Guinea pig eye closing

[Guptheguineapig]

Good evening/night to everyone.
My lovely little pig, Tippy, who has a history or middle and now inner ear infections has recently been having her left eye closing/squinting.
Her eye appears as if someone is close to her eye and the reflex is to close it, except that its permanently in this state of squint/close. Sorry if this is confusing...what I am trying to explain is that her eye is in a permanent squint right now. She shows no signs of visible infection of the eye on the outside and has no pus or stuff coming out anywhere. She recently had an abscess lanced on the same (left side) of her body under her chin.

I am wondering if 1) anyone has had this happen with their pig before?, 2) Could this be relate to the discomfort from the lanced abscess under the?, and 3) Is this a symptom of her ear infection traveling to the nervous system?

And what advice anyone can provide on what can be done for this piggie. I am aware she has a shortened lifespan because of chronic infections she had at rescue, but... I keep taking her to the vet not wanting to give up hope.

Thanks

 

[Siikibam]

Sorry to hear she’s having a hard time. Did the vet say whether the abscess affect her eye/eye socket at all?

I’ve never experienced this with my pigs. But I think the best thing to do would be to take her back to the vet and have him check her eye. We can’t diagnose anything online so always err on the side of caution - better to take her in and find it’s nothing than worry and not. Vets are used to seeing worried owners/slaves

 

[Incredipigs]

Could there be something poking her in the eye - maybe a hair or a tiny bit of hay?

 

[Guptheguineapig]

Sorry to hear she’s having a hard time. Did the vet say whether the abscess affect her eye/eye socket at all?

I’ve never experienced this with my pigs. But I think the best thing to do would be to take her back to the vet and have him check her eye. We can’t diagnose anything online so always err on the side of caution - better to take her in and find it’s nothing than worry and not. Vets are used to seeing worried owners/slaves

When I brought up the occasional squint she had before it was lanced he said that it probably wasn't related, but her eye looked clear. I have an appointment but its about a week away. I can take her for emergency if I absolutely needed as well.

 

[Guptheguineapig]

Could there be something poking her in the eye - maybe a hair or a tiny bit of hay?

How could that be checked because I have looked at her eye lids and can't see anything visible. Is it possible I am missing something to look for?

 

[Siikibam]

Could you call them saying it’s an emergency and have the appointment brought forward? Just that if something has damaged her eye you don’t want it to be permanent. Could you post a photo of said eye?

 

[Piggies&buns]

How could that be checked because I have looked at her eye lids and can't see anything visible. Is it possible I am missing something to look for?

The vet would need to do this kind of check. They can use a dye to see if any damage has occurred to the eye which has caused an ulcer to form.
I agree in that you shouldn’t leave it until next week as things can get worse if there is something in her eye

 

[Guptheguineapig]

The vet would need to do this kind of check. They can use a dye to see if any damage has occurred to the eye which has caused an ulcer to form.
I agree in that you shouldn’t leave it until next week as things can get worse if there is something in her eye

I will be including a picture shortly. The only reason that I have not taken her to the emergency vet by me that sees exotics is that the last time I went they looked at her, gave antibiotics, and then sent me on my way charging a ton of money, and then she ended up in GI stasis because they didn't provide me with important information about antibiotics effects which I only learned after my own research and a trip to a specialist almost two hours away.

 

[Guptheguineapig]

If you look at the eye on the right of the picture and how it's a little squinty... It is like that way more often recently. No visible "Gook"

 

[Guptheguineapig]

Could you call them saying it’s an emergency and have the appointment brought forward? Just that if something has damaged her eye you don’t want it to be permanent. Could you post a photo of said eye?

He doesn't return until the 27th of December and he is the only exotics vet there and he is super thorough so I do want to make sure I see him again.

 

[Siikibam]

Ok. Is there another exotic vet nearby? @Piggies&buns @PigglePuggle @VickiA @furryfriends (TEAS) Is this an emergency case or do you think it can wait till next week?

 

[PigglePuggle]

I would say that a potential eye problem needs checking by the vet for any hay or bedding stuck in the eye, and probably prescription eyedrops, straight away- within 24 hours for sure. Eye injuries can deteriorate very fast and all animal and human eyes get exactly the same treatment- putting a special dye in the eye to show up any foreign matter or scratches, removing anything that is stuck there, then antiobiotic eye drops. It definitely needs prompt vet attention but it doesnt need a piggy expert, any vet who has the dye and the special light to examine the eye and can write a prescription can treat an eye injury or infection, even if they are more used to seeing dogs or cats or cows!

 

[DM170120]

Good evening/night to everyone.
My lovely little pig, Tippy, who has a history or middle and now inner ear infections has recently been having her left eye closing/squinting.
Her eye appears as if someone is close to her eye and the reflex is to close it, except that its permanently in this state of squint/close. Sorry if this is confusing...what I am trying to explain is that her eye is in a permanent squint right now. She shows no signs of visible infection of the eye on the outside and has no pus or stuff coming out anywhere. She recently had an abscess lanced on the same (left side) of her body under her chin.

I am wondering if 1) anyone has had this happen with their pig before?, 2) Could this be relate to the discomfort from the lanced abscess under the?, and 3) Is this a symptom of her ear infection traveling to the nervous system?

And what advice anyone can provide on what can be done for this piggie. I am aware she has a shortened lifespan because of chronic infections she had at rescue, but... I keep taking her to the vet not wanting to give up hope.

Thanks

Yea it's happened to my pig , he was scratched in the eye and went blind
I don't know about the other two questions .

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Definitely a vet check needed and I would be looking at sooner, rather than later, as eyes can deteriorate rapidly. It could be an eye injury, or pain on that side of the face. Regardless of which it is, an examination by a vet is required.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Eyes need to be checked and treated quickly

 

[VickiA]

I agree completely that any competent vet can check the eye for a retained foreign object and /or signs of ulceration from a foreign object (hay poke). They just need the fluorescent drops and a UV torch. Then they can prescribe antibiotic drops. I really would not leave it a moment longer than necessary. Vets accept that eye injuries are emergencies and see same day for a reason - they get much worse if left. Good luck

 

[Ellie-May]

Good evening/night to everyone.
My lovely little pig, Tippy, who has a history or middle and now inner ear infections has recently been having her left eye closing/squinting.
Her eye appears as if someone is close to her eye and the reflex is to close it, except that its permanently in this state of squint/close. Sorry if this is confusing...what I am trying to explain is that her eye is in a permanent squint right now. She shows no signs of visible infection of the eye on the outside and has no pus or stuff coming out anywhere. She recently had an abscess lanced on the same (left side) of her body under her chin.

I am wondering if 1) anyone has had this happen with their pig before?, 2) Could this be relate to the discomfort from the lanced abscess under the?, and 3) Is this a symptom of her ear infection traveling to the nervous system?

And what advice anyone can provide on what can be done for this piggie. I am aware she has a shortened lifespan because of chronic infections she had at rescue, but... I keep taking her to the vet not wanting to give up hope.

Thanks

I know this is a late reply and I hope your piggy is okay! The only issue I have ever had with one of my piggies is a hay poke injury. Her eye wasn’t open fully and there was some discharge. Luckily there was no damage as it wasn’t bad and I caught it quickly. As eyes can deteriorate quickly, the best thing to do is to see a vet. They put dye in the eye to check for any damage, flush out anything that may be in it and will give you some drops or something stronger if needed depending on the circumstances

 

[Guptheguineapig]

I've spent well over $1000 on this piggie. Anyone else have similar experiences with a very needy/expensive piggie?

 

[VickiA]

I've spent well over $1000 on this piggie. Anyone else have similar experiences with a very needy/expensive piggie?

oh yes.

 

[PigglePuggle]

All pets require vet care if they are ill, and vet care as we all know can be quite expensive. However an eye examination and eye drops will definitely be at the cheaper end of possible vet expenses (maybe £30 or £40 in the UK so about $50 equivalent perhaps?) Compared to waiting until the piggy could be in extreme pain and require their eye surgically removing with anaesthesia and opiate pain relief and all the associated risks, suffering and expense.
But yes I would always have about £500 spare saved up in my vet find ready to spend for any potential illness in a guinea pig, and be ready to use my credit card after that if necessary!

 

[Ritika]

U know reading such threads about piggies that got sick makes me so scared because where I live the country has only 1 exotic vet who is 4 days away from me if I go through a car the vet near us doesn't knows about guinea pigs at all and just makes me scared what would I do if something like this happens to one of my piggies we don't even have a vet nearby I know I shouldn't have kept piggies because of the unavailability of exotic vet but I went to a pet store one day to buy a rabbit and saw them in a small 1 foot cage with I think 10 piggies in it who were going to become dog food and I just couldn't resist trying to help them I hope everything will be fine

 

[Guptheguineapig]

All pets require vet care if they are ill, and vet care as we all know can be quite expensive. However an eye examination and eye drops will definitely be at the cheaper end of possible vet expenses (maybe £30 or £40 in the UK so about $50 equivalent perhaps?) Compared to waiting until the piggy could be in extreme pain and require their eye surgically removing with anaesthesia and opiate pain relief and all the associated risks, suffering and expense.
But yes I would always have about £500 spare saved up in my vet find ready to spend for any potential illness in a guinea pig, and be ready to use my credit card after that if necessary!

Luckily my parents taught me well growing up that if I had this responsibility I had to prepare for it so I have some money in savings, I get paid next Friday, and I love this animal with all my heart, so know I would be responsible if something happened, all because I didn't take her to the vet would make me so upset.

 

[Guptheguineapig]

U know reading such threads about piggies that got sick makes me so scared because where I live the country has only 1 exotic vet who is 4 days away from me if I go through a car the vet near us doesn't knows about guinea pigs at all and just makes me scared what would I do if something like this happens to one of my piggies we don't even have a vet nearby I know I shouldn't have kept piggies because of the unavailability of exotic vet but I went to a pet store one day to buy a rabbit and saw them in a small 1 foot cage with I think 10 piggies in it who were going to become dog food and I just couldn't resist trying to help them I hope everything will be fine

That's how I got my tippy (the sick one). I went to the pet store for food and they said they had a pig in the back that no one wanted because her head tilted. I wanted that pig, and I guess in wanting her I inherited the complications of neglect which were many more medical problems than I could have ever imagined.

 

[Ritika]

That's how I got my tippy (the sick one). I went to the pet store for food and they said they had a pig in the back that no one wanted because her head tilted. I wanted that pig, and I guess in wanting her I inherited the complications of neglect which were many more medical problems than I could have ever imagined.

No matter what my piggies really makes me alot happy when I am down and I never regretted my decision

 

[Ellie-May]

All pets require vet care if they are ill, and vet care as we all know can be quite expensive. However an eye examination and eye drops will definitely be at the cheaper end of possible vet expenses (maybe £30 or £40 in the UK so about $50 equivalent perhaps?) Compared to waiting until the piggy could be in extreme pain and require their eye surgically removing with anaesthesia and opiate pain relief and all the associated risks, suffering and expense.
But yes I would always have about £500 spare saved up in my vet find ready to spend for any potential illness in a guinea pig, and be ready to use my credit card after that if necessary!

Yeah it was around £40 for an emergency appointment and the eye drops which is quite cheap. THANKFULLY none of mine have needed anything major done

 

[KHBz]

How could that be checked because I have looked at her eye lids and can't see anything visible. Is it possible I am missing something to look for?

I'm late in reading this thread, but my piggy had her eye tight shut when we took her to the vet and it was only after much examination that the vet suddenly spotted the shard of hay stuck in the very, very corner of her eye, pretty much hidden. There was no way I would have found it, even if I had been able to prise her eye open. It was a bad injury. Any updates on your little Tippy?

 

[Ellie-May]

That's how I got my tippy (the sick one). I went to the pet store for food and they said they had a pig in the back that no one wanted because her head tilted. I wanted that pig, and I guess in wanting her I inherited the complications of neglect which were many more medical problems than I could have ever imagined.

Aww I think you are doing amazing! Some piggies need more medical attention than others and, unfortunately, that comes with costs. This is kind of off topic but my two budgies (one who is 5 and the other 4) has never needed to go to the vets. But with guinea pigs they do tend to hide their illness well, so unless you see it then sometimes it can be too late

 

[KHBz]

I'm late in reading this thread, but my piggy had her eye tight shut when we took her to the vet and it was only after much examination that the vet suddenly spotted the shard of hay stuck in the very, very corner of her eye, pretty much hidden. There was no way I would have found it, even if I had been able to prise her eye open. It was a bad injury. Any updates on your little Tippy?

Just to add, it was a vet that specialises in cats and dogs, certainly not exotic creatures.

 

[Guptheguineapig]

Great news tonight! Took Tipp to the vet they put the green dye in her eye and immediately found she scratched it! If left this could have gotten so much worse. Thank you to all the wonderful people in this forum for your help and support!
Updates are to come!

 

[VickiA]

Great news tonight! Took Tipp to the vet they put the green dye in her eye and immediately found she scratched it! If left this could have gotten so much worse. Thank you to all the wonderful people in this forum for your help and support!
Updates are to come!

Hope she is soon on the mend. As they have a fast metabolism usually their eyes heal quite quickly once you start treatment.