Health

Why Choosing a Responsible Breeder Matters

The Chinese Shar-Pei is a distinctive and loyal breed, but it does come with some unique health concerns. That’s why it's absolutely essential to purchase your puppy from a responsible, knowledgeable breeder—someone who goes far beyond a simple vet check and truly prioritizes the long-term health of their dogs.

A responsible breeder will take proactive steps to screen for common issues in the breed. This includes preventative measures like hip x-rays to detect dysplasia, certified eye exams, and a deep understanding of hereditary conditions such as kidney disease, amyloidosis, and mast cell cancer. These breeders make thoughtful choices when selecting their breeding stock with the goal of reducing or eliminating these serious health problems.

While no breeder can guarantee a completely issue-free dog, reputable breeders are transparent and well-informed about the health history of their lines. They’ll educate you, answer your questions honestly, and provide support long after your puppy comes home.

Choosing a responsible breeder isn’t just about finding a puppy—it’s about protecting the future of the breed and giving your dog the best possible start to a healthy, happy life. It's a decision that truly makes all the difference.

Entropion

Entropion is usually a developmental or anatomic problem, and is generally seen in young, rapidly growing dogs. It can, however, develop secondary to an eye irritant, such as a corneal ulcer, that can cause the eyelid to spasm. It can also occur following an injury or inflammation that leads to scarring that turns the eyelid inward.

The treatment for entropion is surgical correction. A section of skin is removed from the affected eyelid to reverse its inward rolling. In many cases, a primary, major surgical correction will be performed, and will be followed by a second, minor corrective surgery later. Two surgeries are often performed to reduce the risk of over-correcting the entropion, resulting in an outward-rolling eyelid known as ectropion. Most dogs will not undergo surgery until they have reached their adult size at six to twelve months of age.

In the case of young puppies, especially in Shar-pei, temporary sutures, also called “eye tacking,” may be placed to roll the eyelids outwards. As the puppy grows, the entropion is monitored to see if it resolves on its own. With all the skin folds, sometimes temporary fixes like eye tacking can prevent more serious problems while dogs grow into their skin.

• VCA Canada – Find out more about entropion here

POAG/PLL (Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Primary Lens Luxation)

Entropion is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the eyelid rolls inward. This inward rolling often causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub against the cornea, resulting in pain, corneal ulcers, perforations, or pigment developing on the cornea, which can interfere with vision. Primary open angle Glaucoma and primary lens luxation (Shar-Pei type) is an inherited eye disease affecting dogs. Affected dogs present before 6 years of age with excessive eye pressure resulting in enlargement of the eye and pain that is poorly responsive to treatment. Signs of pain in the eye include excessive blinking, tearing and redness. If left untreated, the increased pressure leads to bulging eyes, optic nerve damage and the gradual loss of vision. In addition, affected dogs may also be predisposed to dislocation (luxation) of the lens in the eye which may exacerbate glaucoma.

There is genetic testing to help breeders track CLEAR, CARRIER and AFFECTED dogs. The chart below indicates how this works.

Not all dogs that test positive as AFFECTED will develop glaucoma, but this is an important tool in a responsible breeder's arsenal to help prevent future health problems. POAG/PLL testing is done via a DNA test such as Embark.

Why Choosing a Responsible Breeder Matters

Entropion

POAG/PLL (Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Primary Lens Luxation)

Ears

Skin

Mast Cell Cancer 5

Familiar Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) & Amyloidosis



	Health Why Choosing a Responsible Breeder Matters The Chinese Shar-Pei is a distinctive and loyal breed, but it does come with some unique health concerns. That’s why it's absolutely essential to purchase your puppy from a responsible, knowledgeable breeder—someone who goes far beyond a simple vet check and truly prioritizes the long-term health of their dogs. A responsible breeder will take proactive steps to screen for common issues in the breed. This includes preventative measures like hip x-rays to detect dysplasia, certified eye exams, and a deep understanding of hereditary conditions such as kidney disease, amyloidosis, and mast cell cancer. These breeders make thoughtful choices when selecting their breeding stock with the goal of reducing or eliminating these serious health problems. While no breeder can guarantee a completely issue-free dog, reputable breeders are transparent and well-informed about the health history of their lines. They’ll educate you, answer your questions honestly, and provide support long after your puppy comes home. Choosing a responsible breeder isn’t just about finding a puppy—it’s about protecting the future of the breed and giving your dog the best possible start to a healthy, happy life. It's a decision that truly makes all the difference. Entropion Entropion is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the eyelid rolls inward. This inward rolling often causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub against the cornea, resulting in pain, corneal ulcers, perforations, or pigment developing on the cornea, which can interfere with vision. Entropion is usually a developmental or anatomic problem, and is generally seen in young, rapidly growing dogs. It can, however, develop secondary to an eye irritant, such as a corneal ulcer, that can cause the eyelid to spasm. It can also occur following an injury or inflammation that leads to scarring that turns the eyelid inward. The treatment for entropion is surgical correction. A section of skin is removed from the affected eyelid to reverse its inward rolling. In many cases, a primary, major surgical correction will be performed, and will be followed by a second, minor corrective surgery later. Two surgeries are often performed to reduce the risk of over-correcting the entropion, resulting in an outward-rolling eyelid known as ectropion. Most dogs will not undergo surgery until they have reached their adult size at six to twelve months of age. In the case of young puppies, especially in Shar-pei, temporary sutures, also called “eye tacking,” may be placed to roll the eyelids outwards. As the puppy grows, the entropion is monitored to see if it resolves on its own. With all the skin folds, sometimes temporary fixes like eye tacking can prevent more serious problems while dogs grow into their skin. • VCA Canada – Find out more about entropion here POAG/PLL (Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Primary Lens Luxation) Entropion is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the eyelid rolls inward. This inward rolling often causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub against the cornea, resulting in pain, corneal ulcers, perforations, or pigment developing on the cornea, which can interfere with vision. Primary open angle Glaucoma and primary lens luxation (Shar-Pei type) is an inherited eye disease affecting dogs. Affected dogs present before 6 years of age with excessive eye pressure resulting in enlargement of the eye and pain that is poorly responsive to treatment. Signs of pain in the eye include excessive blinking, tearing and redness. If left untreated, the increased pressure leads to bulging eyes, optic nerve damage and the gradual loss of vision. In addition, affected dogs may also be predisposed to dislocation (luxation) of the lens in the eye which may exacerbate glaucoma. There is genetic testing to help breeders track CLEAR, CARRIER and AFFECTED dogs. The chart below indicates how this works. Not all dogs that test positive as AFFECTED will develop glaucoma, but this is an important tool in a responsible breeder's arsenal to help prevent future health problems. POAG/PLL testing is done via a DNA test such as Embark.