Shar-Pei Health
The Shar-Pei can fall prey to all the health problems that are found in dogs of all breeds. Many other breeds of dogs have some of the health concerns that have unfairly been labelled “Shar-Pei Problems.” An example is entropion of the eyelid, which does occur in the Shar-Pei, but is also found in other breeds. Entropion, which is the turning in of the eyelid, should be diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian, skin fold dermatitis is just what it sounds like, the wrinkles overlap and create an environment that can cause irritation of the skin. See your veterinarian for any suspected problems. For the Shar-Pei, choosing your veterinarian can be especially important. Look for a veterinarian that has a number of years experience with the Shar-Pei and treats your breed with the same concern as all other breeds, without blaming the breed for every problem that your Shar-Pei might have.
 

Eye Disorders
By Natalie Lowe
Are you aware that your dogs eyelids are the most frequently moved part on his or her body? They are also your dogs primary protection against eye injury, infection, irritation, and vision loss. For this reason they are probably the most important yet under rated part of a dogs anatomy. However with nature being as it is not all eyelids have been designed perfectly and can sometimes be the cause of a problem themselves, but problems with lids are only a fraction of the potential conditions a dog could suffer from. The amount of scenarios in which an eye injury could occur are countless, and there are almost enough diseases, viruses and infections to go with them, most of which directly attack the eyeball itself. Sight is precious, and your dog appreciates it vision as much as you do your own, it is up to us to educate ourselves enough to be aware of the common warning signs and do our utmost to prolong the vision of our favorite friends. Whilst signs such as excessive weeping, discoloration ,discharge etc , will alert you to a range of possible problems, many others can progress with no changes in the external appearance until it is too late. An eye check with the annual vaccination and prompt veterinary attention whenever required are your dogs best weapons against vision loss. The following information on eye and lid disorders is supplied for information purposes only and should never replace the diagnosis of a qualified vet.

Blepharospasm is the term given to the characteristic squinting and excess watery discharge that usually accompanies corneal ulceration or physical irritation from the lashes or a foreign object. Cataracts Literally meaning "to break down" a cataract often begins as microscopic blisters or cracks on the surface of the eye lens and with progression gives the eye a cloudy white opaque appearance as light diffuses and reflects off the eye. This area of damaged tissue prevents properly formed images from reaching the retina and results in blurred vision, if covering the entire eye although the dog is not technically blind it prevents even partial images reaching the retina and it is likely the dog will only be able to detect light and darkness without forming an image. Many cataracts form as a result of injury, inflammation or diseases such as uveitis or diabetes. Where no underlying injury or disease can be detected it is most often assumed that a cataract has resulted from a genetic defect. In many cases cataracts can be surgically removed but require intensive post operative care to ensure a return of vision.

Cherry Eye is characterized by the protrusion of the third eyelid (Nictitating Membrane) caused by a weakness in the ligament meant to hold it in correct position. Treatment can include tacking it back in position or removing it. Athough more costly it is best to tack it back in to place as many older dogs suffer dysfunction of the lacrimal orbital gland resulting in a decrease in tear production. As glands on the nicitating membrane are responsible for 30% of the tear production it is ideal to leave it in position as a back up to the main gland. If not enough tears are being produced the dog will most likely develop the condition Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca better known as "dry eye" leading to enormous discomfort and costly veterinary maintainence.

Conjunctivitis Any irritation, excessive redness or swelling of the conjunctiva (tissue lining the eye socket and third eyelid) is termed conjunctivitis and is caused by exposure of the conjunctiva, a bacterial infection or less frequently a fungus infection. It is accompanied by a thick discharge and usually responds rapidly to antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments.

Corneal Ulcers are an erosion which has penetrated the corneal layers of the eye and is almost always caused by some form of irritation. Superficial ulcers which have barely penetrated this layer and can be treated in a matter of days but deeper one's are serious and can lead to blindness. In either case only a qualified vet can ascertain the severity so it is best to seek immediate treatment as not only is your dog in considerable pain, a delay of as little as 48 hours has been known to make the difference between recovery and permanent blindness is the more severe cases. Diagnosis is performed by placing a fluorescent dye (flourosein) in the eye which attaches to affected areas.

Dry Eye (Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca) is caused by a lack of tears adequately lubricating the eyeball. Causes include the natural deterioration with age of the function of the orbital lacrimal gland blah. Dogs suffering from Cherry Eye who subsequently have the third eyelid removed are more prone to suffering this condition as the gland on the third eyelid is responsible for 30% of tear production.

Ectopic Lashes In dogs suffering from Ectopic lashes the lashes have protruded through the inner surface of the lid and cause considerable irritation to the eye. This is extremely painful and if not surgically corrected it can lead to blindness Ectropion Commonly seen in dogs with heavy faces, e.g.: bloodhounds, Neapolitan mastiffs, Bordeaux's, etc, this condition occurs when the weight of the face causes the lower eyelid to droop, exposing the conjunctiva and predisposing the dog to irritation from dust etc , leading to conjunctivitis. If severe or repeated conjunctivitis occurs surgical correction is recommended

Entropion Opposite to Ectropion, is often seen in breeds such as Chow Chows and Shar Pei who have facial wrinkling and sunken eyes. It occurs when the lids are poorly formed and fitted to the eye orbit causing the lids to roll inwards allowing irritation and ocular damage to occur which in severe cases can lead to ulceration and rupture of the eye orbit causing blindness. In puppies a temporary tack can be successful in correcting this condition by preventing damage whilst giving the pup an opportunity to grow in to their lids. In cases persisting after 6 months of age permanent surgical correction is necessary to ensure no further damage occurs. This is an inherited condition in so far as the size and shape of the head and lids predisposing certain style of Shar Pei (most commonly those with overdone heads and excessive wrinkling) to this condition. I urge all breeders to be mindful of what they are trying to achieve when adopting breeding programs aimed at obtaining gigantic headed super wrinkly Shar-Pei.

Glaucoma The cillary body of the middle layer of the eye is responsible for the production of aqueous humor -the fluid which is within the eye. This fluid causes a certain amount of pressure within the eye known as introcular pressure. In a normal eye this fluid flows through the pupil and is drained from the eye via the iridocorneal cleft at a rate equal to which it is produced and thereby maintaining a steady level of intraocular pressure. When a blockage occurs preventing adequate drainage,a build up of the aqueous humor causes an elevation in pressure which it termed Glaucoma.. There are two types of Glaucoma - Primary glaucoma occurs spontaneously and is considered to be hereditary. Norwegian Elkhounds , Beagles, Bassets, Cockers, Samoyed's, and Chow Chows are frequent suffers due to a genetic defect narrowing the drainage passage. Secondary Glaucoma occurs as a result of injury or infection as in the case of uveitis (read below). In almost all scenarios the pressure will eventually damage the optic nerve resulting in irreparable blindness, however in a few cases early intervention, medical therapy, and surgery may be able to maintain the vision with the focus being on relieving discomfort and pain.

Lagophthalmos (Rabbit Eye) Dogs which have this condition have an impaired ability to blink which in turn prevents even tear film distribution leading to dry areas in the centre of the eye that are prone to becoming ulcerated. Rabbit Eye can be corrected in a surgical procedure known as a Canthoplasty which shortens the width of the eye opening allowing for improved function. Neonatorum Conjunctivitis Occurs when a virus enters the unopened eye of a new born pup. It is essential to have the eyelids pried open and treated with a non cortisone type medication. Failure to do so can result in the rupture of the cornea and scarring on the whites of the eye. This condition can be caused by canine herpes virus. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) Characterized by a progressive degeneration of the retina leading to eventual blindness this is a condition which is recessively inherited and has been found in every registered breed. It is untreatable and therefore vital that all steps are taken to ensure carriers and sufferers are identified and removed from the gene pool, by prompt de sexing. Only a veterinary opthamologist is trained to perform the complex testing required to detect this condition so a check up prior to breeding an animal is the best way to prevent it being passed on to progeny.

Retinal Dysplasia Most commonly caused by genetic defects, Retinal Dysplasia can also result from contracting herpes or parvo viruses. It occurs when the 2 layers of the retina have not joined together properly or at all causing wrinkling of the retina surface and can only be detected by a trained opthamologist. In mild cases the dog may only suffer a small blind spot which will not have much effect on the life quality of the dog, however more severe cases can cause a loss of much of the visual field. Interestingly their appears to be a link between this condition and some suffers also developing skeletal malformation.

Uveitis is basically the inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which consists of the coroid, cillary body and iris. Although in 75% of cases the underlying cause can not be found, it commonly results from Rocky Mountain fever, brucellosis, erlichiosis, and lyme's disease. Frequently it is symptomatic of ill health of other body systems such as auto immune diseases, cancer, parasites, and bacterial infections. It can also result from injury to the eye, particularly if from cactus spines, echidna quills, cataracts, or operative injuries. With so many possibilities it is little wonder an accurate diagnosis is so difficult. Additionally the appearance of an eye suffering from uveitis can be from perfectly normal, cloudy white (due to an accumulation of white blood cells in the cornea) a dull blue haze, and sometimes, the iris changes color to appear red. The conjuctiva usually becomes highly inflamed despite what appearance the eye ball itself has. Time is paramount in treating the disease to prevent blindness and /or glaucoma which will result if debris from the infection blocks the iridocorneal cleft causing an elevation in intraocular pressure. Some dogs will make a full recovery following treatment, those who have developed scarring may need life time maintenance to retain their vision.