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Emma Is In The Early Stages Of Cataracts :(

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Claire W

Claire W

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I have just been to the vets with the piggies to have nail trims and check ups. Apparently they are all in fantastic condition but Emma is in the very early stages of having cataracts :( At this stage, you can barely tell but when looking at her eyes in a certain light, a milky blue tinge can just be seen in both eyes. I feel so guilty that I haven't noticed before :(

The vet explained that it could be a while yet before she develops full blown cataracts and that she will still be able to live a happy and normal life but I feel so bad for my girl.

Diabetes was mentioned but as Emma isn't showing any other symptoms, we are just to monitor her and see how she goes.
 
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Claire W said:
I have just been to the vets with the piggies to have nail trims and check ups. Apparently they are all in fantastic condition but Emma is in the very early stages of having cataracts :( At this stage, you can barely tell but when looking at her eyes in a certain light, a blue tinge can just be seen in both eyes. I feel so guilty that I haven't noticed before :(

The vet explained that it could be a while yet before she develops full blown cataracts and that she will still be able to live a happy and normal life but I feel so bad for my girl.

Diabetes was mentioned but as Emma isn't showing any other symptoms, we are just to monitor her and see how she goes.
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Cataracts are never great news, but age related cataracts, which usually come on around 4-5 years of age, are not at all uncommon. A fair number of older guinea pigs (like older humans, too!) have age related cataracts. Don't feel bad about not noticing them before because it takes some experience to spot the very early signs. Many cataracts come on very slowly - which gives a guinea pig at least time to adjust gently.
Some cataracts can be diabetes related. However, while we had a phase when diabetes was overdiagnosed after the condition was discovered in guinea pigs, we don't see many cases these days compared to some years ago when the naturally high glucose levels in guinea pigs threw many vets not familiar with this. It is however always worth to check whether that is the case. Other signs of diabetes are increased/high levels of drinking and sudden unexplained phases of weight loss. If Emma is not showing any of these signs, she is much less likely to have diabetes.
PS: Mali, Ffraid, Terfel, Hywel and Tanni have and have all had old age cataracts in various stages of development. ;)
 
Please don't feel guilty. You sound like a wonderful piggy mum and these are very early stage cateracts. Assuming that you don't have diabetes to deal with, they are not as big a problem as you might think. Guinea pigs are very adaptable and I'm sure Emma will cope with a bit of sight loss. After all as long as she can smell where the food is, all is well!
 
My old girl (bottom pig of my profile pic) developed cataracts when she was about 6 years old. Continued to have a heathy normal life until she was 8 and died quietly in her sleep, next to the food bowl! Hopefully your piggie's aren't diabeties related and she continues to be otherwise healthy
 
Thank you for your replies. I am pretty sure this is old age cataracts especially as I am not entirely sure of Emma and Erika's ages but they are definitely over 3.5. Emma isn't showing any signs of diebetes so we don't think it is that and neither does the vet. She just told us to monitor her drinking and eating habits as well as weighing her which I do anyway.

It is gutting that she has developed cataracts but after seeing how well @Wiebke cataract piggies have coped and how much they enjoy life, at least I know her future isn't doomed by them :)

I just want my girl to have a happy life with her friends.
 
HI, 2 of my piggies have developed cataracts. Shebert's just happened but she had other issues with her eyes. Finny's is due to diabetes. Both have (had) adapted very well to the condition and to see them run around and negotiate obstacles in the room you wouldn't think they had the cataracts.
 
Claire W said:
Thank you for your replies. I am pretty sure this is old age cataracts especially as I am not entirely sure of Emma and Erika's ages but they are definitely over 3.5. Emma isn't showing any signs of diebetes so we don't think it is that and neither does the vet. She just told us to monitor her drinking and eating habits as well as weighing her which I do anyway.

It is gutting that she has developed cataracts but after seeing how well @Wiebke cataract piggies have coped and how much they enjoy life, at least I know her future isn't doomed by them :)

I just want my girl to have a happy life with her friends.
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That is about a similar age to when I noticed the first signs in Hywel and Tanni. They are still getting around fine. Hywel will be 6 years old next month and Tanni, who is a bit further advanced, has just turned 5. The cataracts have so far not stopped Hywel trying to provoke the other husboars during roaming time or even to try and break into another boars' pen; he's just ended up with a bite courtesy of a less than pleased Maelog! Nor did fully developed cataracts prevent a nearly 8 year old Mali from zooming or popcorning around the living room floor or Taffy and Terfel to safely use the ramp in their cage!
 
I have managed to get a clear photo of one of Emma's eyes in good light. You can clearly see a blue tinge.

I'm not worried at this stage but am just wondering if this means that her sight is already worse than that of her friends and does that look normal for an early stage cataract?

image.webp
 
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