The Plan...

So we have worked out our approach to Menchi's possible need for eye surgery.

Step one will be to attempt to get an appointment to consult with Dr. Vidt in Chicago. He was recommended to us by several other Shar Pei owners on the Shar Pei forum I frequent. He is a well known Pei expert extraordinaire :) along with Dr Tintle (who is in NY I believe).

I will try to get the little Miss an appointment for the beginning of October...why the wait you ask? Mostly because September is a terrible month for us finance-wise. September is time for car insurance renewal and other necessary evils.

Sabe was a little surprised by the choice of a vet that is about 2-3 hours out of our way, but most of the Pei friendly vets that are listed in the WI area are not much closer.

Maybe we can make it a fun trip too... We have friends in Chicago-land. We should visit them! :)

Now to see if we can get an appointment with the Shar Pei Guru of Chicago...

We were hoping to avoid this...

...but it is looking like Menchi might need entropion surgery.

We knew getting a Shar Pei that it was a definite possibility that the dog might develop the condition. Many pei puppies have their eyes tacked during puppy-hood and many of them still end up needing corrective surgery.

We went to the vet for a skin infection this morning and Dr Miller took a look at her eyes because she was tearing a bit...which has been the only sign we have had. Teary eyes are also a common thing for the breed and can be due to placement of the tear ducts, allergies, and other sundry things.

Dr Miller would like us to take her for an evaluation by a veterinary ophthalmologist...so that is now in the plans asap.

Luckily we have not had any of the more serious or alarming side effects associated with entropion. Menchi is not showing signs of severe pain and discomfort. She is not holding her eyes closed. She does not have corneal damage or irritation. To make sure it stays that way we are putting ointment in her eyes now to protect them.

We will not be able to get her in to see a specialist until October...Dr Miller feels that this should be fine. Then we will know what to do next...

Well guarded...

Menchi is a little guard dog. She proved it again last night. There were voices outside on the street that did not belong there after bedtime. She immediately stood up into her guard stance and gruffed and grumbled stern pei warnings.

She stood down after I told her it was okay and that she was a good guard dog.

It is the cutest thing seeing her little 30something pound frame all chest out with legs firmly planted. Security by Shar Pei :D

Watson's reaction and effort... He lifted his head off my pillow decided Menchi had things well in had and went back to his beauty sleep. The only intruders he is excited about is bunnies in our yard and strange dogs invading his territory.