What to feed a shar pei
A shar pei is a medium breed, typically 18 to 30kg, best known for its distinctive wrinkled skin and a genuine tendency toward skin and food sensitivities. That reputation makes a single-protein, limited-ingredient food a sensible default starting point rather than a general all-purpose recipe, even for a shar pei with no diagnosed issue yet.
Why this breed's skin reputation matters at the bowl
Shar peis are one of the breeds most commonly associated with skin fold dermatitis and food sensitivities, partly because of their distinctive folded skin, which needs to be kept clean and dry, and partly because the breed does genuinely show a higher rate of dietary sensitivity than many others. That doesn't mean every shar pei has a food allergy, but it does make a simpler, single-protein recipe a more sensible starting point than it would be for a breed with no such reputation.
A named single protein rather than a vague "meat and animal derivatives" listing makes it far easier to identify and manage a sensitivity if one does show up, since you can rule ingredients in or out one at a time rather than guessing at a multi-protein recipe.
What to look for on the label
Look for a complete food with a clear single protein source, a shorter overall ingredients list, and — if your shar pei has shown any skin issues — a recipe marketed for sensitive skin or digestion specifically. Grain-free isn't automatically the answer here; some shar peis do fine on a grain-inclusive recipe, and the protein source matters more than whether grain is present.
As with any breed, match the life-stage formula to your dog's age, and introduce any new food gradually over a week or so rather than switching overnight, which reduces the chance of an upset stomach clouding whether the new food itself agrees with your dog.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
James Wellbeloved Adult Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, in small and large breed versions, built around single-source turkey protein
From£45.75
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Fish Veg
Grain-free fish kibble for adult dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin included
From£12.75
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, built around a single source of turkey protein
From£41.45
Burgess Sensitive Adult Dog Turkey
Complete turkey and rice dry food for adult dogs in a 12.5KG bag
£48.89
Harringtons Lamb & Rice
A 15kg complete dry dog food with lamb and freshly prepared chicken, for dogs from 8 weeks
£45.99
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey
A complete dry dog food with turkey and freshly prepared chicken, for dogs from 8 weeks
From£13.09
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Original Lamb and Brown Rice
Single-source lamb and brown rice, formulated for adult and senior dogs with sensitivities
£35.99
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Hypoallergenic Mixer
Hypoallergenic dry mixer for combining with wet food or a home-cooked diet - not a complete food
£13.49
James Wellbeloved Adult Breed Dry Dog Food Lamb Rice
A hypoallergenic dry food for adult dogs, built around single-source lamb protein
From£45.75
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Sensitive Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dry Dog Food
Six-ingredient grain-free dry food for adult and senior dogs, single-source turkey
£15.49
Dr John Hypoallergenic Duck and Salmon
Hypoallergenic dry dog food for sporting and working dogs, duck and salmon based
From£7.49
Common questions
- Do all shar peis have food allergies?
- No, not every shar pei has a diagnosed food allergy, but the breed does show a genuinely higher rate of skin and food sensitivity than many others, which is why a simpler, single-protein food is a sensible default even without a confirmed issue.
- Is grain-free food better for a shar pei?
- Not automatically. Some shar peis do fine on grain-inclusive food, and what matters more for sensitivity is the protein source and overall ingredient simplicity rather than whether the recipe contains grain specifically.
- What are signs my shar pei has a food sensitivity?
- Common signs include itchy or inflamed skin, particularly around the folds, ear infections, or digestive upset like loose stools. If you notice any of these, speak to your vet before switching foods repeatedly on your own, since diagnosing a true food allergy properly usually needs their input.
- How do I switch my shar pei to a new food safely?
- Introduce it gradually over about a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food into the old, rather than switching overnight. This helps avoid an upset stomach and makes it easier to tell whether the new food genuinely suits your dog.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.