The Shar-Pei is a unique breed of dog that has many special dietary needs. That’s why it’s important to choose the best dog food for Shar Peis if you want your pet to stay healthy and happy. In this article, we will discuss the 10 best dog foods for Shar Peis, as well as how to choose the right diet for your furry friend.
Shar Peis are known for their wrinkly skin and Chinese heritage. These dogs are loyal and protective, making them great family pets. However, they can also be independent and stubborn, so it’s important to start training early. Shar-peis require a lot of exercise, so make sure to take them on walks or runs every day.
When it comes to food, Shar Peis need a diet that is high in protein and fat. This breed is also prone to allergies, so it’s important to choose a food that does not contain any common allergens. Some of the best dog foods for Shar Peis are listed below.
The 10 Best Dog Foods for Shar Peis
American Journey Active Life Formula Dry Dog Food – Best Value
American Journey Active Life Formula Dry Dog Food is our pick for the best dog food for Shar-Peis for the money. It has beef listed as its first ingredient, and it contains a minimum of 25% protein. Real fruit like blueberries and cranberries provide powerful antioxidants while flaxseed and fish oil provide helpful fatty acids that help your Shar-Pei remain rash free. Sweet potatoes and brown rice provide complex carbs and other nutrients your pet needs for energy.
We like the ingredients in American Journey, and it smells good when you put it in the bowl. Unfortunately, not all our dogs found it very tasty and would hold out until we put out something else.
Cons
Some dogs don’t like it
Pros
Antioxidants and omega fats
Beef first ingredient
25% protein
Contains sweet potatoes, carrots, and brown rice
Smells good
Ollie Fresh Dog Food Turkey with Blueberries – Best Overall
The Shar-Pei is a very distinctive dog, from its wrinkled skin to its blue-black tongue. If you’re on the lookout for a tasty meal that will contribute to the healthy lifestyle of your Shar-Pei, Ollie’s Turkey with Blueberries recipe is the best option.
The recipe contains high-quality, human-grade ingredients and no fillers or artificial flavors. The ingredient list is simple, making it easier for you to know exactly what your dog is getting. It has been developed using the AAFCO guidelines to ensure your dog’s safety without compromising on nutritional needs regardless of the life stage or size of the dog.
There is not only turkey breast in this recipe, which is rich in essential amino acids but also turkey liver. Organ meat contains a wealth of minerals and vitamins, and the turkey liver is packed full of protein, vitamin A, and fat.
Like many subscription-based brands, Ollie Dog Food comes in bulk and will take up a lot of space in your fridge and freezer. It is one of the pricier options, but your money will be well spent on quality food you can trust that your dog will love.
Cons
Expensive
Takes up a lot of space in the fridge and freezer
Pros
No fillers or artificial flavors
High-quality ingredients used
Meets AAFCO standards for safety and quality
Packed with vitamins and minerals
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies
Main ingredients
Deboned turkey, chicken meal, peas
Protein content
34%
Fat content
16%
Calories
360 per cup
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Dry Dog Food is our pick as best for puppies. It contains up to 36% protein and has chicken listed as its top ingredient. It also contains plenty of fruits and vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, carrots, apple, blueberries, and more. These high-quality ingredients provide your pet with antioxidants to help boost their immune system as well as fatty acids that help with a puppy’s brain and eye development. There are no harmful preservatives or artificial colors.
We felt good about serving Wellness CORE to our puppy despite the high cost. The only thing we didn’t like is the bag doesn’t have a reseal feature, and one of our dogs wouldn’t eat it.
Cons
Bag doesn’t reseal
Some dogs don’t like it
Pros
Plenty of real fruits and vegetables
Antioxidants
36% protein
Chicken first ingredient
Omega fats
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food has chicken listed as its first ingredient. At 21%, the protein is a low little lower than some of the other brands, but it’s still acceptable for medium size dog like the Shar-Pei. The ingredients also include sweet potatoes and brown rice, which are complex carbs that help provide energy and keep your pet feeling full. It also contains glucosamine, which could help with joint pain in older dogs, and flaxseed provides omega fats.
We thought our dogs we’re going to like Nutro Wholesome Essentials, but after a few weeks, they stopped eating it. We also found quite a bit of dust left in the bag when it was empty.
Cons
Some dogs don’t like it
Dusty
Pros
Sweet potatoes and brown rice
Omega fats
Chicken first ingredient
21% protein
Glucosamine
VICTOR Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food
VICTOR Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food has a minimum of 30% protein to supply your pet with strong building blocks for muscle development. All ingredients come from the U.S.A., with 80% sourced within 200 miles. It features their unique Victor Core ingredients, which fortify the food with prebiotics and probiotics as well as selenium yeast and mineral complexes. It also has omega fats and amino acids to help nourish the skin.
VICTOR has a lot of great ingredients, but the kibble is a little large for smaller dogs, and there’s only meat meal, there’s no whole meat. While that doesn’t necessarily make the food bad, we prefer foods that have at least one whole meat in the ingredients.
Cons
No whole meat
Large kibble
Pros
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
30% protein
All ingredients sourced from the U.S.A.
Prebiotics and probiotics
Contains Omega fats and amino acids
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients
Venison, lamb meal, sweet potatoes
Protein content
32%
Fat content
18%
Calories
340 per cup
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is another great dog food for Shar-Peis. It’s a high protein food, and protein count can reach as high as 32%. It features duck as its first ingredient, but there is also quail and turkey among the meats. There are also plenty of real fruits and vegetables listed among the ingredients, including blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes. These high-quality ingredients lead to a diet rich in valuable nutrients like antioxidants and omega fatty acids. There is no soy or corn in the ingredients, and it’s free of chemical preservatives as well.
The only negative thing we could say about Taste of the Wild Wetlands is that some of our dogs wouldn’t eat it.
Cons
Some dogs don’t like it
Pros
Contains quail and turkey
Contains real fruits and vegetable
Omega fats
Duck first ingredient
32% protein
Grain-free
No corn or soy
Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a high protein dog food that contains 34% protein by volume. Beef is listed as the first ingredient, and it also contains lamb, salmon, pork, and whitefish, which helps increase the protein level. It’s not on meat, though, and it contains sweet potatoes, blueberries, and other fruits and vegetables to help provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your pet healthy.
Both of our dogs would eat Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, but they tended to take longer to finish their food, and while we’re not complaining, we feel it’s because they didn’t like it as much as their regular brand. It’s also expensive compared to many other brands on this list, and the kibble is quite small, so you might not like it if you have larger dogs.
Cons
Small kibble
Expensive
Dogs eat it slowly
Pros
34% protein
Beef first ingredient
Contains lamb, salmon, pork, and whitefish
Contains sweet potatoes and blueberries
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Is a limited ingredient food that contains turkey as its top ingredient. Limited ingredients reduce the risk your pet will have an allergic reaction, and 26% protein provides plenty of energy and helps develop strong muscles. Probiotics and prebiotics help balance and maintain a healthy digestive system, and ground flaxseed provides the omega fats.
Like many of these healthier foods, some of our dogs wouldn’t eat the Wellness brand. Others would eat it for a while and then stop. We felt that the kibble was a little large, especially for our smaller dog, and it had a bad smell to it.
Cons
Dogs stopped eating it
Large kibble
Bad smell
Pros
Limited ingredients
Turkey first ingredient
26% protein
Prebiotics and probiotics
CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Senior Dry Dog Food
CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Senior Dry Dog Food contains 28% protein and contains chicken as its top ingredient. There are only nine ingredients in this food to help reduce the risk that your pet will have an allergic reaction. Sweet potatoes in garbanzo beans provide complex carbs for energy and fiber that will help your pet stay full longer. It adds a unique blend of probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fats to help your pet stay healthy, and there is no corn, wheat, or soy in the ingredients that can upset your dog’s delicate digestive tract.
Unfortunately, CANIDAE is the food our dogs liked least of the brands on this list. Only one of our dogs will eat it, and the one that did would get bad breath and occasional gas. The kibble is very tiny, and we weren’t sure if it was contributing to cleaning teeth, and it left quite a bit of dust in the bag when it was empty.
Cons
Most dogs didn’t like it
Tiny kibble
Dusty
Smelled bad
Pros
No corn, wheat, or soy
28% protein
Sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans
Nine ingredients
A unique blend of probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fats
Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients
Deboned turkey, peas, potatoes
Protein content
26%
Fat content
16%
Calories
333 per cup
Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Dry Dog Food is a great option for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This food is made with a single protein source and limited ingredients to help reduce the risk of an allergic reaction or upset stomach. It is also high in protein and fat to help maintain muscle mass and energy levels. In addition, this food contains a blend of omega-fatty acids to support the skin and coat. The downside is that this food contains peas/
Pros
Made with a single protein source
Limited ingredients for sensitive stomachs
High in protein
Cons
Contains peas
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Food for Your Shar Pei
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a food for your Shar-Pei:
Consider your dog’s activity level. Active dogs need more calories and protein than sedentary dogs.
Choose a food that is high in protein and fat. Shar Peis need a diet that is high in protein and fat to help maintain muscle mass and energy levels.
Pick a food that contains omega-fatty acids. Omega-fatty acids help support the skin and coat.
Select a food that is appropriate for your dog’s life stage. Puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional needs.
Choose a food that your dog will enjoy eating. Some dogs are pickier than others, so it’s important to find a food that your dog will actually eat.
Shar-Pei Dietary Considerations
Shar Peis are a unique breed of dog with some special dietary considerations. Here are a few things to keep in mind when feeding your Shar-Pei:
Shar Peis are prone to weight gain, so it’s important to feed them a diet that is high in protein and low in calories.
Shar Peis are also prone to skin problems, so it’s important to choose a food that contains omega-fatty acids to support the skin and coat.
Puppies need a diet that is high in protein and fat to help them grow and develop properly.
Senior Shar Peis may need a diet that is lower in calories and fat to help them maintain a healthy weight.
Shar Peis are known to be picky eaters, so it’s important to find a food that your dog will actually eat.
Choosing Treats for Your Shar-Pei
In addition to a healthy diet, treats can be a great way to show your dog some extra love. When choosing treats for your Shar Pei, look for ones that are:
High in protein
Low in fat
Free of artificial ingredients
Easy to digest
Made with natural ingredients
Tasty and nutritious
Common Shar-Pei Health Problems
It’s important to figure in a breed’s most common health problems when you choose their food. The most common health problems for Shar Peis are:
Shar-Pei Fever: This is a condition that causes inflammation and fever in Shar Peis. It is thought to be caused by an immune system reaction to a bacterial infection.
Skin Problems: Shar Peis are prone to skin problems, such as allergies, hot spots, and infections.
Eye Problems: Shar Peis are also susceptible to eye problems, such as entropion and glaucoma.
Obesity: Shar Peis are prone to obesity, so it’s important to choose a food that is high in protein and low in calories.
Dental Problems: Shar Peis often have problems with their teeth, such as tartar build-up and gum disease.
Arthritis: Arthritis is a common problem in older Shar Peis. Foods like glucosamine can help support joint health.
Should You Give Your Shar-Pei Vitamins and Supplements?
Vitamins and supplements can be a great way to ensure your dog is getting all the nutrients they need. However, it’s important to talk to your vet before giving your Shar-Pei any supplements, as too much of certain vitamins can be harmful.
Some vitamins and supplements that may be beneficial for Shar Peis include:
Omega-fatty acids: These can help support the skin and coat.
Glucosamine: This can help support joint health.
Antioxidants: These can help protect against cell damage.
Probiotics: These can help support gut health.
Vitamins A, C, and E: These vitamins can help support the immune system.
Calcium: This is important for bone health.
Vitamin B complex: This vitamin can help support energy levels.
Other Things You Should Consider
Should I Feed My Shar Pei A Grain-Free Diet?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Some Shar Peis do well on grain-free diets, while others do not. If you are unsure whether or not a grain-free diet is right for your dog, it’s best to talk to your vet.
Diet and Skin Care
When it comes to the best dog food for Shar Peis, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, Shar Peis are prone to weight gain, so it’s important to feed them a diet that is high in protein and low in calories. Second, Shar Peis are also prone to skin problems, so it’s important to choose a food that contains omega-fatty acids to support the skin and coat. Finally, puppies need a diet that is high in protein and fat to help them grow and develop properly.
When it comes to skin care, it’s important to choose products that are free of artificial ingredients and easy to digest. Look for products that are made with natural ingredients and are safe for use on sensitive skin.
What Type Of Food Should I Avoid Feeding My Shar Pei?
There are a few types of food that you should avoid feeding your Shar Pei. First, avoid foods that are high in sugar and carbs, as these can lead to weight gain. Second, avoid foods that contain artificial ingredients, as these can be difficult for your dog to digest. Finally, avoid foods that are high in fat, as this can lead to health problems.
Wet Food vs Dry Food
Shar Peis are known to be picky eaters, so it’s important to find a food that your dog will actually eat. Some Shar Peis prefer wet food, while others prefer dry food. There are benefits and drawbacks to both wet and dry food, so it’s important to do some research to figure out which type of food is best for your dog.
Dry food is typically more affordable and easier to store than wet food. It’s also less messy, so it’s a good option if you’re worried about your dog making a mess. However, dry food is often lower in moisture than wet food, which can be important for dogs who are prone to dehydration.
Diet and Dental Health
It’s important to choose a food that is high in protein and low in calories to help maintain a healthy weight. It’s also important to choose a food that will help support dental health. Dental problems are common in Shar Peis, so it’s important to find a food that contains ingredients that will help reduce tartar build-up and promote gum health.
When to Consult Your Vet
If you’re still not sure what type of food is best for your Shar Pei, talk to your vet. They can help you choose a food that meets your dog’s individual needs.
How to Transition Your Shar Pei To A New Diet
It’s important to transition your dog to a new diet slowly to avoid stomach upset. Start by mixing a small amount of the new food in with their old food and gradually increasing the amount of new food over the course of a week or two.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a brand of dog food for your Shar-Pei, we highly recommend our choice for the best overall. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Turkey with Blueberries is packed with protein and contains complete and balanced nutrition to help your Shar Pei thrive!
For those on a budget, we recommend our best value. American Journey Active Life Formula Dry Dog Food contains all the high-quality ingredients as our top brand with slightly less protein. This food also strangely smells good like someone’s cooking beef Stew while it’s in the bowl.
We hope you enjoyed reading over these reviews, and they’ve helped you find the perfect food for your Shar-Pei. If you learn something new from our buyer’s guide and you think it can help others, please share this guy to the best dog food for Shar-Peis on Facebook and Twitter.
