Nutrition
The nutrition is fuss-free. The energy requirement of the small dogs is comparatively low. High-quality food, preferably with meat and little carbohydrates, is completely sufficient. Small dog treats without sugar but with a high meat content every now and them will delight your animal and also help with dental care. Sufficient drinking water should always be available to them.
Typical diseases of the Pekinese
The Pekinese dog belongs to the short-headed or round-headed breeds. This congenital, hereditary deformation of the dog's skull (Brachycephaly), can sometimes cause serious health problems:
- Brachycephalic syndrome: severe obstruction of breathing (wheezing breath and snoring sounds) and disturbed thermo-regulation. The dogs are at risk of heat stroke.
- Hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus): pathological widening of the subarachnoid spaces filled with cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and spinal cord.
- Dystocia: increased risk of having difficult births, disturbed birth processes and weakness in labour. Often only a caesarean section is the only help.
The brachycephalic syndrome often leads to shortness of breath, oedema in the throat area, bronchitis and heart failure. The oxygen saturation in the blood is insufficient. The breed's short head shape often causes the dogs to have a pronounced overbite. The result can occasionally be an inadequate bite function. Eye inflammations, asthma and disc diseases are also not uncommon. To keep your Pekinese healthy for a long time, you should pay your vet a visit regularly.
Interesting facts about Pekinese breeding
According to an expert opinion of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, particularly pronounced manifestations of brachycephaly in Pekinese dogs, e.g. out-bred skull deformations, are considered to be torture breeding. These dogs suffer a lot. In Germany, according to § 11b of the Animal Protection Act, so-called torture breeding is prohibited. The breeding associations are obliged to observe the corresponding breeding restrictions and change the breeding standards. In Austria, too, torture breeding is forbidden under threat of punishment according to the federal law for the protection of animals in force.
If you want to buy a Pekinese puppy, the right place to look at is the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH). A puppy costs about 500-900 Euros. At this largest umbrella organisation for dog breeding and dog sports in Germany you can find a lot of contact addresses of serious Pekinese breeders. Alternatively, you can also contact the 1st German Pekingese Club of 1987 e.V.