Shar Pei Cutaneous Mucinosis

Have you ever wondered why the Shar-Pei breed has so many wrinkles?  What causes all those wrinkles anyway? 
Mucin is a substance located in the skin of the Shar-Pei breed that causes the skin to wrinkle.  Mucin is a stringy consistency and clear in color.  It acts as a repair to fight wounds, and compares to the consistency and purpose of glue.  Some Shar-Pei have an excess of Mucin which forms clear bubbles on the skin.  It is possible for these bubbles to burst and leak the Mucin into the fur.  This condition is treatable with a steroid therapy.  Not only does Mucin create the wrinkled skin affect, it also provides padding on their muzzles and hocks.

Excessive Mucin build up in the skin creates vessels and is called cutaneous mucinosis.  The vessels can be very fragile and rupture if the condition is severe.  It is also possible to rupture the vessels during rough play.  Don’t be alarmed!  This is a normal condition for the Shar-Pei breed.

If the cutaneous mucinosis is so severe that burst vessels are healed with scabby areas or if the skin is torn frequently, your veterinarian can recommend a medication.  The production of Mucin can be shut down by a low dosage of prednisone.

Cutaneous mucinosis occurs most often in the neck, hocks, shoulder, forelimbs, and anus areas.  If the problem gets so sever that your Shar-Pei seems to be in pain due to cutaneous mucinosis, contact your veterinarian immediately!