Eye Crusties

[piggl]

I have a 5 month old boar called Reggie. I think he is some sort of Swiss Teddy, as he has very fuzzy hair but it’s quite soft but very dense.

I’ve noticed he almost always has eye crusties, not like “URI” crust but just a very small amount on his inner corner almost daily. He’s healthy in every other aspect, apart from this one thing.

Can guinea pigs get ‘eye bogies’ like humans?

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s probably that he isn’t fully clearing the milky white cleaning fluid.
Do you ever see it fresh (as a white fluid) or only ever crusted?

 

[Wiebke]

I have a 5 month old boar called Reggie. I think he is some sort of Swiss Teddy, as he has very fuzzy hair but it’s quite soft but very dense.

I’ve noticed he almost always has eye crusties, not like “URI” crust but just a very small amount on his inner corner almost daily. He’s healthy in every other aspect, apart from this one thing.

Can guinea pigs get ‘eye bogies’ like humans?

Hi

Is it transparent white crusts - this could point to washing out some little irritation (like a little hay dust) being washed out or milky white blobs - this is not fully reabsorbed eye cleaning fluid?
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

 

[piggl]

It’s probably that he isn’t fully clearing the milky white cleaning fluid.
Do you ever see it fresh (as a white fluid) or only ever crusted?

Hi

Is it transparent white crusts - this could point to washing out some little irritation (like a little hay dust) being washed out or milky white blobs - this is not fully reabsorbed eye cleaning fluid?
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

Its not particularly visible, I can feel it/remove it but its very small and yes basically transparent.
This morning actually he did have a little white blob in the corner beside the crust, but it was tiny so I hardly noticed it.

Is this an issue? As I have to clean it everyday but he's healthy in every other aspect.

 

[Wiebke]

Its not particularly visible, I can feel it/remove it but its very small and yes basically transparent.
This morning actually he did have a little white blob in the corner beside the crust, but it was tiny so I hardly noticed it.

Is this an issue? As I have to clean it everyday but he's healthy in every other aspect.

No, it's not an issue and nothing to worry about. It is the normal natural eye hygiene doing its job.

You should see a vet if you have a constantly tearing eye, lots of blinking or you are finding white cleaning fluid blobs (much larger than what you are reporting) on a daily or near daily basis since that could point to the tear duct being blocked or abstructed.

 

[piggl]

No, it's not an issue and nothing to worry about. It is the normal natural eye hygiene doing its job.

You should see a vet if you have a constantly tearing eye, lots of blinking or you are finding white cleaning fluid blobs (much larger than what you are reporting) on a daily or near daily basis since that could point to the tear duct being blocked or abstructed.

I'm just worried as I have never had a pig have any issues with eye crust, let alone daily. Would the tearing be obvious wetness around the eye?

 

[Wiebke]

I'm just worried as I have never had a pig have any issues with eye crust, let alone daily. Would the tearing be obvious wetness around the eye?

Yes. What you are dealing with is really minor; just the result of a little hay dust getting in the eye when he is sticking his head into a pile, for instant. Some piggies have narrower tear ducts and are a bit more prone to spillages. It comes under natural variation and what is normal for a specific individual. Bring it up with the vet next time he has to see one if you wish to but please do not worry. It's about on the scale of you waking up with sandy eyes and a little crust in the mornings.

If it was caused by an injury, you would see frequent blinking, the eye being indrawn and mostly likely the start of ulceration (infection) some hours later.

 

[piggl]

Yes. What you are dealing with is really minor; just the result of a little hay dust getting in the eye when he is sticking his head into a pile, for instant. Some piggies have narrower tear ducts and are a bit more prone to spillages. It comes under natural variation and what is normal for a specific individual. Bring it up with the vet next time he has to see one if you wish to but please do not worry. It's about on the scale of you waking up with sandy eyes and a little crust in the mornings.

If it was caused by an injury, you would see frequent blinking, the eye being indrawn and mostly likely the start of ulceration (infection) some hours later.

That’s really interesting, I never knew that!
Thank you for the information and help x

 

[Wiebke]

That’s really interesting, I never knew that!
Thank you for the information and help x

Frequent blinking, tearing and crusts can on occasion point to something stuck under a lid, so that is always worth checking for. However, tiny amounts without any other symptoms are not to worry about.

My Baeddan has very small eyes with very tight lids and is prone to tearing and spillages. The vet didn't find anything.