Why is my dog so wrinkly? A Comprehensive Guide

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Why is my dog so wrinkly?

Shar Pei dogs have unique characteristics. The breed originated in the south of China more than two thousand years ago with the Han dynasty and was used as guard dogs and shepherds. After the communist revolution of Mao Tse-Tung the Shar Pei breed almost disappeared. However, at the beginning of the 1970s a breeder from Hong Kong, Matgo-Law, sent a number of Shar Peis to the United States and there began the process of recovering the breed, which is considered to be the rarest in the world.

The research was carried out by researchers Lluís Ferrer, Giordana Zanna, Dolors Fondevila, Anna Bassols and Maria José Docampo from the UAB Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The results have been published in the journals Veterinary Dermatology and Journal of Heredity and will be presented at the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology (WCVD6) which will take place in Hong Kong on 19 November 2008.

Shar Peis became a popular breed in Europe and the United States at the beginning of the 1990s. During the recovery process, the characteristic wrinkles of the first Shar Pei dogs were enhanced and the offspring of these appeared with thicker skin and a greater number of wrinkles. This increase in thickness and the formation of excessive wrinkles are the cause of the inherited skin disorder cutaneous mucinosis, in which there is a build-up of mucin in the layers of the skin. The mechanism which produces this excess of mucin was unknown of until now.

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A group of researchers at UAB, led by professors Lluís Ferrer and Anna Bassols, have discovered the mechanisms of this disorder. Mucinosis in Shar Peis is due to an accumulation of hyaluronic acid (one of the main components found in the space between tissue cells) in cutaneous structures. This causes them to present high levels of hyaluronic acid in their bloodstream as well. Research with fibroblast cell cultures isolated from the Shar Peis skin have allowed scientists to demonstrate that synthesis of hyaluronic acid is produced in abnormally high amounts due to an excess in the activity (overexpression) of the HAS2 enzyme, one of the three enzymes responsible for the synthesis of acid in mammals. Now researchers are working to find the exact location of the genetic mutation causing this metabolic alteration, in a collaboration project between Armand Sánchez and Olga Francino from the UAB Department of Animal and Food Science, and Mia Olson and Kerstin Lindblah-Tod from the University of Uppsala, Sweden.

Dr. Kate Pierce, DVM at PenBay Veterinary Associates in Rockport, Maine says, “The most important part of preventing infection of facial wrinkles in brachycephalic [short-nosed] dogs is keeping the folds clean and dry. You can use hypoallergenic, unscented baby wipes or veterinary wipes containing the ingredient chlorhexidine. Drying well with cotton balls helps prevent the overgrowth of yeast and bacteria.” Chlorohexidine is an antiseptic that can be used to gently clean your dog’s wrinkles and prevent infection. VetOne KetoHex antiseptic wipes and Duoxo Chlorhexidine wipes both contain chlorohexidine and are safe to use on your dog’s face as long as you avoid contact with their eyes.

A dog’s diet can also play a role in the health of their skin and their skin folds. Talk to your veterinarian about supplementing your wrinkly dog’s diet with fish oils, which support skin health, and/or a vitamin and mineral supplement designed to help your pet maintain a healthy skin and coat. Two options that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are Zesty Paws Wild Omega-3 fish oil or Nutri-Vet Adult Vite Plus chews. The fish oil can be added to your dog’s daily meal, while chews can be given as a treat like a daily supplement. Dr. Pierce says, “Omega 3 supplements are a good natural anti-inflammatory and are good for skin overall.”

Michelle Knowles, a certified pet aesthetician and master groomer at Faust Animal Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, suggests that deep skin folds be cleaned daily, or at least every other day. However, she cautions, “if the skin in the folds becomes overly dry, it can lead to micro cracks in the skin inside the folds. This allows fungus and bacteria to get a foothold.” She suggests that owners use “plant extract minerals, mixed into a few drops of nourishing oil such as emu, avocado or argan and wiped into the folds with a cotton ball.” She adds, “Minerals are the building blocks of skin and are an important part of the immune system.”

It’s hard to look at a wrinkly dog and not smile. There is something about a soft Pug mug, draped in folds, or the furrows on a Bulldog, Mastiff or Shar-Pei, that makes many a human find themselves hopelessly attracted to the look. However, as endearing as a wrinkly dog is, their wrinkles do require a little extra care to maintain. Here are some simple steps to keep the wrinkles on your dog as healthy as they are adorable.

How do those wrinkles get dirty, anyway? Normal shedding of the hair inside the creases, as well as an accumulation of dead skin cells, can collect between the folds. Skin folds tend to be warm and moist, too. Add to this any dirt your dog picks up from playing outside, and even bits of food that may get trapped, and you have a recipe for irritation and infection.

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