Author: Dr. Vidt

While the vast majority of the episodes of Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) seen in Shar-Pei run a fairly benign course there are occasional exceptions which can have live-threatening consequences.  Over the last few years Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) has been seen more frequently as a complication of FSF in the Chinese Shar-Pei.  STSS involves infection with a group G streptococcus called Streptococcus canis. In the Shar-Pei cases I’ve seen this streptococcal infection is a rapidly progressing, highly invasive process which results in a necrotizing faciitis and/or STSS leading to a shock-like syndrome and multi-organ failure.  If not recognized early...

Masticatory mysositis appears to be a breed problem in the Chinese Shar-Pei. While I’m hesitant to say it’s an inherited condition I have seen it in lines and in litters of affected individuals. This condition used to be described as two separate disorders: (1)eosinophilic myositis and (2) atrophic myositis. It is currently felt that these are manifestations of the same disease now called masticatory myositis. This is an inflammatory muscle disease, most likely immune-mediated, involving the muscles of mastication – these muscles are used to grind and chew food prior to swallowing. Five muscle groups in the dog are involved...

      Inflammatory bowel disease is not so much a disease as it is a group of clinical signs related to a large number of underlying causes. The clinical signs primarily involve the gastrointestinal tract and can vary somewhat based on what part of the GI tract is affected. Vomiting is the primary sign if the stomach is affected. If the small bowel is affected the signs are related to a protein-losing enteropathy – diarrhea or loose stools, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc. If the large bowel (colon) is affected signs are related to colitis such as loose stools (cow-pie...

Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) is a hereditary inflammatory disorder seen in Shar-Pei. It appears to be inherited as an autosomal recessive condition. Clinical signs: Episodic fever is the most important and consistent clinical sign of this disorder. The temperature commonly is in the 105-107°F range. The fever is generally self-limiting lasting 12-36 hours. Another common clinical sign often accompanying the fever is swelling of a joint, usually the hock (tibiotarsal) joint and is known as Swollen Hock Syndrome (SHS). This painful, hot swelling can also involve the carpus (wrist) and the lips. Dogs with FSF are sick — they are...

Current Information on the Development of DNA Markers for Familial Shar-Pei Fever One of the first research projects funded by the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc. and the CSPCA Charitable Trust was begun in 1997 by Dr. Gary Johnson at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The main objective of the project was to test the theory that FSF is a canine version of Familial Mediterranean Fever in humans. It was felt that a mutation occurring in the canine equivalent of the human FMF gene was responsible for FSF in the Shar-Pei breed. Initially this was to be accomplished by...

There is no perfect dog breed… every breed has its problems and imperfections. The easiest way to discuss the problems seen in our breed is to list them according to the body system involved. Please remember that these problems are seen in a vary small number of dogs… not every Shar-Pei will be affected: RESPIRATORY stenotic (pinched) nostrils elongated soft palate pneumonia — primarily in puppies EYES entropion — rolling in of the eyelids retinal dysplasia glaucoma “cherry eye” — prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid EARS stenotic (narrow) ear canals bacterial ear infections yeast over growth hyperplastic...

I’ve been receiving many questions on the new E.R.D.-Screen™ Urine Test from Heska. I would make the following comments about the test: Amyloidosis in the Shar-Pei primarily affects the medulla (central part) or the urine concentrating region of the kidney and proteinuria (protein in the urine) is not a significant aspect of this syndrome. As amyloidosis can involve the glomeruli in the cortex (outer region of the kidney) and result in proteinuria the E.R.D.-Screen™ Urine Test may be useful here as an early detection test. The urine protein:creatinine ratio is still important in these cases as well. The Health Through...