Does he need to go to the vet or should I give it more time? (Eye infection)

[fantomeadhesif]

My guinea pig Humphrey has an eye infection. At first it seemed like his eye was only irritated, but over the course of 2 days his eye clouded over and started leaking. He's sleeping a lot and blinks that eye a lot. The eye is very sensitive to light. Appetite seems normal. A vet gave us gentamicin sulfate eye drops (0.3%) when his medications were picked up, he hasn't been to a vet to have his eye looked at. He's only had 3 doses for the eye drops so far but his eye is cloudier than before (more white in the eye and redness around the eye, also slightly swollen around the eye)

Should I take him to a vet or give the eye drops longer to work? Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig Humphrey has an eye infection. At first it seemed like his eye was only irritated, but over the course of 2 days his eye clouded over and started leaking. He's sleeping a lot and blinks that eye a lot. The eye is very sensitive to light. Appetite seems normal. A vet gave us gentamicin sulfate eye drops (0.3%) when his medications were picked up, he hasn't been to a vet to have his eye looked at. He's only had 3 doses for the eye drops so far but his eye is cloudier than before (more white in the eye and redness around the eye, also slightly swollen)

Should I take him to a vet or give the eye drops longer to work? Thank you!
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Hi

As the eye is already fully ulcerated around the hole from a hay poke in the middle (slightly darker spot), it should be seen as soon as possible within 24 hours.

The sooner you can step in with antibiotic eye drops, a lubricant or - if not prescribed a carbomer based tear gel - and ideally some eye drops, the less far can a fast developing eye poke or scratch deteriorate and move further into the eye (which happens very quickly) and the easier the healing process.

All the best.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Definitely see the vet. A vet needs to actually look at. There could be hay still caught under the eyelid which is causing continued scratching.
This is what happened to one of my boys - a 1cm grass seed stuck under the eyelid which was not visible. Luckily I knew the injury happened within a 30 minute period when I wasn’t with him and he was seen by the vet 30 minutes later so it was all dealt with very promptly.

 

[fantomeadhesif]

Hi

As the eye is already fully ulcerated around the hole from a hay poke in the middle (slightly darker spot), it should be seen as soon as possible within 24 hours.

The sooner you can step in with antibiotic eye drops, a lubricant or - if not prescribed a carbomer based tear gel - and ideally some eye drops, the less far can a fast developing eye poke or scratch deteriorate and move further into the eye (which happens very quickly) and the easier the healing process.

All the best.

Is it safe to wait until Monday for him to see a vet?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Is it safe to wait until Monday for him to see a vet?

If it was my piggy I would not want to wait until Monday. Eye injuries need to be seen within 24 hours of the injury occurring so it is already beyond that. If you can get the eye checked today then that would be best

 

[Wheekallweek]

Personally I wouldn't wait until Monday with eyes, it will be quite painful for him.
Best of luck, hope he's feeling better soon!

 

[poggle]

I know it's a pain when these things happen out of hours but I can only agree with others that, if it was my piggy, I'd be hurrying to a vet as soon as I could. All the best!