One of the most outstanding physical assets of a Pekingese is its eyes – large, round, dark and lustrous gems. It is VITAL that these eyes be given loving care. It could well be too late to save a beautiful eye if one is not constantly vigilant. Remember, Pekingese (and other brachycephalic breeds) do not have a protruding muzzle to protect their eyes.
Keep several types of eye drops on hand at all times: A gentle saline solution for routine cleansing, long-lasting gel eye drops (such as “Refresh”) for longer-lasting protection, and MOST IMPORTANT,a good prescription ophthalmic drops – having these at your fingertips can make the difference of saving a dog’s sight – or its eye. PROMPT attention to even the slightest abrasion on an eye is critical. My favorite drop (having used many others over the years) is Tobramycin. If your vet does not have this medication in stock, ask for a prescription – it is available at drugstores and at Costco.
CHECK EYES TWICE DAILY, as part of your regular routine. I check my dogs when they go outside in the morning and again when they go to bed in the evening. If a bottle of saline solution is kept near the dogs’ sleeping quarters, it’s easy to quickly apply a couple of drops to each eye to remove any possible dust – or whatever – which may have collected during the day. A clean eye is less likely to be rubbed, which could cause injury.
Keep the inner corners of the eyes and the wrinkle absolutely clean. I use warm water and a soft Viva paper towel for this; these towels are softer than fabric and are disposable, eliminating the possibility of transferring bacteria from cloth to the eyes. Wipe upward and inward, AWAY from the eye. It is SO important to keep these areas clean and dry, to protect the eyes. HINT: Put a couple of prescription eye drops under the wrinkle (in the stop) every few days – keeps the area bacteria-free and is safe for areas in close proximity to the eyes.
WATCH, WATCH, WATCH!!! If your Peke seems to be favoring an eye – squinting, recoiling from touch, etc. – check the eye immediately. If you see even the tiniest “crater” in the eye, or if the eye is light blue instead of its normal dark color, GET TO YOUR VET. Sometimes an abrasion is not immediately apparent – watch closely.
During the time even a slightly injured eye is being treated (at home), it is most important that your “patient” be kept quiet and in the dark – away from light. For me, a covered crate is preferable. I follow this protocol until the eye is completely healed. This can make the difference between saving an eye or not. If an eye eye injury requires veterinary intervention (surgery), of course you will follow your vet’s instructions. I ALWAYS treat an injured eye every 2 hours, AROUND THE CLOCK. By doing this, I have saved eyes which my vet said would not be saved.
Long ago, a veterinarian who was a self-described “maverick” wrote about a very simple vitamin combination which has amazing healing properties. For eye injuries, this is a must for me. The instructions for toy dogs are as follows – THE AMOUNTS ARE SPECIFIC!
500 mg. Ester-C capsule
100 I.U. Natural Vitamin E
Beta Carotene (smallest available)
Give all 3 above INTERNALLY, once daily, in cheese or whatever your Peke loves. Continue daily until the eye is healed.
Jacqueline Ragland
JA-LING PEKINGESE
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