Gunky Eye...?

[Moana]

I brought little Moana home from the pet store about a week ago after I fell in love with her wild hair, wide, beautiful black eyes, and vocal personality. I'm new to owning a Guinae Pig but own a hedgehog.

Moana isn't the only guinea in the house and they are caged together. Today I noticed one of her eyes was a little puffy and she was squinting, I noticed it immediately but had no time to tend to it cause I had to got to work.

I figured she may have just bumped into something in the cage and it would be better when I got home. When I checked on her after coming home I found just the opposite, her eye seemed to be shut completely and a whitish-crusty gunk was surrounding the skin of her eye. I quickly got a warm wet paper towel and applied it to her eye and she was able to open it again.

Is there anything more I can do? Going to a vet isn't an option since the nearest one is nearly 3 hours away. Should I separate Moana from the other guinea Willow?

 

[RingoandOlly]

Do you have a photo?

 

[Freela]

In a new piggie from a pet store, my guess would be that she has an eye infection. It's not uncommon in pet shops and pigs can become susceptible to these kinds of issues when under stress from moving from the store to your house, etc. It's also possible that she has poked her eye, which can potentially be a serious problem, depending on the injury. Does the eyeball itself look normal when you help her to open the eye? Unfortunately neither of these problems is likely to clear up on its own and you are probably going to have to see a vet. Are you in a really isolated area to have no vet within 3 hours? If you post your general location, someone may have a listing of vets in the area. A vet that sees guinea pigs is ideal, but for a potential eye infection/injury even a regular dog and cat vet would do in a pinch.

 

[Betsy]

You really must get her to a vet as her eye is only going to get worse and it must be really uncomfortable for her. Any vet will do in an emergency not necessarily a cavy savvy one. Where are you? If you are in UK there is a vet locater at the top of the page with cavy savvy vets that members have recommended. Let us know where you live and we can help you.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I wouldn't separate them as this could cause more stress. Eye injuries such as hay poke and eye infections aren't uncommon however they do need a vet visit as soon as possible as the eyes deteriorate very quickly and if left could mean the eye is lost. However injuries and infections are usually very easily treated

 

[Moana]

Do you have a photo?

It's not very clear but you can see the difference
Normal Not Normal

I literally just cleaned her eye out and soaked it with a warm towel.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Is the affected eye more closed? Hard to tell from the photo. Also is it white liquid or is it harder lumps or jelly like fluid?

 

[Tiamolly123]

You need to see a vet, if it transmits to the other eye you could be in trouble. Also she is probably in pain.

 

[Moana]

Thanks for all the help guys! Moana is doing better after a quick trip to the vet (its been months and I've forgotten to update you all) they told me it was nothing really serious but they gave me a solution to treat her eye. She's now as wild as ever and happy as can be!

 

[Betsy]

That is good news!