Eye infection and boil - possible spider bite?

[Robert_Richards]

Hi all, I’m new here, today, after finding this forum looking on the internet for possible identification of some nasty eye infection and possibly related boil behind my Guinea Pig’s ear. I know he needs to see a vet and we’ve booked an appointment but we can’t get in until Friday. (The one exotic animal hospital does not have a GP specialist on duty until then!)

I’m really worried and don’t want it to get worse so I’m contemplating driving several hours to another hospital.

Does anyone recognize either of these?

1) Clearly he has an eye infection. The eye has some puss filled swelling at the bottom lid, but it’s not a hay poke, it looks like it is likely from physical trauma or perhaps a symptom of the spider bite / boil (see #2 below). If it is trauma related, it could have come from his roommate, Buster, the more aggressive of our 2 GPs; or, it could have come from our cat. The cat is fascinated with the GPs and we’ve let her get to know them under supervision and she’s never been aggressive - but, I suppose, she could have accessed him at some point through the cage and took a swipe at his eye unbeknownst to us.

However, I don’t think that’s it because I’ve also just discovered,

2) a big boil behind his ear on the same side as the infected eye (left eye). It looks like a spider bite to me (I don’t think we have brown recluse here in Vancouver, but it sure resembles a BR bite) - a large, swelling bulge/ boil with quite large diameter, scabbed over hole in the center (about 3/16” diameter).

Has anyone seen this type of boil?

If anyone recognizes either of these issues and / or can offer some treatment advice in the meantime while we wait for our vet appt (how to clean it, any safe topical solutions that might ease pain and discomfort - polysporin?), please, we would really appreciate it. I imagine we should separate him from Buster for the time being so he is not at risk of further aggravation.

We love Vinny so much and I feel so bad that I’ve only just noticed this today - it looks at least a couple days old. I will keep looking for a closer available vet option.

Thank you!

Robert and the rest of Vinny’s fam.
Photos on Pinterest
(I hope this link works)

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m so sorry Vinny is poorly.

A normal vet will be able to look at guinea pig eyes as they are the same as cats and dogs.

I’d try and get in as soon as possible as eye problems can deteriorate quickly. He will need pain meds and probably antibiotic eye drops. Good luck I hope you can get an appointment as soon as possible.

With regards the wound by his ear it could be related to the eye or not. It could be a burst cyst or an abscess. See what the vet says.

Is Vinny eating ok? I’d start weighing him every morning for a few days to make sure he's not losing weight.

 

[Robert_Richards]

Thank you for the welcome and reply! I found a good vet to see him, not too far away. Yes, it is an unrelated (and benign) cist behind the ear. The eye turned out to be an infection from an ulcer, probably caused by the claws of his more aggressive roommate, Buster, who we learned isn’t likely bonded very well with Vinny So we will be giving them separate quarters for a bit to see how that goes. The prognosis is good for Vinny! Some antibiotics and, the duct tape of pet medicine, Meloxicam. Thanks for the support! - Vinny and Robert

 

[weepweeps]

I’m glad everything got sorted out. I hope Vinny makes a quick recovery

Have you seen Buster being aggressive with Vinny? Eye ulcers can be caused by a hay poke to the eye so not necessarily from Buster.

 

[Robert_Richards]

Yes, for some time Buster has been bullying Vinny. He pushes him around and stands up on him all the time (front paws on Vinny’s body / head). Then we will see them snuggling so we haven’t made much of it. But then Vinny lost all his beautiful long hair over a few months, and we figure Buster has been eating it? Weird but apparently it’s a thing.

Obviously we separated them while Vinny is recovering. Vinny, possibly because of a stressful day and medication, seemed quite relaxed and happy on his own yesterday and today, while Buster had a fit last night. He was marching back-and-forth the length of his cage, pushing his house along and then flipping it over before pushing it back the other way for several hours. I think we have a codependent relationship here, lol. Classic case of unrequited love? I don’t know, but we’re gonna keep them separated and monitor for now

 

[weepweeps]

Thread 'Bonds In Trouble'

Oct 30, 2017

1 Causes for bonds to fall apart
2 Bonds in Crisis
- What are the signs of a dysfunctional bond?
- Bullying
- How can I test whether a bond is no longer working?
3 Failed bonds and what next?
- What to do if my piggies have had a major fight?
- When rebonding doesn't work out


1 Causes for bonds to fall apart

Every fall-out has of course its own...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Bonding & Fall-outs

• 

Have a read of the above guide. But yes it does sound like they will have to live as neighbours now.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear of the issues.

I would also say that this bond sounds like it has failed and they need to be kept separated.

In a suspected bullying case, it is always the submissive piggy’s reaction to separation you go by, never the dominant.
The fact Vinny is happier alone is the definitive answer that he did not enjoy being with Buster - he was being bullied and is now happier away therefore the bond is sadly over.
Buster’s pacing behaviour is not unrequited love - it’s frustration that he now can’t bully Vinny and he is also displaying territorial. You ignore Buster’s behaviour reaction to the separation. He will calm down over the coming weeks but you may always see some amount of territorial and divider marking behaviours