Reoccurring eye infection (always the left eye)

[Jen87]

Hello,

My two year old sow has had monthly eye infection (left only) since May this year. They go with the eye drops prescribed, but around 4 weeks later it returns. I follow the prescription from the exotic vet, there have been no changes. I just don’t get it, she is otherwise fine. She is overweight. Vet has done the checks every time, no cause found and as I say, the drops work quickly.


Any ideas?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,

My two year old sow has had monthly eye infection (left only) since May this year. They go with the eye drops prescribed, but around 4 weeks later it returns. I follow the prescription from the exotic vet, there have been no changes. I just don’t get it, she is otherwise fine. She is overweight. Vet has done the checks every time, no cause found and as I say, the drops work quickly.


Any ideas?

Hi and welcome

Could you please specify whether you are dealing with an infection in the conjunctiva (the tissue surrounding the eye) or the eye itself?

Very occasionally, conjunctivitis can be very persistent and extremely difficult to clear. Unfortunately, eye medication for pets is very limited; there are just two kinds of antibiotic eye drops/gel.

 

[Jen87]

Hello, I believe it’s the eye itself (one occasion it turned in to an ulcer) and have been prescribed isathal each time. I will be calling the vet again, I just hope it isn’t something underlying

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I believe it’s the eye itself (one occasion it turned in to an ulcer) and have been prescribed isathal each time. I will be calling the vet again, I just hope it isn’t something underlying

Thank you for the clarification. Is your piggy prone to hay pokes/scratches and has your vet checked whether something is stuck under the upper lid? Some piggies are more prone to it than others. How hard is your hay?

Stronger medication could consist in using chloramphenicol if it really is the same infection and not a different problem each time.

What I would recommend that you order some carbomer based plain tear gel like viscotears or similar brands (there is a range) and apply that once daily (in an acute infection three times daily). The extra rehydration helps with eye comfort but also promotes the healing process deeper inside the eye than antibiotic eye drops can reach. The gel is much easier to apply and more lasting in effect than normal plain eye drops. However, you have to always wait at least half an hour after any other eye medication in order to have that fully absorbed first.
The tear gel is not a medication but a prescription-free over the counter support product and therefore not usually prescribed by a vet. However, if you are being additionally prescribed Remend, then you do not need extra eye gel.

I hope that this helps you.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Might Exocin eye drops be any use in this situation? That's what Simon Maddock used to treat Kreacher's very poorly eye, and his sight was saved.

 

[Jen87]

Thank you.



The hay at the moment is fairly hard, it tends to vary though. She has been prescribed remend when she had the ulcer.



Do you recommend the tear gel for general daily use?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you.



The hay at the moment is fairly hard, it tends to vary though. She has been prescribed remend when she had the ulcer.



Do you recommend the tear gel for general daily use?

I depends on what is going on - if it is the same infection recurring, then it would be worth discussing with your vet. If it is a new infection each time, then the remend will be better but you may want to consider looking for soft hay.
A Comprehensive Hay Guide for Guinea Pigs (incl. providers in several countries)

Please accept that we cannot tell you what to do sight unseen; what we can help you with is asking your vet helpful questions or further avenues based on their findings and assessment.