Just forty years ago, most Americans had never seen a Shar Pei dog. When the breed made its earliest appearances here, in the early '70s, the saggy, baggy pups attracted a lot of attention. Americans adored the dogs who looked like they were wearing oversized pajamas. And the more wrinkles they had, the better they liked them.
Breed History
The Chinese Shar Pei dog breed originated in China and has been around for more than two thousand years. The name Shar Pei means ‘sand skin’ which refers to the sand paper-like coat. Some believe, because of the blue tongue, that the Shar Pei may be related to the Chow and that the first Shar Pei may have been a mutation.
A visit to sharpeiguide.com reveals that the breed was once listed by the Guiness Book of World Records as the rarest breed in the world. However, a resurgence in popularity, particularly in the US and Europe in the 1990s, led to more breeding and for thicker skin with even more wrinkles.
This resulted in a breed with excessive accumulations of mucin which consists of hyaluronic acid, in the layers of skin. The skin disorder, called cutaneous mucinosis, is abnormal in other dog breeds but appears to be normal for the Shar Pei, as treatment is seldom necessary for them. Those that do need treatment usually respond to steroid therapy.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
According to thefreedictionary.com, hyaluronic acid is defined as a gel-like aminoglycan that is found in the tissue space, the synovial fluid of joints, and the vitreous humor of the eyes and acts as a binding, lubricating, and protective agent. In the Shar Pei, excessive amounts of lubricating substance gather in the skin, producing folds and wrinkles.
What Causes So Many Wrinkles
Dr. Jeff Vidt, a veterinarian with a special interest in the medical problems of the Shar Pei, says that the wrinkled breed has about five times the normal amount of plasma hyaluronan levels of other dog breeds.
Scientists have known for some time that the excessive amounts of hyaluronic acid is responsible for the wrinkling but only recently discovered what causes this. According to Science Daily, a group of researchers at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona has found that the cause of the excessive production of hyaluronic acid is a genetic alteration that brings about hyperactivity of an enzyme called HAS2. This is one of three enzymes responsible for the synthesis of acid in mammals. The discovery may also help in research of the aging process.
Chinese Shar Pei puppies look adorable in their oversized coat but as, some say, they tend to 'grow into their skin.' Wrinkles in adults are generally only around the face and shoulders, although some have more than others.
Joy Butler - Writer, retired lab tech, mom, and animal lover with over 20 years' experience rescuing, kenneling, training and showing dogs.
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