Weight Problems of Chinese Shar-Pei
Just as some people do, some Shar-Pei seem to convert every morsel of food into fat. A dog’s caloric intake should be dictated by his metabolism and the amount of energy he expends. The nervous dog or the highly energetic dog will rarely be overweight, but the sedentary dog or “couch potato,” which some Shar-Pei are, may have a tendency to gain weight. Giving the overweight dog smaller amounts of food several times a day will keep him happier and more satisfied than if he is fed only one or two meals. This also prevents his stomach from becoming too empty. When placing your dog on a diet, check the calorie content per pound or cup of dog food on the side of the bag. Increase the amount of exercise for the overweight dog, for instance, by taking him for long walks. You, too, will benefit from this.
As the older dog’s system slows down, he won’t need as many calories as he did when he was younger. After age six or seven years, you will most certainly want to reduce the protein and fat levels in your Shar-Pei’s food because of the threat of kidney disease. Continued exercise can help prevent obesity and can delay or alleviate arthritic conditions. As he ages, you may want to supplement his diet with vitamin E (400 IU per day), which can be helpful in maintaining good circulation and healthy skin.
If, or when, you change your dog’s diet, do it gradually by adding some of the new food to the old over a period of at least a week until you have replaced the old food. Drastic changes can cause digestive upsets such as vomiting or diarrhea. Constipation may be caused by an unbalanced diet, an irregular diet or not enough water or roughage in the diet. Feeding foods such as small amounts of beef, lamb or chicken liver, or wheat or oat bran will loosen the stools and help relieve constipation.