How to feed a Shar Pei puppy at 1 month ⋆ Online magazine for women

Dog owners usually follow only general feeding recommendations, ignoring the characteristics of their pet’s breed.

Belonging to a particular breed is an important nuance when preparing a diet for your tailed friend, since its correct composition will help you avoid health problems.

In this article we will talk about Shar Pei pets, we will deal with the issue of organizing nutrition at home, we will find out what, when and in what quantities it is better to feed a puppy or an adult dog.

Feeding dry food

Shar Peis are very prone to allergic reactions, which can cause significant harm to the pet's health. It is necessary to choose dry food only from the premium segment and the highest quality. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the composition of the prepared food and make sure that it contains enough vitamins and microelements.

If there are no allergic reactions, you should use a mix of dry and wet food. Feeding only wet food will lead to the formation of tartar and tooth damage, and if you use only dry lumps, tooth enamel will deteriorate.

Feed comparison

Which food is better to choose? Experienced Shar-Pei owners have compiled a list of leading ready-made foods that can be included in a Shar-Pei's menu, since they can take into account his tendency to allergies.

Artemis maximal dog

When to change food

Careful monitoring of the dog’s condition is the key to good health. You will have to change the food if one of the following reactions occurs:

eczema or red spots on the skin, scabies;
unpleasant odor from the mouth;
dull coat, brittleness;
crusts on the ears and folds;
tartar.

All these signs should make the owner wary. It is better to seek help from a veterinarian, who will determine the cause of the changes and help you choose a different type of food.

Photo: pixabay.com

How to feed a Shar Pei (basic recommendations)

In order for the dog to receive a complete diet, many dog breeders believe that it is necessary to stick to two meals a day. This will reduce the risk of obesity and volvulus, and the dog will beg less. Such a diet will make the task easier for those owners who work. That is, you can walk and feed your pet when you go to work, then, when you return home, walk and feed the dog again.

To begin with, the owner needs to pay attention to the mobility of his dog. If the dog moves little, therefore, the diet should consist of a minimum amount of calories. But, if the dog is more active, the number of calories should increase. Care should be taken to ensure that your pet does not become obese.

Some dogs independently control their weight by breaking their portion into several parts. In this case, you should not force feed your pet.

In winter, many dogs are not as active as in the warmer seasons. Therefore, owners should carefully consider the menu in relation to the seasons. This is reflected in their fur.

In old age, dogs' activity decreases, therefore, the number of calories also needs to be reduced, but this does not apply to protein. On the contrary, older dogs need to consume much more protein. Because protein increases your dog's muscle mass, strengthens the immune system, and supports overall health. In addition to protein, older dogs need an additional set of vitamins and minerals.

Some dogs have a very good appetite. Even if your dog receives proper nutrition, he will constantly ask for food. To do this, dog experts recommend adding regular pumpkin to the diet. This vegetable is nourishing, does not cause an allergic reaction and has very beneficial properties.

Dishes play an important role for purebred dogs. Plastic or vinyl can cause discoloration on the face, so dog experts recommend using stainless steel or ceramic dishes.

Feeding Shar Pei for allergies

If your dog becomes allergic to any component, you should immediately exclude it from the diet. To do this, you need to undergo all tests at a veterinary clinic so that the doctor can identify the cause of the allergic reaction.

A problem is considered to be the fact that the pet is allergic to protein. In this case, you will have to replace all meat dishes with dry food. During allergies, the dog must have a special diet. If the dog was fed dry food or boiled food:

We remove all food from the diet. For several weeks, feed your pet only boiled rice, adding a tablespoon of olive oil. If the dog is allergic to olive oil, it should be replaced with another - flaxseed or corn;
Do not add fertilizers to food (brewer's yeast, pollen, alfalfa);
Vitamin complexes (C, E, B) should be added to dishes. But you need to be careful with them, as they may contain brewer’s yeast;
As soon as the dog begins to recover, you can gradually add boiled or ground vegetables to the menu: carrots, cabbage, lettuce, parsley. Rice can be alternated with buckwheat porridge;
Then you can switch to dry food or a complete diet (without components that cause allergies).

When transitioning to a normal diet, the composition of dry food is important. They should not contain components that will cause allergies in the dog. With a regular menu, any foods should be introduced carefully and gradually. For example, it is better to start by replacing chicken meat with rabbit or turkey. It is better to remove bones from the diet altogether. But it is better to consult a veterinarian regarding diet.

If the dog is fed natural food:

All foods except necks or wings are removed from the diet. But, if there is a suspicion that the dog has an allergy due to chicken protein, then it is better to replace it with rabbit or lamb;
The next stage is exactly the same as with dry food and boiled food. That is, we completely exclude brewer's yeast, alfalfa and pollen. And adds vitamins C, B and E to all dishes;
As soon as the first symptoms begin to subside, you should gradually add to the menu: raw eggs, ground herbs, cabbage, offal, carrots. To prevent symptoms from recurring, you need to add no more than 1 or 2 components per day.

To find out what type of protein a dog is allergic to, he is given new raw meat every day instead of rice. It can be lamb, veal, mutton, turkey, rabbit. We gave it to the dog and monitored the reaction. Thus, you can choose the type of protein to which the dog will not be allergic.

Natural diet

It is most convenient to feed your dog using industrial food. But this is not always possible. What else, besides ready-made dry or wet food, can meet the needs of a Shar Pei?

Natural products that make up a balanced diet are quite suitable for this. It should include:

raw meat and offal (50% of the menu) - with the exception of chicken;
boiled egg (once a week) – preferably a quail one;
pumpkin, carrots and zucchini;
kefir and other fermented milk products – 5% of the diet;
sea fish;
cereals: rice and buckwheat. Wheat, pearl barley or barley porridge is not absorbed by the Shar Pei's body.

Photo: pixabay.com

What not to give to a Shar Pei

Don’t forget that there is a list of things that should not be given even to an adult Shar Pei:

fatty and fried foods;
fast food;
raw sea fish;
fatty meats like pork, beef;
natural milk;
smoked meats and pickles;
sweets;
flour and pasta products.

Remember that you should not give your dog walnuts, long bones or poultry skins. These foods are indigestible and cause diarrhea.

Whatever the Shar Pei’s diet, it is important to adhere to the portion and feeding regimen, give food at the same time, and monitor the amount of vitamins and fats. Then the pet will be healthy, active and without health problems.

The homeland of the Shar Pei is China. From generation to generation, dogs were fed natural rice-based food. Therefore, the cause of frequent allergic outbreaks is not the dog’s genetic predisposition, but poor nutrition.

In the article we will look at the methods and rules of feeding at home, the regime and diet. We will also pay attention to the pressing issue of what to feed a Shar Pei for up to a year.

Feeding a puppy up to a year

It is better to feed the puppy according to a schedule, this makes it easier to plan time and accustom the baby to walking.

Number of feedings:

from 1 month to three months you will need six feedings a day, starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. The break between feedings should be about 3 hours;
gradually reduce the number of feedings, respecting the time frame. From 7 months to a year they feed three times, after a year - twice a day;
at 2 months, the puppy’s diet consists of 30% mother’s milk and 70% other food: ready-made canned food or natural food. At 3 months the baby moves to a new home and during this period the owner determines the type of food.

Manufacturers provide recommended serving sizes, which are approximate. The size should depend on the baby's weight and activity. The basis of a one-month-old puppy’s diet is mother’s milk or its substitute; the norm is a weekly weight gain of 1 kg. The puppy is weighed and the portion size is adjusted.

Look how little Shar Pei Jack eats food!

A little about the history of the Shar Pei breed

It is believed that the homeland of Shar Peis is Northern China, Tibet. The first mention of these dogs dates back to 202 BC. e. The literal translation of the name of the breed from Chinese means: “ball” - special, coarse, coarse-grained sand, “pei” - wool. Indeed, the Shar-Pei's coat is coarse; it is not a silky-coated retriever.

Often contact with Shar Pei fur causes allergies. Despite its exotic appearance, this breed was very common in China. Shar Peis lived in ordinary villages and performed ordinary dog service. They were used as guards of homes and pastures. Often there were dog fights with them. The dog has fighting qualities. Unfortunately, during the Cultural Revolution in China, Shar-Peis were on the verge of extinction and were listed in the Guinness Book as a rare breed. This is due to the fact that they were simply eaten due to lack of food. This breed was saved by canine activists who collected representatives of this breed throughout the country and transported them to Hong Kong for further breeding. Thanks to their efforts, already in 1976 the breed was recognized by the International Canine Association, and the first Shar Pei standard appeared.

Feeding an adult dog

An adult dog is fed twice a day, calculating the portion based on the weight and activity of the animal. Shar Peis are prone to obesity, so it is necessary to reduce the amount of food at the first sign of weight gain.

The number of feedings also includes snacking the animal and giving it various treats. Food should not be left in a bowl all day so that the dog does not have constant access to food.

And this is what dinner looks like for an American Shar-Pei Shuni!

How to feed an old dog

The animal’s diet should be reviewed when it reaches the age of 7-8 years. During this period, irreversible physiological changes occur in the body, and the animal can no longer eat according to the same pattern as before.

Changes should depend on the problems that arise. This could be obesity, underweight, problems with teeth and joints, constipation or persistent digestive disorders.

If you cannot change the animal’s diet on your own and solve the problem, contact a veterinarian.

An animal's weight loss is often associated not with age, but with the presence of a serious illness.

What do Shar-Peis often get sick with?

Table with common symptoms in dogs:

Signs of disease in Shar Peis	Causes
Presence of tartar	The owner does not brush the dog’s teeth in a timely manner and does not seek medical help from a veterinary clinic
Lacrimation, suppuration	No proper eye care
Unpleasant odor from the ears	Otitis
Itchy skin	Perhaps the dog caught ticks, lichen, etc.
The dog chews its paws	This is a feature of the breed
Flatulence	Indigestion
Constipation, diarrhea, incontinence	Overfeeding, use of expired foods in the diet
Lethargy, hyperactive states	Presence of any illness, excess energy

The breed is also susceptible to pathologies that can also be found in humans:

urolithiasis dysfunction;
renal failure;
overweight;
diseases of joints and bones;
allergy;
diabetes;
dermatosis, hair loss;
anorexia;
heart failure.

What to feed to avoid allergies

It is recommended to exclude corn, legumes, grains and chicken from your pet’s menu. In the future, the body’s reaction to the products is monitored. Shar Peis are not only food allergic; they also have reactions to dust, medications, and pollen.

If a reaction to food occurs, the dog will have to be switched to hypoallergenic food, even if it was previously fed natural food.

What to do if you have an allergy

Host actions:

consult a doctor to rule out other causes of the reaction;
give an antihistamine yourself, calculating the dose according to the instructions;
switch the dog to a diet of rice;
add vegetables to food;
after a week of diet, switch to hypoallergenic food or natural food with a low protein content.

Considering the special tendency of Shar-Peis to allergies, it is strongly recommended to seek advice from a breeder or doctor, since inept actions of the owner can cause serious harm to the dog’s health.

Photo: wikimedia.org

Recommendations from dog breeders regarding nutrition

Many dog breeders have developed a clear feeding strategy that they still use today. But, the menu for Shar Pei changes every 7 to 10 years. For example, puppies used to be fed wings that were cooked in a pressure cooker, but now it is common to feed them raw meat (particularly wings and necks).

If you have very little time to prepare food for your dog, it is better to use ready-made food. Many experienced dog breeders adhere to this regimen. Moreover, pet stores have a diet for any breed; take into account the dog’s health problems and the pet’s weight.

If you prepare your own food, you must add a vitamin-mineral complex (they are sold separately in pet stores), but ready-made food already contains additional grains, minerals and vitamins.

If you are using an additional vitamin-mineral complex, you must strictly follow the dosage. An incorrect balance of vitamins can cause various disorders in a dog.

Pet stores sell foods that have therapeutic properties. For example, for dogs whose stomachs have been upset or for hypersensitive pets. In any case, the seller must know which foods are suitable for which breeds. Some veterinarians even prescribe food as a preventative treatment.

Conclusion

Proper nutrition of Shar Pei is a very important moment. It is important to consider the dosage and balance of products. The dog's diet is divided into natural food and dry food.

What to feed the animal is up to you. But, if you have little free time, it is better to use dry food. In addition to the meat menu, the diet should include a vitamin and mineral complex. This will help improve your pet's health and strengthen its immunity. You cannot overfeed the dog or keep it on a starvation diet. The best option for an adult dog is two meals a day. Take care of your friend.

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Shar Pei nutritional features

The Shar Pei's diet should be balanced. The Shar Pei's diet consists of 40% meat and offal, fruits and vegetables - 25-35%, cereals - 20-25%.

What meat products should not be given to sharpeis:

pork in any form is contraindicated for them;
offal - no more than 20-30% of the meat diet;
chicken meat with tubular bones.

What cereals should not be given to Shar-Peis:

wheat cereal;
barley groats;
oatmeal;
pearl barley

Which vegetables are undesirable:

Meat should be given raw, cut into small pieces; vegetables can be grated and given raw or stewed. The preferred cereals for Shar-Pei are rice and buckwheat in the form of porridges. Porridge can be seasoned with olive, linseed or sesame oil.

There is a completely acceptable alternative to natural feeding - feeding with dry food. Most often, Shar Pei owners prefer dry food. Well-proven food can be used throughout the dog’s life without worrying about the balance of the diet. Feed manufacturers have already taken care of this.

Shar Pei must be fed special vitamin complexes in courses. This will help keep your dog in good physical shape.

Feeding correctly: 7 tips for a healthy diet

Regular feeding of Shar Pei requires the following rules:

Lunch for 15 minutes.
Give the Shar Pei a bowl of food for 15 minutes (do not remove the water). Discipline your dog. This will make it easier for your pet’s body to adapt to the regime;
Strictly on schedule.
Do not change food service times. Follow the schedule strictly;
Unloading.
Give your Shar Pei fasting days twice a month (for a puppy – once);
Other food.
Introduce new foods into your dog’s diet gradually, gradually increasing the quantity;
A game.
After feeding, do not play with the Shar Pei for an hour and a half;
Vitamins.
Add healthy elements to your daily complementary foods;
Combination of feeds.
It is strictly forbidden to combine natural food and dry food.

The article provides generally accepted rules for feeding Shar Peis at home. Each dog’s body has individual characteristics that must be taken into account when setting a mode or choosing a menu. Please consult your veterinarian before making any feeding decisions.

Shar Peis were recently considered a rare breed, but demand creates supply. Now many breeders breed these dogs, and the demand for them is quite high. Taking a dog home is a very responsible act. It would be good to first learn more about the representatives of the breed that you have chosen, so that all its features do not come as a surprise to you, and you do not regret your purchase.