Posted by Todd Biske on January 19, 1998 at 06:48:16:
In Reply to: Eye problems posted by Cindy Popkin-Bradley on January 17, 1998 at 17:44:35:
> I am concerned about my Pekingnese's eyes. When she was about a year old a vet in Chapel Hill, NC told me to go to the vet school at N.C. State University and have the folds clipped under her eyes to help keep her eyes healthy. Well, being a poor law student I couldn't afford the $1000.00 it would cost. Campy is now ten and has developed these large freckles over her eyes from the irritation of the hair in the folds rubbing against her eyes. Campy's current vet says that there is nothing that we can do. Basically she is almost blinded by these freckles and has to turn her head completey sideways to see.
> Would appreciate any imput from anyone else with this type of problem. She is a very hearty and healthy dog and I do not want her to go completely blind. I feel so badly that I didn't have the surgery years ago.
This is a common problem for pekes that can be easily taken care of
WITHOUT surgery. It's a shame the vet school didn't tell you of this
years ago. Buy a pair of blunt-tip baby scissors, and trim the hair
on the skin fold so it doesn't rub the eyes. It must be done often,
because as it comes back in, it will be more stiff. Once a week is
usually enough, but it depends on the dog. You can usually see where
the hair is rubbing and how short it must be. I would recommend you
start doing this immediately.