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New piggy’s eye

pollyandpenny

pollyandpenny

New Born Pup
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Hi I got a new pig at the weekend as a friend to my little polly as my beautiful penny passed 2 weeks ago and polly was lonely. I love this new little piggy so much already she’s 1 years old I got her from a rescue, but her eye just doesn’t look normal to me when I’m taking videos of her sometimes with the flash on. It’s like bloodshot sort of she’s a white pig with red eyes so I’m not sure what they’re meant to look like but I’m sure this isn’t normal. I got some human eye drops brolene and have been doing a few drops for her. Do I need to go to the vets asap? I’m not sure If I’m being a bad mum by even sitting here without a vets appointment. I worry about my pigs so much. I’ll attach some pictures Thankyou xx64A1C795-6DB2-44F4-B5CC-CBA655767742.webp2EF85B5B-4A84-420E-8CAE-617B42BE0F00.webp
 
That is odd. Maybe cataracts? I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along soon
 
I don’t think it’s a cataract as when a photo is taken with flash, in my experience you’re unable to see the blood behind the eye.
Eye with cataract with flash:
3153A154-1D83-41A4-BE24-EF3F2E7C47AD.png
Eye without cataract with flash:
B244381B-0F95-42CB-BF0D-6DA308B32646.png

With flash, a piggies eye will usually always be red in the pupil which with a red eyed piggy results in a complete red eye. However, the black dot in the middle of the second photo could suggest something. Since eyes deteriorate quickly, if you’re concerned then it’ll do no harm to take her to the vet. Any vet can treat eyes, not just exotics, and you’re better safe than sorry.

Edit: I also wouldn’t be self treating with the human eye drops either. If you think something is wrong, get a vet to diagnose rather than self-treating when there potentially may not be an issue at all
 
Please don’t home treat. You don’t know what is wrong (if anything) and could inadvertently make things worse. If you’re worried about her eyes then get her booked in with the vet. I’d advise that anyway if you didn’t get her from a reputable rescue.

How do her eyes look under normal light? And are you quarantining her (in another room)?
 
I can't really tell for sure, but in the picture of your gorgeous girly with the carrot, it looks like it could be a hay poke injury/ulcer forming in the centre of her eye? The darker pink area?

If you could get a vets appointment ASAP tomorrow the vet will be able to tell if it's normal or if she has an injury - they usually put an orange/yellow dye in the eye to find out.

Time is of the essence with eyes, they can quickly get other health complications if left untreated, but often heal quickly & fully if treatment starts promptly.

If she'll let you & it doesn't stress her, try having a look at her eye close up & see if you can see a foreign body or debris in the eye.
Just dripping a few drops of boiled then cooled water into the eye from above (with a twisted, paper kitchen towel wick) might be enough to soothe the eye overnight and keep it hydrated-until you can get to the vets tomorrow.
Eyes are generally the same no matter what species of animal, so if you don't have an exotic vets nearby, a general vets will do :)

You'll probably be prescribed antibiotic eye drops, often Isathal or Tiacil for her & hopefully some oral painkillers (usually metacam/Loxicom) just to keep her comfortable if it is an injury.

I keep a tube of Remend Remend Corneal Repair Gel - 3ml

In my fridge as a first aid basic for the usual Friday night/Bank Holiday hay poke incidents. Until I can get to a vets.

The eye licking is also a bonding /accepting & cleaning/grooming behaviour.

I wouldn't suggest using the eye drops you have as Polly may be ingesting them when she's grooming her new companion & Ive not heard of them being used on piggies before, so best check with the vet first :)

Often guineas are quarantined so they don't pass any illnesses to each other, but if Polly was lonely then a reputable rescue or vet will sometimes suggest no quarantining necessary for the social welfare of your original lonely/bereaved guinea.


Good luck and let us know how she gets on :tu:
... Oh & more pics please of both piggies, we love piggy pics :drool: :love:
Xx
 
Thanks so much for all your replies, I know I shouldn’t be treating at home it’s just I’ve spent soo much money recently at the vets with my pig who passed I did my best to save her and it was very very expensive at the exotic vets. She’s not in quarantine I got her off a nice lady who rescues them and she said she would be fine to just be put straight in the cage as my other piggy took to her straight away. I spoke to the lady I got her off and she said she tried treating her eye with drops but nothing changed and she said there’s not much point in going to the vets? But I am going to try and get a appointment when they open soon at 8 I want my piggy to be fully healthy and happy. Thanks so much again I really need reassurance sometimes xx
 
Her eye needs to be seen. I would not take any advice from her if she thinks there’s no point having the piggy seen. The horse has bolted now but you should always quarantine any new piggies that are over 4 months of age and haven’t come from a reputable rescue. And bonding should be done on neutral ground and not just putting new pig into the old pig’s cage. Luckily for you it went well. Have her given the once over as well when you get an appointment. Good luck!
 
Definitely never home treat. We’ve seen disasters on this forum where people have home treated and ultimately made things worse for themselves and the piggies (I remember one particularly nasty situation where a person was home treating a fungal outbreak, all their piggies ended up becoming infected and i believe some lost their lives - all because they didn’t want to get it sorted properly by a vet!).
You can take your pig to a regular vet for the eye, not just an exotic. They diagnose and treat exactly the same. My local vets are pretty useless, even with cats, but have successfully treated several hay pokes in my late Honey’s eye. He got hay pokes so so easily. They put some dye in, located if there was damage and then prescribed medicated drops if needed. But with eyes, it’s not worth taking the risk by leaving it to chance. We once went to the vets with a hay poke on Christmas eve, now that was expensive! I know how it feels to be swamped with vet bills. Everything always seems to come at once, doesn’t it? But paying £40 for it looking at and getting medicated drops is a lot better than paying several hundreds for the eye removing in an operation! All the best at the vets :)
 
Thanks guys I’m not going to give her any more human drops. the exotic vets haven’t got appointments for almost a week, i might have to ring the old vets as I don’t think it’s fair waiting that long if my eye was bad I would go to the eye clinic straight away. I did take polly to the lady’s house to let the pigs bond I didn’t just put her straight in my cage thank god as polly is a bit nasty sometimes but it seems she gets on with the new pig a lot more than my penny who passed there’s no growling or being petty with food so that’s good at least. I’m going to do everything I can for her she’s so cute and is already jumping up at the side of the cage for nice treats. I’ve got a better pic of the eye today it’s strange xx 0C0F5073-13DA-44FD-AE43-00A0574D1452.webp
 
There's something called osseous metaplasia which can happen in guineas and it can be seen as a white ring around the eyeball. I can't tell from your pics as she's a red-eyed beauty, but if you search the forum for this condition other pics should pop up and you can compare to your new lady to see if anything looks similar. She should definitely be seen by a vet but if it is this condition other owners have said that although it is progressive it doesn't cause any pain. The important thing for your girl is that she's not in any discomfort!
I only know about it because somebody mentioned a third eyelid yesterday and I had to google whether guinea-pigs had one(!) and OM pics came up there.
 
Please get her to the vet. I think the eye looks somewhat abnormal. You need to find out for sure if there’s a problem and if there’s a way to treat it before you’re guaranteed to lose the eye. I want to state again: you can take her to any vet. Local, general vets are everywhere and they CAN identify and treat eye problems in guinea pigs. Please do not wait.
 
As said above, a general vet can see her so please have a ring around and see who can fit you in. Eyes are an emergency and that one looks really bad.
 
Thanks so much the normal vets don’t have any appointments at all for 2 weeks so I’ve begged the exotic to see her asap and I’ve got a appointment Monday morning first thing , I’m praying it’s nothing serious xx
 
Are you sure no where can get her seen sooner? I can’t stress how much eyes are an emergency. It might not last until Monday. Most towns have around 3 local vets, can none of them fit her in? I’m the type of person who tends to get appointments the same day or the day before and I’m usually always fitted in as there’s usually always empty slots. Like I said, once I took my piggy to the vet on Christmas Eve for their eye treating because I didn’t think it could wait from the 24th to the 27th when things opened up again. You’ve already left this eye a while. It might not last until Monday and if by chance the eye does survive and doesn’t need removing, there’s a chance your piggy could lose her sight permanently due to going without treatment for so long.
 
The vets inside pets at home usually always have same day appointments I’ve never had to wait more than 24 hours, I can’t believe it there must be something in the water. There aren’t many vets near me to be honest I’m out of options there’s just these 2 I can get too. I’m really worried as I’m not sure how long the rescue lady had her and I just hate being in limbo. The vets I’m going to don’t have any appointments this weekend at all but have said they will call if they have a exotic cancellation. Feel a bit stuck and like a mum xx
 
Perhaps if you let us know your county we can help.
 
I live in the centre of Manchester, but I don’t drive so have to get taxis to the vets and there’s not many near me. It’s quite awkward in taxis as your not allowed pets so I have to keep coughing or talking when they make their little noises so I can’t go too far. She seems happy I’m taking her to the vets first thing I feel terrible for not getting her there sooner, cannot believe how busy pets at home are xx
 
Can you use public transport instead of the bus? It’s odd they don’t allow small pets in carriers.

all the best for tomorrow. Let us know what they say.
 
I can quite believe it's a problem. When my mum takes puss to the vets she always has trouble with taxis... she tells the control room, they say 'no problem' but she's not sure they tell the drivers and some of the faces they've pulled and comments they've made have upset her. The vet is literally 5 minutes drive from the house - I can walk it in 15 - but it's up a hill and she has asthma, she's quite little and she's 80. Even before covid she had trouble because the drivers refused to get out and help by opening the taxi door when she gets in or out with the cat box... they just didn't like the situation. The short trip costs £3.40 ish - the last time she did it the guy sat with a face on him and watched her struggle to get in with the box, shut the door, get strapped in etc. When they got there she asked him if he could open the door and help her out and he said they didn't do that anymore (?) When she handed over a five pound note he said, "you don't want any change from that do you?" and she said "YES I bloody do" and didn't tip and he was dead cross. They used to have a nice lady driver who she always tried to get as she would help you in and out (even once loaded a big case on wheels into the boot to go on holiday in the early hours) but she's not there any more. I have no idea why it's such a problem unless it's the idea that it's such a cheap, local trip but she always uses one of the two most local firms so the HQ is only 5 mins from the vet anyway!
 
Hi not long been back from the vets, she’s got cataracts in both eyes there’s nothing they can do for her it will just get worse. She’s had a full health check and she’s healthy in all other aspects. Thanks so much for all your replies I feel so much better now I know what’s going on, I sort of just presumed that your not allowed pets as when I’ve got taxis to pets at home before they ask me if I’ve got a pet and I always say no as I don’t want to get turned away when I have a appointment xx
 
Hmmm, how did they test for that? Since I have a piggy with cataracts, I’m not convinced. With flash, the cataracts literally cover eye and so the blood behind it isn’t visible - as shown by my photograph.
Does she seem blind to you? For me, I can tell that Little is blind. If you sit your piggy on the bed and slowly move your hand around on each side of the face (not too close so that they don’t feel the air), does she react by turning her head towards the movement? If yes, then she’s probably not blind.
Sorry, I’m just a bit skeptical as it doesn’t look like cataracts to me at all, at least not in the way that I’ve experienced! But also, my piggy doesn’t have red eyes so it could appear differently for ones that do.
 
I would definitely check with your hand as littleones has said but hopefully the vet will have assessed her eye correctly. I have cataracts and I can see quite well but over time the cornea will become more milkier preventing sight. This is the same for all animals so she still may see shapes, movement, dark/light etc
 
He turned all the lights off and had a proper look with the little flash thing he said if it was trauma it would have just been 1 eye but they both have the same thing. I’ve just left home to go shopping ill do that test when I’m back soon but I was thinking she was blind when I got her as it’s like she can’t see the food in front of her sometimes I have to put it right under her nose. I’m just so glad I was that one that got her as I know I’ll do everything i can it’s weird you’d think I’d want a fully healthy one but I actually am glad I can care for not in the best health piggy’s xx
 
Well I guess cataracts are just one of those things and now you have a mission! At least it's not causing her any pain and if she's slowly going blind she'll still be able to see something for a while even if it's only shapes and lights. My two newbies are slow to find things under their noses but I don't think it's sight problems - I think they're still wary and keeping an eye on me while their nose tries to sniff out the veg that's literally inches in front of them! There have been lovely tales on here of blind piggies being looked after by their sighted companions so I hope your girls can develop this bond 💕
 
Done the little test I think she can see but very minimal. She’s so cute it’s so nice having a new pig after a death it really does help. she looks like she’s not had a good time her little ears look like they’ve been chewed the vets said they’re ok tho and the lady I got her off said she had been brought to her in a group of 16 they were all dirty and all the females we’re pregnant so she’s had babies. She’s going to have a good life now for sure. Thanks guys xx
 
pollyandpenny said:
Done the little test I think she can see but very minimal. She’s so cute it’s so nice having a new pig after a death it really does help. she looks like she’s not had a good time her little ears look like they’ve been chewed the vets said they’re ok tho and the lady I got her off said she had been brought to her in a group of 16 they were all dirty and all the females we’re pregnant so she’s had babies. She’s going to have a good life now for sure. Thanks guys xx
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Aw, she is a lucky girl now she has found you x
 
Merab had cataracts and was completely blind for the last years of her life.
She coped very well, she was just a bit slower.
Your girl has landed on her paws with you so I am sure she will cope fine.

Micah - who also has chewed up ears, says to think of them as a unique fashion feature.
 
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