I've not been on here in years but I recently 'rescued' a peke from a nasty environment.

He's been here for only 48 hours but he seems to be blind, or almost blind, he is walking 'oddly' and seems rather too quiet for what I'm used to.
I've never encountered this breed before, although I do know some around and about, so I now nothing aobut the breed at all other than that that I've researched yesterday and today!

I'm going to be taking him tot he vet on Wednesday or as soon as I can get an appointment to have a thorough health chec.
He's supposed to be around 3 years old and is neutered. He's been fully clipped out at some time int he last year as his coat is not 'all the way in' yet. He doesn't seem to have much of a top coat, his coat seems to be mostly undercoat from what I can tell, he is happy to be groomed and seemed to have had a bath recently but that may have been because they knew I was coming. his nails are far too overgrown but my 3 sets of clippers won't cut them so again that's a vet/groomers think on Wednesday!

His temperament is fantastic and he's settled with my other dogs and cats no problem.

Right now I've told most that I know about him there are a few questions I'd lie advice with.

1...How do I get him to eat? He is fat so must have been eating at some point but won't eat now. I've tried different things. His previous owners didn't tell me what they were feeding him but I get the idea it was mainly 'human' food as that is all he'll eat. I know it may ust be a settling in period but he seems pretty settled other than not eating.

2...What food are they best on? How much and do they need any supplements?

3....Which grooming brushes, combs etc are best to use for them?
I've been using a slicker brush and a wide tooth comb and he's reasonably untatted now.
Are there any special sprays or lotions I should be using and should I bath him or not?

4...Will I need special eye wipes for his eyes as they seem to get 'gunked' up every day.

5....Are there any other special requirements for pekes at all?

As I say I've never owned a Peke or any other particularly long haired breeds, other than my sibes a good few years ago, I don't have much idea other than using what I already have in the house.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice that I get.

pekes can suffer with dry eye , eye ulcers and other eye problems. So that's on the list for the vet .Not all vets are good with pekes..I had one who suggested tic tac toe , which is an eye scrape , the name suggesting the grid pattern it's done in, for a simple eye ulcer from a scratch . Luckily I  checked with a top eye Professor , and he was horrified it had been suggested , and said they never do it on pekes eyes. Viscous tears and antibiotic drops cleared the eye up with no marks left .Sometimes severe ulcers mean they lose an eye (or both ).I use baby wipes or warm water /kitchen roll and all my pekes get their faces (in the nose crease )and eyes wiped daily.
He may be walking oddly because of the weight (neutered)and /or long claws.If the clippers cannot get round them , sometimes they are so thin or small a scissor blade can cut through them...job for vet or  knowledgable groomer.
As he is neutered he could grow a full thick long coat .
My pekes can eat as much as my big dogs .Meat and small puppy /junior  or mini dry food. Check his teeth . They can be faddy eaters. I was warned before running a boarding kennels that one breed that will pine and refuse to eat when boarding is a peke.Chicken is a favourite with mine. Raw beef mince or something fishy and smelly tempts them ..they like cheese for a treat .Some of mine have eaten raw minced tripe too.Offer him small and often.I feed breakfast and supper. Some  of mine are even fussy about what plate I use and where I put it . This boy may need time to settle .
I was told not to bath a peke when we were exhibiting , that regular brushing  with suitable grooming sprays  or a bit of talc will keep them clean .It depends if they live in or out . My boys have the hair cut under their tums  a bit for hygiene, and a little cut under their tail.But I do bath mine occasionally now.. Once the mats are out you shouldn't need to use a slicker (my slicker is 2 ins wide) too much and a small pin, and Mason Pearson type brush would do .Be very  careful shielding their eyes when brushing , they can turn their heads so quickly .I never use combs , in case they pull or hurt (and I am a professional groomer) ,- only on ears or for  ring presentation , which you will not be doing.You could keep him clipped out for convenience .
They all are different characters , some are naturally quiet , some are barkers.He will need time to adjust .They are usually dear little souls , sad he has been abused.Good luck with him.

Wow Dawn, I was only thinking about you the other day!!!! (well when your email address was hacked and sent me a dodgy email LOL)
How the devil are you :) :)
Lea :)

Have you wormed him, this and flea treatment would be the first things I would do before introducing him to my other dogs.

A worm load can make them look fat/bloated and lose their appetite.

Good Luck sorting him out.

Dawn
I have never had the breed, but am experienced in toys, and second the twice a day feeding. 

I've had Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Poodles and LC Chihuahuas, all can tend to have dirty eyes, and I get them used to face washes early on.  Some will come running up to the sink when they see me get the cotton wool out, and fill the jug with warm water!  I have spent loads on stuff for cleaning eyes, and nothing has worked any better than cotton wool and warm water.

Just some reassurance - if he does turn out to be blind, I can assure you that you will cope.  I have trained a Toy Poodle, and even gone running with him.  One eye removed, and the other wasn't a seeing eye.  Folk just didn't believe me that he couldn't see!  :-)

Thank you so much for this info.

I've been using a baby wipe, non fragranced as my baby is allergic, that has cleaned up his eyes and nose creases....I can now see abrasions on his lens in both eyes. It doesn't look like cataracts to me but I'm no vet!
I'm planning on taking him to Mr Ellis, I'm sure that's his name, who is the eye expert who goes to Barnard Castle surgery. He's been doing my friends sibes for years!
He's being fed twice a day and I've got him to eat the little 'tray' type food from Asda. I'd much prefer him on a mini dry like the royal canin mini junior that I give my 2 1/2lb chi x on though.
He'll eat any human food you give him so he'll never starve it's just not good for him.
I'm taking him to a groomer tomorrow to have his nails done I don't feel confident enough to do them when they are so overgrown. Considering I have so much experience with big breeds, I've also had this little chi x 'thingy' for over a year now, Simon has me on a knifes edge simply because he's so 'different'! Stupid I know.
I've groomed him using my little ones 'detangler' spray and that has made a great difference to his coat. I don't really think he needs a groomers touch to be honest he has no matts at all now but I will ask while I'm there. I considered having him clipped out altogether but we really like the way he looks with his coat in and it can only get better as long as I look after it. I am going to buy some baby talc as well to see if that helps.
He 'yips' when he wants out for a wee, although has accidents as well, that is the only sound he makes.
He does seem very settled but from what I found out he had no one in his previous home that he was particularly attached to.....I'm having him scanned just in case he's been stolen at any time and this story I've been told is all lies!
I've had so many people ask if they can give him a home, some good some I wouldn't touch with a barge pole, to be honest it appears he'll be staying here though...especially if he has health issues.

Hi Lea,

Long time no 'speak'..lol
How are you all?
I still have my, now old, rottie. I also have a min pin, rt puppy and a chi x jrt who only weighs 2 1/2lbs although he's 2 years old on the 09/06.

I've had loads of friends say my email has been hacked but I don't use that one very often now anyway.

I've had a deaf boxer years ago and managed her, with the help of my then rough collie, I'm sure to manage little Simon as he's only showing real blindness at night and 'listens' to me anyway.....at the moment......I've read they can be quite stubborn.
Hopefully something can be done about it though!

He doesn't mind me cleaning his eyes or grooming him so at least I don't have a fight on my hands when I'm having to see to him.

Yes he was wormed and flea'd.
I allowed him with my lot early as they were due their wormers and flea treatment so I just did them a few days early along with doing Simon.
He doesn't seem to have a wormy tummy though and the previous owners are known to worm and deflea regularly.....they sut seem to 'not care' for the dogs in other ways.
Mainly leaving the dogs for hours/days at a time out side in kennels and on one occassion allowing 2 dogs to kill each other whilst fighting simply because they were scared to intervene!
The dogs are, apparently, well fed and the kids play with them quite a bit. They have about 6 kids with really unusual names but call the dogs names like Simon, Stevie, Mary and Bob.......! They are 'actual' names of some of their dogs!

Sounds as if you are managing well, out of interest I would like to know what Mr Ellis says about his eyes. PM me if you don't want to put it on here.I was only going on the info you put on.
You have the mini food as you have a little one.
You are used to grooming and using various sprays.I use baby talc , only a little , under tails and sticky bits on the boys .Sounds as if you are coping fine.

Please let us know how you get on with this little lad.

I did a lot more reading this morning and came upon some of the info you gave me.
I'm going to see my friend and ask if this guys name is Mr Ellis, I seem to think it is as I always go with her and Ellis is my maiden name...silly way to remember but hey I'm female...lol
I don't know if he's there all the time or you have to find out when he's holding a clinic but I'll find out from my friend tomorrow.
I don't think it'll make much difference to Simon if he has to wait a month or so!
I'll happily let you know what the results are when he's been tested though.

I think, as I'm taking him to have his nails done, I may ask them to trim 'all his delicate' areas so that he will be easier to keep clean.
How often should he be groomed, other than just daily by me, to keep him in the best condition? I know I may have difficulty, once he grows a full coat, to keep up with all the tatts that may occurr but I'd rather have him proffessionally groomed regularly than have him clipped out.

I have my Granddaughter living with me and she is far from amused that I'm using her detangler spray for the dog. She's only 2 and the look on her face when I used it on the dog was hilarious!

Rick McCallum at Castle Vet is excellent with eyes as well (he saved our collie's sight a few months ago)

I've just been onto Castle Vets and as I'm registered with a vet nearer where I live they have advised me to go there and if Simon needs referred he will be referred to a vet in Carlisle apparently.
Mr Ellis, who does my friends sibes, only comes down to do the regular breed tests and his next visit is the 29th August.

So that's the next step.....ringing my vets now to see if they have a vet who specialises in sight problems.

Simon just walked straight into a wall because he wasn't on the lead when I took him out for a wee.

poor little love hope you can get him sorted soon.

Your own vet should be able to tell you if he is blind, and as  you say, if specialist treatment is needed, they will refer  you.

Good luck with him, he sounds like he has fallen on his feet.

Dont know why but this story has warmed my heart xx