As previously said my guineapig was on antibiotics. His dose ended but he doesn't seem any better. I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow. From today morning I noticed there is some discharge coming out from his one eye which seems to be water . And he is refusing any scratches or petting. I just wanted to ask I still there hope ? He is eating as he used to . I lost two piggies this year I can't bear losing him . Please pray for him .
Hi
I am glad that you are finally past the URI but sorry that you are dealing with yet another issue.
Here are the four different types of eye discharge and what each means:
- Milky white discharge: Spilled over cleaning fluid (dries into hard white flecks). It is normally reabsorbed via the Nothing to worry about.
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Watery discharge: Irritation or pain in the eye (including hay poke, something stuck under a lid (always check the firmer upper lid) or conjunctivitis if the constant watering persists for any length of time - please see a vet promptly for antibiotic eye drops). Dries into transparent crusts. If the watering is just light and short-lived, then likely something like hay dust has got into the eye and been washed out.
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Light greyish/bluish gunk on the eye surface or as discharge: Ulceration from an infected eye scratch or hay poke. This can come on very quickly, in just a matter of hours as eye infections can deteriorate very quickly.
- Any yellowish (orangey or greenish) mucus or crusts around the eyes or nostrils: well developed under- or untreated URI or other infection in the upper respiratory tract (in this case the nose).
If the eye is also indrawn (smaller than on the other side) in combination with watering and/or ulceration, this is pointing to an injury or something scratchy stuck under a lid that is causing major discomfort and pain. Frequent blinking or closed eyes are signs of major pain from an injury.
If there is no blood (which would make it an emergency), then potential eye injuries should be ideally seen within 24 hours. Vets have a special dye that allows the them to assess the full extent of an injury under uv light.
Please see a vet promptly for antibiotic eye drops. If possible, also ask them for an analgesic (painkiller) and get some plain human tear gel or drops from a pharmacy for rehydrating the eye and healing support in the lower levels of the eye unless your vet is prescribing a lubricant. Always wait at least half an hour until applying the antibiotic eye drops before giving any lubrication.
The sooner you step in, the quicker and smoother the healing process; it usually takes about 10-14 days in the case of a minor scratch or hay poke and tends to heal without complications. Bloody or untreated eye injuries where the injuiry has penetrated deeper into the eye may take longer or can end with eye removal at the very, very worst.
Eye injuries and treatment are diagnosed and treated exactly the same as cats or dogs of your vet has any concerns; this also goes for the medicated eye drops or gels. Any general vet should be able to do it. This is the one case where seeing a general vet promptly over waiting for an exotics vets is more important and can make a real difference. UK vets will generally do their best to fit in potential eye injuries as quickly as possible.
Healing eye injuries will look worse for a while as unlike with any other place in the body you can actually see the healing process underway (oxygen bearing blood vessels being deployed to injury site) once any surface ulceration/infection has been stopped and the eye is clearer. These temporary vessels will automatically disappear again when the site is repaired. The last stage of the healing process is often a little cloudiness inside the eye. Please continue medicating for as long as the eye is not fully back to normal.
You best aim any drops into the gap between the lid and the eye when you gently pull down the lower lid. Any gel you just gently dab on the surface of an ideally distracted piggy munching on their pellet ration or their some of their daily veg ration.
It is normal that you spill some of the medication as you learn and depending on how cooperative your piggy is.
Piggy whispering can help somewhat in terms of you reminding your piggy as to who is boss by gently pressing the ear between your fingers.
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
Guinea Lynx :: Eyes
I hope that this helps you?
