We can recommend a food, or you can choose for yourself with these guidelines
in mind. Puppy foods vary, read your ingredients carefully and be aware of the differences. We've always known wheat and its byproducts to be recommended ingredients to avoid potential allergies, but with the continued misuse and questionable processing practices of overseas wheat gluten under such close scrunity since the Menu Foods recall, we felt it was important to reinterate the importance of choosing your pet food wisely, especially when it comes to canned foods and other grocery store brand choices.
For those with pets that have food allergies, this healthy list may be even shorter, but here’s ingredients that are usually considered healthy:
Alfalfa, Amaranth, Apples, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis fermentation extracts, Barley, Beta-carotene, Brewers Yeast, Brown Rice, Blueberries, Canola oil, Carrots, Chelated minerals, Chicken *, Chicken & Turkey Meal *, Chicken Fat *, Chondroitin sulfate, Cranberry, Digestive enzymes, Eggs, Filtered water, Fish meal, Flax seed/flaxseed meal, Kelp, Peas, Garlic, Glucosamine, Grapeseed oil, Lactobacillus, Acidophilus, Streptococcus faecium fermentation extracts, Lamb *, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Minerals, Oatmeal, Ocean whitefish *, Omega-3 essential fatty acid **, Omega-6 essential fatty acid **, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Quinoa, Rosemary, Sage, Sweet potatoes, Sunflower Oil, White Rice, Vitamins, Yeast culture, Yucca schidigera.
* Finest meats only - hormone free, antibiotic free and ethoxyquin free. Human quality meat.
** A balance ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids (4-6:1)
Recommended ingredients to avoid are:
Animal digest, Animal fat, Artificial flavors and color, Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), Beet pulp, Chicken by-products, Chicken digest, Ethoxyquin, Lamb by-products, Lamb digest, Meat by-products, Poultry *, Poultry by-products, Poultry digest, Poultry fat, Turkey by-products, wheat gluten.
* Poultry is an unpredictable ingredient, which can contain any type of fowl, including buzzards, geese, and other birds.
More specifically with Shar-pei in mind, we also recommend you avoid foods with the main ingredients being corn or soy as well;
which can cause skin, stomach, or allergy problems. Protein level should be about 25 to 30%
(unless your pedigree has a history of amlyoidosis, then the protein level should be under
20%), Fat level 10 to 15%. Vitamins should include A, E, C, and Zinc. Sometimes canned food
may be necessary to increase food consumption, preferably recommend you add homemade meals like cooked skinless chicken. Omega supplements like fish oil may be needed during the winter months to fight against dry skin problems or illnesses. Safflower, sunflower, or canola oil can also been
successful in improving skin quality without affecting sensitive dogs. Diet is very
important to insure the proper growth of a puppy.
As your Shar-pei grows into an adult, the
diet needs will vary according your individual puppy. Usually, at about one year,
it is recommended to switch to a lower protein, adult food. This will avoid any
of the kidney and other problems associated with feeding high protein foods to
adults. Please keep in mind that changes in diet
may cause digestive issues or a difference in stool quantity and/or consistency, so it's
important to make each change gradual.
Improvement in skin health or weight gain/loss may take 2-4 weeks to notice.
For specific feeding details, see Feeding your Shar-pei.
HOUSETRAINING:
Shar-pei are very easy to house train, in fact, they do most of it themselves. Any
time the puppy has eaten, has finished play time, or wakes from a nap, take time to go outside. Your puppy will be trained by two to four months. Just remember, consistency is the key to success.
We do not recommend buying/selling Shar-pei puppies (under four months) during the winter season for the breed has a very weak immune system as puppies and can get sick
or die easily. Here are a few precautions if you do purchase:
(1) limit outdoor housetraining, if possible set up indoor area
(2) keep the puppy in a warm, draft free area day and night
(3) limit time with older animals, especially ones that may have
been exposed to illness (vet's office, dog show, etc.)
HEALTH:
