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.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
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.