Chinese Crested care for Hairless and Powderpuff dogs

The Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, and they differ in more than coat. The Hairless has hair only on the head, feet and tail, exposed skin that burns and breaks out, and usually an incomplete set of teeth. The Powderpuff has a full soft coat and normal teeth. Both are small: the American Kennel Club breed profile gives 11 to 13 inches at the shoulder, 8 to 12 pounds (about 3.5 to 5.5 kg), and a life expectancy of 13 to 18 years.

One gene, two varieties

Hairlessness in this breed comes from a mutation in the FOXI3 gene, a gene active in developing hair follicles and teeth. The same mutation was found in Chinese Crested, Mexican hairless and Peruvian hairless dogs, and the condition it causes is called canine ectodermal dysplasia. A skin study describes hairless Cresteds as obligate heterozygotes: every hairless dog carries exactly one copy of the mutation, and Powderpuffs carry none. That is why two hairless parents can produce Powderpuff puppies, and why both varieties turn up in the same litters.

Skin care for the Hairless

The AKC notes that the exposed skin of the Hairless is prone to irritation, allergies and sunburn, and that sunscreen, skin treatments and acne lotions are part of normal care. It adds that Hairless Cresteds may get blackheads and acne.

• Cleansing: bathe weekly or as needed with a mild, unscented dog shampoo, and wipe the skin between baths if it gets oily or dirty. Heavy scrubbing irritates more than it helps.
• Moisturizing: a light, unscented, non-greasy lotion for dry patches. Thick oils and petroleum products may clog pores and make blackheads worse.
• Sun: pale and pink skin burns fastest. Use a sunscreen labelled safe for dogs on exposed areas before time outdoors, reapply after swimming, and use a light shirt and shade in strong sun. Dogs lick their skin, so do not use a human sunscreen without asking the vet.
• Blackheads and acne: do not squeeze them; ruptured follicles become infected. Mild cases often respond to gentle cleansing. Red, painful or spreading bumps need a vet, who may prescribe a medicated wash or treatment for infection.

Itching, redness in skin folds, crusting or patchy color change can be allergy, infection or immune-mediated skin disease. Those need a diagnosis rather than a new cream.

Teeth and the hairless gene

The FOXI3 mutation affects teeth as well as hair. A study of hairless dog skulls confirmed to carry the variant found that, compared with coated dogs, hairless dogs lacked many permanent canines and premolars, and to some extent incisors, and that their molars had simpler cusps. Missing and peg-shaped teeth in a Hairless Crested are part of the breed's genetics, not a result of poor care.

The teeth that are present still get plaque, gum disease and loosening, and fewer teeth means each loss matters more.

• Brushing: daily if possible, with a small soft brush and dog toothpaste. Gaps between teeth trap food, so brush along the gum line on both sides.
• Food texture: small toy-breed kibble suits most dogs. If the dog drops food, chews on one side or leaves kibble, soften it with warm water or move to wet food, and have the mouth checked.
• Vet checks: a dental exam at every visit. Cleaning and X-rays under anesthesia show what is happening below the gum line and whether loose teeth need to come out.
• Chews: avoid hard bones, antlers and hooves, which can crack small teeth.

Powderpuffs have a normal set of teeth, but a small jaw still crowds them, so the same brushing and checks apply.

Inherited conditions

The AKC lists the eye diseases breeders should screen for: progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma and primary lens luxation. It also notes patellar luxation, occasional epilepsy, and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, which has no DNA test but can sometimes be seen on X-rays.

Eye diseases

Progressive retinal atrophy is a slow loss of vision that usually shows first as clumsiness in dim light. No diet or supplement has been shown to prevent or slow it. Primary lens luxation and glaucoma are different: a lens that slips out of place can block fluid drainage from the eye and raise pressure quickly. A red, cloudy, painful or suddenly bulging eye, squinting, or sudden blindness is an emergency, because sight can be lost within hours to days. Buyers should ask for the parents' eye examination and DNA test results.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

In this disease the blood supply to the ball of the hip joint fails and the bone collapses. It affects young small-breed dogs, usually before their first birthday. Signs are a hind-leg limp that worsens over weeks, pain when the hip is moved, and a thinning thigh muscle. Diagnosis is by X-ray, and surgery to remove the damaged ball of the femur is the usual treatment, followed by controlled exercise and physiotherapy. Joint supplements do not replace that treatment.

Kneecaps

A dog that skips on a hind leg for a few strides and then walks normally may have a slipping kneecap. Keep the dog lean, use ramps for furniture, and have frequent skipping or lasting lameness examined.

Cold and heat

A Hairless Crested has almost no insulation and loses heat quickly. In cool weather it needs a coat or jumper outdoors, a warm bed away from drafts indoors, and drying straight away after a bath or a wet walk. Shivering, curling tightly and refusing to walk are signs to warm the dog up. The AKC recommends sunscreen or protective clothing for outdoor exercise, and hot pavements and strong sun are a risk for bare skin in summer. A dog that spends time in the cold burns more energy, so check body condition across the seasons and adjust food if weight drifts.

Feeding a toy breed

The AKC suggests a complete food formulated for small or toy breeds and warns that some Cresteds put on weight. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a starting estimate: resting energy requirement (RER) is 70 times body weight in kilograms to the power 0.75, multiplied by 1.8 for an intact adult, 1.6 for a neutered adult and 1.4 for a dog that gains easily.

• Puppies: three or four small meals a day. Toy puppies that skip meals can develop low blood sugar; the Pomeranian guide covers the signs and first aid.
• Adults: two meals a day, weighed on kitchen scales rather than scooped.
• Treats: count them. At these calorie levels, a few pieces of cheese or sausage make up a real share of the day.
• Body condition: on a Hairless the ribs and waist are easy to see, so weight gain is obvious early. On a Powderpuff, check by hand under the coat.

Sources

1. Chinese Crested dog breed information. American Kennel Club.
2. A mutation in hairless dogs implicates FOXI3 in ectodermal development. Science, 2008.
3. Clinical and histological characterization of hair coat and glandular tissue of Chinese crested dogs. Veterinary Dermatology, 2013.
4. The dental phenotype of hairless dogs with FOXI3 haploinsufficiency. Scientific Reports, 2017.
5. Nutritional requirements of small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.