Other names/Nicknames:

• Chinese Hairless

Country/Date of origin:

• China
• Han dynasty 100 BC

Height:

• 9 to 13 inches at shoulder

Weight:

• 5 to 12 pounds

Personality:

• Affectionate with family but suspicious of strangers.
• Does not like to be handled.
• Active and alert.
• Rather delicate.

History:

It is widely accepted that hairless dogs are spontaneous genetic mutations.  They have been reported all over the world but for some reason they are more often found in Central and South America.  The Crested dogs are recorded in China 2,000 years ago but it was in Central America that they were fostered, keeping the breed alive when it fell out of favor in its native land.  The Chinese Crested is found in two varieties—Hairless and Powderpuff—and both types can be found in the same litter.  A breed club was formed in 1975, and the Chinese Cresteds were accepted for registration in the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1992.

Body Type:

• A small dog that brings to mind a little pony.
• Long tail, held low, is not altered.
• Erect ears are not altered.
• Fringing is optional.
• The feet of the Chinese Crested are extraordinarily long.  They are so exaggerated in shape that it can appear that they have an extra joint.

Coat:

• The Hairless variety has hair only on the head, feet and tail tip.  It can be any color.
• The texture of the skin of the Hairless should be smooth and fine grained.  It is warm to the touch, although it is the same temperature as haired dogs.
• Skin can be as colorful as the hair coats:  blue, pink, lilac, golden, spotted, or the same shade as the hair.
• Color of the skin is variable.  It darkens (tans) in the summer and is lighter in the winter.

Health and Wellness:

• Missing teeth are a problem that seems to be connected to the hairless gene.
• Toenails are sometimes missing in the Hairless variety.
• Hairless variety can get severe acne.
• Will sunburn if not protected with suntan lotions.

What you should know:

• One of the early supporters of Hairless variety was Gypsy Rose Lee.
• A Chinese Crested in motion reminds one of a prancing pony.  It certainly looks like one with its mane and hairy tail
• Cresteds and Powderpuffs are often born in the same litter.  Legend has it that the hairy pups are to keep their hairless siblings warm.

How People Get It
Most of the time, people get Cat Scratch Disease from a bite or a scratch from a cat that carries the bacteria. It can also be transmitted by fleas. In scientific studies, close to half of normal cats were shown to be carriers. The studies also showed that kittens are more likely to be infected than are adult cats. Children and teens seem to be more susceptible and more cases occur in the winter, when free-roaming cats spend more time in the house.

Symptoms in People
Cat Scratch Disease is typically a mild illness from which people recover without medical attention. The primary symptoms in people are a raised bump at the site where the bacteria has entered the skin and one or more swollen, tender lymph nodes. In less than 25% of cases, people experience a low-grade fever and malaise. The symptoms usually resolve in a few months without treatment.

More serious symptoms that occur rarely include infection of the eyes, brain, heart, lungs, skin or liver. These symptoms are more likely in immunosuppressed individuals, especially those with active cases of acquired immunodefiency syndrome.

Symptoms in Cats
Symptoms in cats are thought to be rare, but research is ongoing. Bartonella infection has been suggested as a cause of some cases of mild fever, loss of balance, and eye infections in cats.

Preventing Cat Scratch Disease
The best methods for preventing Cat Scratch Disease are good flea control and avoiding bites and scratches. Avoid rough play, especially with kittens. Dont allow cats to lick open wounds, and wash all cat bites and scratches thoroughly.

Highly effective flea control products are available from your veterinarian. Keeping your cats claws trimmed or capped with disposable plastic covers are good ways to reduce the likelihood of a scratch. Your veterinarian can teach you how to trim your cats claws or can do it for you. They can also provide information and assistance with convenient nail caps to provide additional protection.

Immuno-compromised people should be sure to inform their doctors that they have cats and should notify their doctors if they do get bitten or scratched. Early treatment with antibiotics can help reduce the severity of serious infections.