sorry to start a new thread but I think we are starting to experience problems too and I wanted to make sure it was FSF before I barge in on the other thread!

Bailey is a 3 year old healthy, fit, sometimes arrogant and always gorgeous male Shar Pei.  He was fine last night but when I came down this morning I noticed that he was holding one of his back legs up high and seemed to be relucant to put any weight on it.  I had a good feel and it obviously wasn't painful as he didn't mind me handling it.  One thing I did notice was that it was hotter than the others.  Unfortunately I do not have a themometer (going to buy one now) so I have no idea if his temp was raised or not.  The other thing we have noticed this evening is at the top of his thigh and towards his groin looks pretty red - no noticeable sore bits or bites just all looks a bit red and this is on the side where he was holding his leg funny.

He didn't want to go out at all this morning but I took him out just for a few minutes so he could go for a wee etc and he came back in.  When my husband got home at lunchtime he said Bailey seemed down but he wasn't limping or anything.  He again only wanted a walk up the road instead of their long walk over the fields.  I haven't noticed anything else apart from him being lethargic today - but then he is a Shar Pei and its raining.  He ate all his dinner tonight.

I am dreading it being FSF but I want to know what you guys think before I start to panic about my baby.

Nicky x

Nicky

As I have and have had Pei that fevered, thought my boy was leaving me to goto Rainbow Bridge last Friday to be honest, checked temp several times, showing normal, but this was just the onset to the fever within an hour he'd spiked a fever of 103.  All these symptoms you discribed are text book symptoms of FSF, I'm sorry to say.

Fevers can last a couple of hours, to around 36 hrs my Cream bitch used to go nearly two days when she was in a heavy fever. The fever goes as quickly as its onset. Dogs that fever for just a few hours, can be tucking into their evening meal as if nothing had ever happened.

Nicky

I would be very surprised if it was anything else other than FSF - those are the classic symptoms. :(

I'm sure you've read the other thread so I won't repeat myself - try not to panic or worry too much.

Thank you.  Obviously what I didn't want to hear by thank you anyway.  What would be the best way to treat him when he does have one of these attacks again?  I wasn't sure but I opened all the windows etc in case he did have a fever. 

Someone mentioned to be that a little bit of Calpol can be good at bringing down the fever?  Or Asprin?

I suspect that my other boy Harley died of this in Jan of this year when he was 2.  He only ever showed any signs of one fever when he was around a year old and nothing after that. Anyway he got ill very quickly and the vet confimed he had died of kidney failure.  We declined an autoposy at the time as we were devestated.

Bailey and Harley have the same sire.  My other pup Dutch is now 10 months but completely unrelated to them both.

I give mine one ordinary 200 or 300 mg aspirin (put it in a lump of cheese/butter or a spoonful of dog food etc...). Repeat every 6 to 8 hours till the fever subsides. Try to keep Bailey quiet and calm when he's not feeling well. If he's really hot, soak a hand towel in cold water, hand wring out as much water as possible and drape it over him.

200 to 300 mg of ASPIRIN??? are you sure????? usual aspirin dose is 75mg...whereas Paracetoml comes in 500mg...Aspirin can cause BLEEDING, especially in gut and I would advise against it's use in Dogs!!! All the best, Dawn (Aspirin and Paracetomol are totally different drugs, their use and effects are also totally different(

75mgs is the usual prophylactic dose given daily as an antiplatelet but the analgesic dose for humans is 300mgs.
Aspirin for dogs

Yes, that's true, but you wouldn't give a FULL dose to a dog would you?? Aspirin is STILL likely to cause internal bleeding, and Paracetomol not so. You wouldn't give a full dose of Paracetomol either would you???  If you do you're crazy, can cause Liver damage that isn't obvious for a few days later. It is also illegal to treat a dog yourself unless you are a Vet! There are plenty of suitable pain killers, analgesics and anti-inflammatories that are made for Animals. I just can't understand why you would knowingly risk causing them harm or damage? All the best, Dawn

Did you read the link I posted?
I've never heard that giving OTC analgesia was illegal but I would think if an animal was in pain they are likely to have been seen by the vet regarding this and chronic relief discussed.
No, I'm not too keen about giving paracetamol as I think the dose has to be a lot more specific.  I think aspirin likely to cause bleeding is overstating it, obviously it can so you would have to observe for that but then antiinflamatories are not without problems either. 

>There are plenty of suitable pain killers, analgesics and anti-inflammatories that are made for Animals. I just can't understand why you would knowingly risk causing them harm or damage?<

Here is a quote from the website of Dr Vidt who is one of the veterinary experts in FSF.

"It is very important to monitor the temperature in this condition. Initially, fever can be treated using aspirin. Usually a regular strength adult aspirin is given every 6 hours for the first 24 hours and then twice a day for 3-5 day thereafter."

Link if you want to see for yourself - http://www.drjwv.com/article.php?view=0004.php

Also I discussed this treatment with my own vet and he gave me the go-ahead to use aspirin at that dose. Actually, 300mg of paracetamol is a HALF dose for a human over the age of 12, so per bodyweight is probably about the same. The only trouble would be that some dogs like humans don't tolerate aspirin well, but you could alternatively use the enteric coated ones just to be on the safe side.

I'd personally rather give my dog aspirin than Rimadyl after reading some of the horror stories about it and that's a pet NSAID. I have never had either of my shar-pei experience any problems with that dose of aspirin.

>Actually, 300mg of paracetamol is a HALF dose for a human over the age of 12, so per bodyweight is probably about the same.<

Sorry guys, that should have read Aspirin, not paracetamol :x