Mucin is a jelly-like material in the dermis, the layer just under the skin surface. In dogs it is made mostly of hyaluronic acid [1][5]. Shar-Pei dogs carry far more of it than other breeds, and in some young Shar-Pei it builds up until the skin swells into folds and fluid-filled bubbles, a condition called cutaneous mucinosis [1][3]. Researchers have linked it to an inherited change in the breed’s genes [1][2][4].
See your vet if your Shar-Pei has bubbles or blisters in its skin.
Normal Shar-Pei skin
Loose, thick, folded skin is what makes a Shar-Pei look like a Shar-Pei [2]. A gene change that makes skin cells overproduce hyaluronic acid gives almost every dog of the breed some degree of this thickening, most of all around the head and the hock joints [1][2]. The folds on their own are not this disease.
What goes wrong
In cutaneous mucinosis the build-up goes past what is normal for the breed. The extra mucin can show as thicker skin or as small bubbles (vesicles) in the skin [1][3]. Shar-Pei with clear signs of mucinosis tend to have much higher levels of hyaluronic acid in their blood than other dogs, which points to an inherited problem in how the body handles it [5].
Signs
- Bubbles or blisters: small fluid-filled bubbles in the skin [1][3].
- Thickened folds: skin that is heavier and more folded than usual, often on the head and legs [1][3].
- Age: puppies usually show more folding and mucin than adult dogs [1][2].
How vets diagnose it
A vet looks at the skin and may take a skin biopsy, a small piece of skin checked under a microscope. The biopsy shows the extra mucin in the dermis [3].
Other problems can cause mucin to build up in the skin. Dogs with an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can develop swollen skin with mucin in it, so a vet may also check the thyroid [6].
Allergies can make it worse
Shar-Pei are prone to skin disease, including allergic skin disease, and researchers think the extra hyaluronic acid may play a part [1][2]. Itchy, inflamed skin can make the problem look worse, so tell your vet about any itching. For allergies in dogs, see seasonal allergies in dogs and why is my dog so itchy.
Treatment
Your vet will advise on treatment for your dog, including any allergy that makes it worse.
At home, as directed by a vet:
- tell your vet if the blisters spread or your dog starts to itch;
- go back for every recheck.
Outlook
Adult Shar-Pei usually have fewer folds and less mucin than puppies, so the signs often ease as a dog grows up [1][2].
These are statements about groups of dogs. They cannot predict how one dog will do. Your vet can explain what this means for your dog.
When to see your vet
See your vet if your Shar-Pei has:
- bubbles or blisters in the skin [1][3];
- folding that is heavier than usual for the breed [1][3];
- itching or other signs of skin disease along with the blisters [1][2].
FAQ
Are my Shar-Pei’s skin folds a disease?
No. Some extra mucin and folding is normal for the breed [1][2]. Cutaneous mucinosis is when the build-up goes further and the skin forms bubbles or blisters [1][3].
Is it inherited?
Researchers believe so. Studies tie the breed’s extra hyaluronic acid to a change near a gene called HAS2, and Shar-Pei mucinosis is listed among inherited skin diseases of dogs [1][2][4].
For other inherited skin problems, see hereditary hair loss in dogs and cats and epidermolysis bullosa in dogs and cats.
The bottom line
Shar-Pei dogs normally have thick, folded skin with more mucin than other breeds. In cutaneous mucinosis, some young Shar-Pei build up so much that the skin forms bubbles and heavy folds. A vet can confirm it with a skin biopsy and may check the thyroid too. Skin allergies are common in the breed, so tell your vet about any itching.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your Shar-Pei has blisters in its skin, see your vet.
Sources
- Olsson M, Meadows JR, Truvé K, et al. A novel unstable duplication upstream of HAS2 predisposes to a breed-defining skin phenotype and a periodic fever syndrome in Chinese Shar-Pei dogs. PLoS Genetics. 2011;7(3):e1001332. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1001332
- O’Neill DG, Engdahl KS, Leach A, Packer RMA, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Is it now time to iron out the wrinkles? Health of Shar Pei dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics. 2023;10:11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-023-00134-z
- Tinto D, Tassani C, Di Benedetto M, Sabattini S, Capitani O. Case report: Sublingual mucinosis in a dog. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2022;9:986750. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.986750
- Marín-García PJ, Llobat L. Inheritance of Monogenic Hereditary Skin Disease and Related Canine Breeds. Veterinary Sciences. 2022;9(8):433. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9080433
- Zanna G, Fondevila D, Bardagí M, Docampo MJ, Bassols A, Ferrer L. Cutaneous mucinosis in shar-pei dogs is due to hyaluronic acid deposition and is associated with high levels of hyaluronic acid in serum. Veterinary Dermatology. 2008;19(5):314-318 (abstract). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18786151/
- Giralico LC, Makii R, Pray BA, Parker VJ. Myxedema Coma and Acute Hepatopathy in a Dog with Severe Atherosclerosis. Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine. 2021;2021:6622767. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6622767