Anyone with experience of Corneal Ulcers?

[Piggie Life]

About 4 days ago I noticed Fudge's left eye was squinty and seemed very dry and the next day it started clouding over slightly so I applied eye drops (Optrex) thinking they were just dry. But it got considerably worse the next day (blood shot, eye completely opaque and blue/grey colour and ulceration (mushy) sort of film in the corner) so I booked her for a vets appointment. I took her at 12 today and the vet examined her eye and extracted a hay seed head trapped in her lower eyelid which I presume caused the ulcer. He prescribed eyedrops containing Chloramphenicol (anti-bacterial) to prevent infection and hopefully cure any bacteria already on the eye. The ulcer itself doesn't seem too bad I guess, it's sort of white in the area where the ulcer is and you can see the skin sort of flayed and scabby (not dry though), there is a slight crater were the abrasion but of taken place. He told me to come back on Thursday for a followup appointment, I'm supposed to put the eyedrops in 6 times a day until then. Does anyone have experience with these eye ulcers? Do they heal and does the eye go back to normal? I didn't really have time to ask any of these questions as he squeezed me in to a tight schedule but I'm very anxious to know what happens with these ulcers. Will it just be a lengthy process of applying the eyedrops until it heals (I hope this is the case) or do they have to do something else to it. I'd really like to know what happens to the ulcers, do they just repair themselves back to normal? Also does the opaqueness of the eye eventually clear and go back to it's normal state? Sorry for the long thread but I really am worried.
Thanks,

 

[Amanda1801]

The quicker they're treated, the quicker and easier they heal, generally. My Maggie had a similar problem - grass seed in her eye, caused an ulcer - she was at the vets and on treatment within a few hours and it healed completely in less than 48 hours.

It'll be a case of eye drops initially; if that doesn't work by itself, the ulcer may need debriding which can usually be done conscious with some local anaesthetic. It can be a lengthy recovery but usually they do heal ok with good correct treatment

 

[Wiebke]

Please have your piggy seen by a vet as soon as you can! Never underestimate an eye injury/infection! Please do not home treat, as that could make things worse.

If the eye is bloodshot, a piggy definitely needs to see a vet asap, as an advanced eye infection can be much more difficult to treat and will require antibiotics, sometimes very strong ones in order to save the eye.

 

[flintstones]

Please have your piggy seen by a vet as soon as you can. With the appropriate medication (usually a gel or drops), eye infections tend to clear nearly as quickly as they have come on, but they can be very painful. If left, they will get only worse and will take longer to treat or they can leave permanent scarring.

Hi Wiebke,

The piggy appear's to have been seen by a vet the owner just forgot to ask how the long the ulcer would take to heal. Personally I don't have any experience, not had any hay pokes here, have you had many eye infections?

I'd imagine with appropriate treatment the eye shouldn't take to long to clear, as Amanda has said it depends on the infection and how long it has been before treatment has been given.

Hopefully your little one's eye will be better in no time. x

 

[Wiebke]

Depending on the seriousness of the hole, it can take a week or two for the poke hole to heal. I've had scratches, hay stuck under lids and various pokes over the years. If seen promptly, the recovery is usually pretty quick and straightforward.

 

[Rodentopia]

Eyes are funny things and can take a while to heal its early days yet but i would expect within 48 hours of using the drops for there to be an improvement however slight. Hopefully your little girl will be better in no time

 

[MargaretB]

Hope her eye heals quickly. It sounds like you are doing the right things and good that you took her to a vet promptly.

 

[Sodapops]

Two of my sows have had hay pokes to the eye and in both cases the eyes have healed fully and they've had no further issues. I found that the eye looked much worse in the first couple of days of applying the eye ointment (my one sow had to have two different eye drops applied three times per day) - generally though by day 4-5 you should see some improvement and the eye should start to heal/look better, if it isn't then obviously your vet will talk you through the options when you have your follow up appointment.

Even if the eye does start to look better, still apply the drops/ointment as directed by your vet an only stop upon their advise - this will give the eye the best possible chance to heal properly/fully.

Good luck, i hope it heals quickly

 

[Piggie Life]

Eyes are funny things and can take a while to heal its early days yet but i would expect within 48 hours of using the drops for there to be an improvement however slight. Hopefully your little girl will be better in no time

The eye looks a little better today, it's bulging a bit more (before it was very sunken) but it's still bloodshot and opque, I've applied the eye drops three times so far today and will continue with the routine until the follow-up appointment. I just hope the ulceration clears up quickly!

 

[wenton5]

My pig had a similar problem. The eye may take awhile to heal and ****watch closely for infection.***** My piggies eye got better slowly every day, it took awhile but it should show slow continual signs of improvement. How is your piggy feeling and dealing with the eye? Good appetite and everything? Is she leaving it alone? I would keep on with the drops as well. When is the follow up appt?