarities that they
have taken note of, allowing me to question other possibile links to other
conditions. I have never had mucinosis in any of my adult dogs, however I
have noted in several pick puppies, that the condition was prevalent. Upon
examining the history of the parents, either sire or dam or both, it has
been my findings that the dogs or puppies with Mucinosis have had shar-pei
within 2 generations of their pedigrees that have a history of familial
shar-pei fever and swollen hocks, or have died of confirmed amyloidosis. So
my personal conclusion was from 1990 and on, with the increase of
Amyloidosis, Familial Shar-Pei Fever and Swollen Hocks, so increased
Mucinosis, do they all possibly go hand in hand -------- Could Mucinosis be
another link to yet another weakness in our pedigrees ????..........food for
thought and my very PERSONAL observations. An again the above soaps mentioned will help this condition.
When I bought my first shar-pei back around 1983, they were known as a shedless breed. Now I know that really means shed-less or shed-more. Basically they are supposed be a shed free breed, however with the introduction of the bear and brush coat genes, we now see a great mixture of coats. Even though the standard calls for a specific
texture, the breed now has quite the variety.
Coats come in horse coat which is the harsh short prickly coat, brush
coat which is the thicker, plusher 1" or shorter length and the bear
coat, which is very much like the chow, thick and heavy and very long,
and then there are the coats that fall inbetween. All coats appear to
be coming with or without undercoats - I have seen all of these. The
shar-pei lines which appear to have the undercoats generally do
seasonally blow these undercoats. I have also experienced shar-pei
that do not blow coat at all, except my females when they have their
pups. There are also many reasons for shedding, reasons for concern
and just natures way of cleansing the skin and coat. I have always
noted that shar-pei blow coat when ill, under great stress and on the
wrong diet.
My dogs coats are lustrous, clean and without hair loss, generally due
to the diet first and health second, and basically they are stress
free. They are also known as an allergy free breed for people, which I think
I would have to agree with, as I have placed many puppies with
families that have allergies and they have not reacted to this breed
in their home. Also when people with allergies used to come over to my
home to spend some time with the dogs to see if they would have a
reaction ....no one did have a reaction and to this date, I have not
had to place a shar-pei in another home for allergy reasons.
Shar-pei puppies are known to blow coat (means they loose their puppy
coat) from 6 - 14 months and many people run into misdirection, as to
treatment, as many vets jump at the opportunity to start *shar-pei
skin problem treatment* programs. Relax, let your puppy blow out its
baby coat, a new one will come in full and healthy from 1 - 2 months
generally. Scratching can be normal as dogs use this method to remove
dead skin and hair - their toes are their combs HOWEVER concern should
be met when your dog or pup is scratching or biting their skin raw, or
you see raised red welts or dry flakey skin.
Many people have complained that their shar-pei are shedding like
lambs, they blow huge amounts of fur all the time. Generally I have
found that this may be due to the intollerance of their diet, and
stress, either due to ill health on the body, abuse, hyper activity or
other stressful situations that are occuring on a daily or regular
basis. Even something so simple as going to the vet could cause hair
loss during this escapade.
To touch base of the lines with undercoats, these do tend to shed
seasonally and may blow up to twice a year depending on the changing
seasons, but generally I do find and have found, within my own dogs,
that there are some with undercoats that due shed, but the ones
without undercoats are pretty close to being in full coat all year.
If you are having more hair loss then would be considered normal, then
you may want to look at your dogs stress level or diet, presuming that
the dog is in good health. Just like people, animals do lose their hair, however concern or attention should be paid when there is an excess amount lost
frequently.
If you have any questions please feel free to email me, and again this is my breeder
opinion and this information is not meant to replace or deter anyone from
following their veterinarian's advice or another breeder opinion. These opinions
are copyright of Shar-Pei Canadiana (C)2009.
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