There is no perfect dog breed... every breed has its problems and imperfections. The easiest way to discuss the problems seen in our breed is to list them according to the body system involved. Please remember that these problems are seen in a vary small number of dogs... not every Shar-Pei will be affected:

RESPIRATORY
Stenotic -- (pinched) nostrils
Elongated soft palate
Pneumonia -- primarily in puppies

EYES
Entropion -- rolling in of the eyelids

Retinal dysplasia -- medically abnormal growth

Glaucoma -- eye disorder marked by abnormally high pressure within the eyeball that leads to damage of the optic disk and, if not treated, causes impaired vision and sometimes blindness

"Cherry eye" -- prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid

EARS
Stenotic -- (narrow) ear canals

Bacterial ear infections

Yeast over growth

Hyperplastic otitis -- inflammation of the ear, caused by infection

GASTROINTESTINAL
Bite problems -- most commonly, an overbite

Inflammatory bowel disease
Megaesophagus -- abnormal widening of the lower parts of the esophagus. It results from the failure of the muscle at the opening to the stomach to relax and allow food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach

Hiatal hernia --  A hernia is a protrusion of an organ through a wall of a cavity in which it is enclosed. In the case of a hiatal hernia, a portion of the stomach protrudes through a teardrop-shaped hole in the diaphragm where the esophagus and the stomach join

Intestinal adenocarcinoma -- The intestinal adenocarcinoma is derived from the glandular cells of the intestine lining and can be either a solid lump pushing from one side of the lumen wall or can encompass the circumference of the lumen

SKIN
Lip fold pyoderma -- bacterial skin infection

Skin fold pyoderma
Demodectic mange -- Demodectic mange is the result of Demodex canis, a microscopic mite multiplying out of control. Most dogs have demodex mites on their skin in small numbers. These mites are acquired by puppies shortly after birth, from their mother

Allergic skin disease -- alleric inhalant dermatitis, food allergy, insect allergy, contact allergy, etc.

Generalized pyoderma -- Bacterial skin infection, bacterial folliculitis

Cutaneous mucinosis -- is a condition in which there is excessive amounts of a jelly-like substance called "mucin" in the dermis of the skin. While this condition is abnormal in other dog breeds, it appears to be normal in the Chinese Shar-Pei

ENDOCRINE
Hypothyroidism -- diseases of the thyroid

MYSCULOSKELETAL
Inquinal hernias

Luxating patellas -- "loose" kneecaps

Elbow dysplasia -- a painful and debilitating skeletal condition, is a noninfectious disease

Hip dysplasia
Anterior cruciate ligament rupture -- When severe twisting of the joint occurs, the most common injury is a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). When it is torn, an instability occurs that allows the bones to move in an abnormal fashion in relation to each other

GENITOURINARY
Renal amyloidosis -- a rare disorder of protein metabolism in which abnormal deposits of protein called amyloid is deposited in the kidneys

Immune - mediated kidney disease

NEOPLASIA
Mast cell tumor -- Mast cell tumors, also called mastocytomas, arise most commonly in the skin. They develop from a normal component of body tissues called the mast cell that play a role in the process of tissue repair by releasing inflammatory mediators.

Histiocytoma -- is a tumor originating from what is called a “Langerhans cell.” This cell lives in the skin and serves as part of the immune system by processing incoming antigens and presenting them to other immunologic cells

Lymphosarcoma -- is a malignant cancer that involves the lymphoid system

MISCELLANEOUS
Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF)
Abscesses -- bite wounds, other

IgA deficiency -- is a condition where a dog has low levels of, or a complete absence of, immune globulin A (IgA). Essentially, the primary function of IgA is to prevent antigens from bacteria, viruses, and food, from crossing the gut barrier. IgA deficiency results in decreased immune function in the mucosal surfaces (mouth, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, etc.) and results in increased risk for respiratory, urinary, skin, and gastrointestinal infections. IgA deficiency is one of the most common of the immunodeficiency diseases. It is hereditary, but can be influenced by hormones, severe viral infections, over vaccination, or stress

Primary Multiple Immunodeficiency Syndrome -- results whenever one or more essential parts of the immune system is missing or not working properly at birth because of a genetic defect. Since the immune system is tremendously complex, hundreds of things can go wrong during development and sometimes the backup systems cannot compensate for the defects