Shar Peis are a special breed. You must provide your "Pei" with a qualified veterinarian who understands both the breed and the condition. Some might look with good intentions for other causes of the fever, such as an infected wound or a respiratory infection. We provide recommendations on how to find a "good" Shar Pei veterinarian in a separate section.

We strongly recommend you insist on your dog receiving a complete blood cell count (CBC), a serum biochemistry profile and a urinalysis. If these terms don't make sense to you, it's not essential. What matters is for the veterinarian to take the necessary steps. 

Other methods of diagnosis

Other tests are available. But their usefulness may not be appropriate for your Shar Pei depending on its age, condition, other ailments and risk factors attached to each procedure. Namely, X-rays and ultrasounds can help identify the presence of deposits. In general, veterinarians will err on the side of caution and act depending on the situation, one factor being how aggressive your Shar Pei might be.

In 2011, scientists developed a genetic test to aid in the diagnosis. This test is not a panacea and is rarely available and often non-conclusive. Do not be misled in "over-diagnosing" your Shar Pei. I made this mistake - and concluded that frequent fevers with swollen hocks (excluding evident infections) are more than sufficient to complete a positive diagnosis of FSF.