What are the Best Dog Foods for the Chinese Shar-Pei?
Distinctive and dignified, Chinese Shar-Pei are unique dogs with specific nutritional needs. Their wrinkled skin and calm demeanor require a carefully balanced diet. Our experts at Petabolix have crafted the best dog food recommendations to help your Chinese Shar-Pei thrive.
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Breed Info
Breed Group:Non-Sporting | AKC Chinese Shar-Pei Profile
Ideal Weight:Female Adult: 46 to 59 pounds
Male Adult: 46 to 59 pounds
Exercise Need:20 to 40 minutes per day
Breed Summary
Chinese Shar-Pei are a breed like no other, known for their distinctive wrinkles and blue-black tongue. Originating from China, these dogs have a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. Initially bred as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and fighters, they have evolved into loyal and protective family companions.
Physically, Shar-Pei are medium-sized dogs, typically weighing between 45-60 pounds and standing about 18-20 inches tall. Their unique appearance is marked by loose, wrinkled skin, a broad muzzle, and a high-set tail. They have a short, bristly coat that comes in a variety of colors, including fawn, red, black, and cream. Despite their ancient and somewhat fierce look, they are known for their calm and reserved nature.
Chinese Shar-Pei are loyal and devoted to their families, often displaying a protective and independent streak. They are intelligent and can be quite stubborn, making consistent training and socialization important from an early age. While they can be aloof with strangers, they are affectionate with those they know and trust.
Vet's Note
Chinese Shar-Pei have several breed-specific health concerns. Their distinctive wrinkles can make them prone to skin infections and conditions such as pyoderma and demodectic mange, requiring regular grooming and skin care. They are also susceptible to hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, necessitating a diet that supports joint health. Additionally, Shar-Pei can suffer from entropion, a condition where the eyelids roll inward, causing irritation. A balanced diet that promotes skin health, joint support, and overall wellbeing is essential for this breed.
Health Considerations
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Bone & Joint
It’s very common for breeds like the Chinese Shar-Peis to develop discomfort or pain in their joints and bones, especially as they age. Some of these issues are hereditary, and some come from wear and tear over time. We can’t usually prevent these problems, but proper nutrition and weight management will do wonders in minimizing pain in our beloved pets. We always make sure diets include the ingredients below. Learn more about joint health in dogs.
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Chondroitin・ Glucosamine・ Green Mussel・ Methylsulfonymethane・ Omega-3 from Fish Oil・ Taurine・ Turmeric・ Vitamin E -
Cognitive
Puppy and senior Chinese Shar-Peis need a little extra brain power in their nutrition plans. In the early years, puppy brains are developing quickly and need a healthy flow of vitamins to help them grow strong. Once they hit senior years, brain function can deteriorate and we like to supplement their diets with nutrients that will keep them sharp. Learn more about cognitive nutrition for dogs.
Recommendations:
L-carnitine・ Omega-3 essential fatty acids・ Vitamin C・ Vitamin E -
Dental
A Chinese Shar-Pei's teeth and gums are always under plaque attack, which forms naturally from food particles and other bacteria. Dogs aren’t too concerned about having pretty white teeth, but dental care is critical for oral health. Bacteria in the mouth can even affect internal organs, like the heart, liver and kidneys, so there are certain things below we like to see in food or supplements to combat these threats to Chinese Shar-Peis. Learn more about how to take care of your dog's teeth.
Recommendations:
Puffy/crunch kibbles (bigger)・ Sodium hexametaphosphate・ Treats based on solubility, not hardness -
Eye
The only thing better than looking into your Chinese Shar-Pei’s eyes is looking into your Chinese Shar-Pei’s healthy eyes. All dogs are susceptible to degenerative vision and eye function, but supplementing their diets with things like beta carotene, lutein, epa, dha, and other nutrients can help maintain quality vision. Learn more about eye nutrition for dogs.
Recommendations:
Anthocyanins・ Astaxanthin・ Beta-carotene・ Carotenoids・ Glutathione・ Lutein・ Lycopene・ Omega-3 essential fatty acids・ Phytonutrients・ Vitamin A・ Vitamin C -
Gut
Think of your Chinese Shar-Pei's gut like a diverse community of bacteria and other microbes that work together to keep the body healthy. Keeping all these balanced is very important for overall health, including digestive, mental, and immune well-being. For these reasons, we prefer Chinese Shar-Peis food that support the gi system and supplements that contain attributes below. Learn more about how to keep a dog's gut healthy and gut and digestive health in dogs.
Recommendations:
Fermented foods・ Prebiotics・ Probiotics -
Heart
Chances are, if you’re doing what’s right for your Chinese Shar-Pei’s heart, you’re doing what’s right for his or her health overall. Proper exercise, weight management, and nutrition are all key to a healthy ticker. Most heart issues in dogs are a result of normal wear and tear with age, so heart-focused diets with taurine and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could be the gift of a lifetime for your Chinese Shar-Pei. Learn more about heart nutrition for dogs and heart nutrition for dogs.
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Carnitine・ Complete protein・ Low sodium・ Omega-3 fatty acids・ Taurine -
Immune
There is a powerful little army inside your Chinese Shar-Pei (the immune system) that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and countless other microscopic predators. As pet parents, our job is to keep this army strong, conditioned, and well-supplied. Most of the battle is won in the gut, so a balanced diet plus probiotics and antioxidants are key for victory. Learn more about immune system nutrition for dogs and immune system nutrition for dogs.
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Coconut oil・ Fish oil・ Omega-3 fatty acids・ Vitamin A・ Vitamin C・ Vitamin E・ Vitamin K -
Skin & Coat
Skin is a Chinese Shar-Pei’s largest organ, and it plays a huge role in protecting from the outside world. Just think — weather, allergies, stress, parasites — all these things are trying to get under your dog’s skin. A healthy outer layer is key to avoiding irritants that may irritate or infect. And pay close attention to their coat. Unhealthy looking (or smelling) fur can mean bigger problems. To keep Chinese Shar-Peis skin & coats healthy, we recommend that diets contain ingredients below. Learn more about dog foods focused on a healthy coat. and skin nutrition for dogs.
Recommendations:
ALA・ Antioxidants・ Flaxseed/fish oil・ GLA・ Omega-3 fatty acids・ Probiotics・ Vitamin E・ Vitamins and choline -
Weight Management & Obesity
There is nothing more important than keeping your Chinese Shar-Pei at a healthy weight. Even a little excess poundage can cause a wide variety of health problems, including the pain of extra burden on their joints. Unfortunately, almost half of dogs in the us are overweight. Let’s fight dog obesity together by giving our dogs appropriate exercise and managing their caloric intake. If your Chinese Shar-Pei needs to shed a little weight, look for diets with these labels below. Learn more about weight management and obesity for dogs and dogs appropriate exercise and fight dog obesity and how to tell if your dog is overweight.
Recommendations:
Large bites (to slow chewing)・ L-carnitine・ Low calorie・ Low fat
Get a tailored nutrition profile for your dog
Our free nutritional assessment tool provides individualized recommendations based on your dog's breed characteristics, age, weight, body condition score, and activity level. It only takes 30 seconds to receive science-based insights to support your dog's lifelong health.
Are Fresh Food Diets Good for Chinese Shar-Peis?
Only if they’re properly balanced.
Many well-intentioned Chinese Shar-Peis parents spend a lot of time preparing meals at home, but health benefits are lost if meals aren’t properly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs need. Recently, a few companies have done an excellent job ensuring accurate portions and nutrient balance by delivering pre-prepped fresh meals customized to the size and needs of your dog. Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and Nom Nom have each been approved by our nutrition team as delivering truly quality and well-balanced meals. They can be a little expensive (usually 3-4x more per day than kibble), but many find the added health benefits worth the cost. They do offer discounts to new customers, though, if you’d like to try one out.
Pros and Cons of Fresh Food Diets
✓ Diets balanced by Nutritionists・ ✓ Customized portions for weight control・ ✓ Superior digestive and immune health ・✕ More expensive than standard dog food
Foods We Recommend for Chinese Shar-Peis Puppies
How long do Chinese Shar-Peiss need puppy food?
Until they're 12 to 16 months old.
Chinese Shar-Peis are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young Chinese Shar-Peis is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.
Find the best nutritional start for your puppy
Our recommendation tool evaluates your puppy’s breed, age, growth stage, lifestyle, and health needs to identify a scientifically appropriate diet from over 10,000 options. Obtain personalized guidance to help support healthy development and lifelong wellness.
Foods We Recommend for Chinese Shar-Peis Adults
When should Chinese Shar-Peis start transitioning to adult food?
When they're 12 to 16 months old
From a nutrition standpoint, Chinese Shar-Peis become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a Chinese Shar-Pei
Find the optimal nutrition plan for your adult dog
Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, lifestyle, and health considerations to recommend a scientifically selected diet from over 10,000 options. Personalized insights to help your dog thrive through adulthood.
Foods We Recommend for Chinese Shar-Peis Seniors
When should Chinese Shar-Peis start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but medium dogs like Chinese Shar-Peis can start to benefit from senior food around 7 to 8 years old
Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior Chinese Shar-Peis slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.
Support your senior dog's health with targeted nutrition
Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, and health considerations to recommend a science-based diet from over 10,000 options. Help maintain mobility, cognitive health, and quality of life.
Affiliate Disclosure:
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.
