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Eye Infection / Hay Poke

Doragon

Doragon

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
May 5, 2015
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Location
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Poor Gus really can’t seem to catch a break lately, my poor little guy! Came down before work and sadly found his poor little eye like this:
43D42519-430C-405F-8405-7938B4E1CE31.webp

Of course, calling my vet as soon as it opens this morning - I’m based in Liverpool and my vets is in St Helen’s. My car is out of action until Friday evening as it’s in the garage. I’m just lightly cleaning with warm water at the moment and seeing if I can bump my car to be fixed a bit quicker / see if I can find a lift to the vet. I’m new to the area so don’t know anyone sadly!

He’s eating and drinking as normal, small blessings! I’m assuming this is some kind of eye infection? I know you guys can’t diagnose but if anyone has had similar I’d love to know!
 
Haypoke is a common injury in piggies - we have certainly had several here!
I hope you can get someone to take you to the vet today - eye issues do need dealing with quickly
Let us know how you get on
 
Oh no. Yes, hay pokes are common. Our piggies have a specialist vet (for the majority of issues), but any hay pokes I've had seen at our dog vet around the corner. As eye problems are treated similarly in other species. They will usually prescribe you some pain killer and antibiotic drops. Same stuff they provide for dogs and cats.

So if it helps, try any vet to get an appointment sooner :)
 
Ouch!

Eye injuries are the one issue where you do not need to see an exotics vet but any general vet that can see you soonest. Eye treatment and medication is the same as in other common pet species (cats, dogs, rabbits), so any vet can diagnose and has the necessary medication (in the UK either isathal or cloramphenicol) in stock.

The sooner you can start treating the easier and quicker a recovery as eye infections, especially ulcerating ones like yours, deteriorate rather fast. Ulcers can come on in a matter of hours so please do not beat yourself up over not noticing sooner - there simply hasn't been anything to notice earlier.

All the best!
 
Wiebke said:
Ouch!

Eye injuries are the one issue where you do not need to see an exotics vet but any general vet that can see you soonest. Eye treatment and medication is the same as in other common pet species (cats, dogs, rabbits), so any vet can diagnose and has the necessary medication (in the UK either isathal or cloramphenicol) in stock.

The sooner you can start treating the easier and quicker a recovery as eye infections, especially ulcerating ones like yours, deteriorate rather fast. Ulcers can come on in a matter of hours so please do not beat yourself up over not noticing sooner - there simply hasn't been anything to notice earlier.

All the best!
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Sadly tomorrow morning is the earliest anywhere is able to take him! Fingers crossed it’s gonna be okay. Yeah, l was super shocked as before I went to bed he was good, bless him. Fingers crossed it’s all gonna be fine, he’s in for early tomorrow so all I can do is hope for the best.
 
Got him in at 5:30 this evening! I’ve given him another wash gently - it’s hay poke, the tiny bit of hay came out as I wiped his eye. It’s very red on the inside and very cloudy at the moment, he’s feeling very sorry for himself bless him. So glad I can have him seen within the hour!
 
Not good news - Gus has severely injured his eye, his entire eye is an ulcer at the moment. Being seen again soon but they’re not sure how well it will heal. Gus is on a lot of medication, including:

Meloxidyl - 0.27ml once daily
Remend Corneal Repair Gel - 3 times in his eye daily
Chloramphenicol - 4 times daily to his eye
Baytril - 0.13 ml twice daily

I’m starting his medication right now and see how we go. I can probably get two doses of his eye medicine in tonight as it’s every three hours.
 
VickiA said:
Good luck. Poor little fellow x
Click to expand...

I know that these things are freak accidents and it’s not my fault, but the fact he’s injured himself so bad I feel so guilty. He’s happily eating pea flakes after I administer eye drops though, so at least he’s perked up?
 
Gus is in better spirits this morning! His eye doesn’t look as red inside (I stayed up late to get another dose into him safety) but it is still very clouded. I’m hoping I’ll know more by the end of today or tomorrow if it’s starting to make a difference. He’s back at the vet on Tuesday for a check up and re-assess.
 
I can’t believe it - he’s only gone and done the other eye this morning! Continuing with this medication in both eyes, the hay has been removed. Gus! :( thankfully, one of my fab colleagues is a vet nurse, she was able to give me a hand removing the hay and confirm there’s none remaining. I think I need to make him a helmet or consider switching hay! He’s on science selective right now, but I think I’m going to try Gus and Oreo on haybox club meadow for a softer hay. Major design flaw, his eyes are way too big.
 
He’s had a check up today! The original eye is healing up nicely, the second one is beginning to get there, but it needs more time. Keeping up his medication in both eyes until Saturday for hopefully his final check up!
 
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