Dr. Jeff Vidt

With a special interest in the medical problems of the Chinese Shar-Pei

Category: Shar-Pei Info

Research

Study To Map the Chinese Shar-Pei Genome

The University of California-Davis has an ongoing study to map the Chinese Shar-Pei genome headed by Dr. Neff. This is a FREE study and requires the cheek swabs from several hundred dogs. Their goal is to study the genetics of “breed-defining traits” in the Shar-Pei and through this to gain more information on the etiology of Familial Shar-Pei Fever. Below is the link to order the free cheek swab kits (4 cheek swabs per dog). You will be provided with directions and forms as well as a FedEx mailing number to use for the return post. Follow the directions and...

Newsletter

Newsletter: Volume 10, Issue 2 December 2006

Veterinary medicine has changed quite a bit in the last decade with the advent of alternative medicine, three year vaccine protocols, raw food diets, wellness exams, specialty clinics, and other changes. I’ve always tried to advise clients based on my experience with my own dogs, keeping current with the veterinary literature, clinical experience with all the dogs in the practice, new information available on the Internet and talking with colleagues and specialists. I still give my dog’s annual vaccinations which I have been doing for 26 years with no adverse consequences, I know of. I still feed good quality commercial...

Health Issues

Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is an antibody-mediated or complement-mediated cytotoxic destruction of circulating red blood cells (RBCs). The term “hemolytic” refers to the release of hemoglobin from the damaged red blood cells which imparts a reddish color to the normally clear serum. IMHA can be either primary, also known as idiopathic or autoimmune, or secondary. Primary IMHA is the most frequent cause of IMHA in dogs and it is an autoimmune disorder with no recognized underlying cause. IMHA typically affects young adult and middle-aged animals, and is most common in Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, English Springer Spaniels and Old English Sheepdogs....

Frequently Asked Questions

Pigment Changes

Lentigo Lentigo is a genetic cause of hyperpigmentation. In dogs the condition occurs as black spots called lentigines which occur most commonly on the ventrum (underside of the trunk). These appear in mature dogs and can increase in number and size over a period of several months. They have been called “tar spots”, “age spots” or “pigment spots”. These are due to localized increases in the number of melanocytes (pigment cells) and melanosomes (pigment packages within the cells). I usually associate these with dilute pigmentation in Shar-Pei. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation This is the most common form of hyperpigmentation. Dogs typically produce...

Health Issues

BLOAT

This condition is one of the most devastating acute syndromes seen in dogs. It is also known as gastric torsion, gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV. Torsion or volvulus refers rotation of the stomach on its mesenteric axis which results in malposition of the stomach obstructing the inlet at the cardia and the outlet at the pylorus. Dilatation refers to stretching the stomach beyond its normal dimensions. In my experience it is not uncommon to see post-anesthetic gastric dilatation without torsion in Shar-Pei. As they recover from anesthesia many have “stormy” recoveries with excessive air swallowing and salivation. Whether these go on...

Newsletter

Newsletter: Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2006

GAG Mimetics Amyloid deposits are complex structures where the amyloid fibrils are intertwined with other amyloid proteins called proteoglycans that are always present in the deposits regardless of the type of amyloid fibril present. Proteoglycans, especially the sulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) molecule portion of specific proteoglycans, have been shown to interact with the amyloidogenic amyloid proteins. These GAGs promote fibril formation. Glycosaminoglycans may affect precursor processing, folding of the amyloidogenic proteins to form a beta-pleated sheet conformation or polymerization and deposition of amyloid fibrils. An increase in the rate of synthesis of glycosaminoglycans in tissues in which amyloidosis developed would argue...

Research

UPDATE ON DR. AVERY RESEARCH PROJECT AND REQUEST FOR SAMPLES FROM DOGS WITH FSF DURING A FEVER EVENT AS WELL AS IN BETWEEN FSF EPISODES

As part of our CSP Charitable Trust-AKC/CHF funded study, Dr. Anne Avery is looking for blood samples from dogs with FSF (Familial Shar-Pei Fever) at the time they are spiking a fever. Please have your veterinarian obtain 6-10 ml of EDTA whole blood (lavender top tube) and the serum from 3-5 ml blood (red top or serum separator tube) and contact Dr. Avery at (970) 491-1170 to arrange overnight shipment of the samples to: Dr. Anne Avery, Dept. of MIP, 1619 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1619 by overnight express. You will need to provide a signed consent form, the...

Health Issues

Thromboembolism and Splenic Infraction

Thromboembolism is the process of blood clots forming in the cardiovascular system. These can remain stationary or can break loose and travel throughout the blood vessels eventually lodging in smaller capillary beds located in the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Worse case scenarios involve clots ending up in the brain and heart which can rapidly lead to life threatening consequences. I have seen a syndrome of thromboembolism in Chinese Shar-Pei especially leading to splenic infarction or thromboembolism. In fact, the only breed I’ve seen this in during the last 26 years have been in Shar-Pei and only those suffering with...

Shar-Pei Info

Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

The Board recently approved the participation of the CSPCA in the Canine Health Information Center program. Details of the program for our breed are given below. Overview CHIC is a centralized canine health database sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC-CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). It was conceived in 1999 and became operational in 2001. Today there are 56 breeds involved through their parent clubs.  Goals The goals of the CHIC Program are: To work with parent clubs to identify breed health issues and help to establish a central information system concerning these health issues. To...

Shar-Pei Info

Influenza Type A Virus Dog Flu Outbreak

You may be hearing and reading a lot lately concerning reports of a new dog flu (influenza type A) virus which has caused outbreaks at Greyhound tracks throughout the country and now seems to be spreading into the general dog population. Here are some key points about the virus. It is an influenza virus and not bacterium. Thus it is not treatable with antibiotics. It is susceptible to two of the most common antiviral drugs, amantidine and Tamiflu. These drugs have not been licensed for use in dogs. The virus appears to have mutated from an influenza strain that affects...