How Do You Know When Your Shar Pei is Sick?

When you don’t feel well, you go to the doctor, right?  You tell him what’s wrong, he examines you, writes a prescription and you feel better within a few days.  What if you couldn’t talk?  What if drive yourself to the doctor’s office?  What would happen if you had no way of telling anyone that you were ill?
That is why you, as a responsible pet owner, must take it upon yourself to be aware of the symptoms associated with dogs and sickness.  Taking care of your Shar-Pei is a great responsibility and it’s up to you to tell when they are not feeling well.  Being aware of the vital signs listed below will help you to distinguish between normal and abnormal dog activity and could help you prevent severe illness in your pet.

EARS: Under the hair of the ear should be smooth pink skin when the canal is perfectly clean.  Watch to see if your Shar-Pei shakes its head a lot.  This could be an indication of infection inside the ear.  A brown or reddish brown waxy substance in the ear almost always indicates an infection.

HEART: When resting, a dogs heartbeat ranges from 90 to 100 beats per minute.  Puppies heartbeats are usually faster and elderly dogs heartbeats are usually slower.  Be aware that when resting, a dog’s heart usually beats faster on inspiration and slower on expiration.  The simplest way to find the heartbeat in a dog is through the chest wall, just behind the front legs.  Another easy way to find the heartbeat is on the inner side of the hind leg.

MOOD: Like humans, the mood of every dog varies.  Eating, drinking, and toilet habits are different in every pup.  Noticing significant changes is imperative and may detect sickness in your beloved companion.  Loss of appetite, depression, and lethargy are a few symptoms to watch for when determining if your dog may be sick.  For example, bloat may be indicated by constant pacing and the inability to lay down for any length of time.

TEMPERATURE: Normally, a calm dogs temperature ranges from 38 degrees Celsius to 38.6 degrees Celsius.  Hotter days and exercise may rise the dog’s temperature.  A fever is usually present if the dog feels warm and clammy inside the front or rear legs.  A rectal thermometer can be used to determine temperature.

EYES: The lower half of the eyeball of your Shar-Pei should be a bright, healthy looking pink.  The upper half should be white with a few vessels.  Be aware that if your dog has been exercising or is excited, more vessels will be present in the upper eye.  If the upper half of the eyeball is too white, it could be a symptom of your dog being anaemic.  The clear part of the eye, the cornea, should be bright, perfectly clear, and glistening.  Mucus or other debris coming from the eye may be an indication of entropion or other eye problems.

GUMS AND TONGUE: Normally, the gums and tongue should be a bright, clear pink color.  However, the Shar-Pei has a black blue tongue making it difficult to check for abnormalities.  The tongue and gums may appear a pale grey if the dog is sick.

NOSE: Many people think that a wet or dry nose is the determining factor of temperature in dogs when in fact it does not.  The nose should be black or self colored.

STOOL: It is possible for diarrhoea to be present if the dog is stressed or overexcited.  However, signs of blood or mucus may indicate illness and should be checked immediately.  Normal stool should solid and free from any blood or mucus.

RESPIRATION: The average respiration rate is between 18 and 28 breaths per minute.
Remember that panting on a hot day or after exercise is normal.  On the other hand, panting should not continue once the dog has cooled itself down.  Short breaths and quick puffing may be an indication of complications.  Rapid breathing when resting may indicate trouble as well.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR VET:

• Abnormal behavior
• Sudden viciousness or lethargy
• Abnormal discharges from the eyes, nose, or other body opening
• Appetite loss
• Excessive weight gain
• Excessive weight loss
• Excessive consumption of water
• Abnormal, difficult, or uncontrolled urination
• Excessive head shaking
• Excessive scratching, licking, or biting of any part of the body
• Dandruff, hair loss, or sores
• Rugged or dull coat. (Shedding twice per year is normal.  During the shedding process your Shar-Pei may look moth eaten!  This is normal!)
• Bad breath
• Tartar deposits on the teeth
• Dehydration shown by lifting skin that does not quickly return to its original state