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Scratched Cornea - Which Eye Drops?

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Fudge and Rainbow :)

Fudge and Rainbow :)

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My little guinea pig Petal has a scratched cornea. She has been to the vet multiple times about this. The first time we went she was prescribed some eye drops, isathal ointment. I was told to give a full course of it then come back to the vets. When I returned the eye was no better but the vet prescribed the same drops. He told me that her eye cannot be cured but the eyedrops will manage it... however I'm not happy with this. It got to the stage where Petal hated the drops so much that it seemed in her best interests to stop giving them to her. They have not helped the eye at all. I asked the vet if he could prescribe anything else but he said nothing else was licensed for guinea pigs so he didn't want to...

So I want to go to a new vet as I don't think my current vet is very piggie savvy after this experience. I'm just wondering whether scratched corneas ARE curable and what medication the vet should be prescribing? Once I know this then I can find a vet who's willing to prescribe this! I've read online about Chloralean or Gentocin, are these any good?

Apart from a constantly runny eye Petal is fine within herself, eating normally, very happy and turning 6 next month! This eye problem however has been going on for months now and has made me lose trust in my vet in regards to guinea pig knowledge. I know on forums things can get heated when it comes to medical problems but please be nice. Just after some friendly advice so I can do what's best for Petal. I am aware that eye problems should not be ignored which is why I'm here so I know what I need to do for Petal.
 
:D Very sorry to hear that your Petal has a nasty eye injury. In my opinion, eye drops will not do any good. One of my piggies, Whiskey, got a scratch on her cornea some years ago. A scuffle with a cage-mate and she got a claw in her eye. My vet advised that the only thing to do was to remove the eye, which he did. Whiskey was fine without the eye, which was sewn up and healed over perfectly. She had to have two lots of meds for a few weeks after that, which caused her to become much tamer than she had been previously. Sadly, when the meds had finished, she later died. I am not very up on medications so I don't know of the two that you mentioned. I would seek the advice of another vet, and see if he/she recommends removing the eye. Good luck and I hope Petal gets better soon. :tu::tu::tu:
 
You really need to see a vet that is knowledgable about guinea pigs. In truth, there is only Baytril that is licenced for guineas and a good cavy-savvy will be perfectly willing to use their judgement to prescribe drugs licenced for other animals. I'm no expert on eye problems, but the longer the problem persists, the more likely it is that Petal will end up losing the eye. If our vet locator doesn't come up with anything near, it would be worth considering traveling to see a really good vet, but obviously that decision is yours. Please let us know how you get on.
 
Thank you for your replies! I will definitely take her to a new vet for a second opinion. I really wouldn't want her to have an operation to remove her eye. She is a fragile, tiny little thing (was runt of her litter but has outlived them all!) and getting old now so I hope that wouldn't be the only option as I would not be comfortable putting her through surgery. Sorry to hear of your loss 7squeakers xx
 
Just an update! I've contacted Holly House Vets (on the recommended vets list) to see if they can prescribe anything other than isathol. If they're able to then Petal will be taken there for a second opinion. It's a bit of a drive away so didn't want to turn up to be given the same eye drops that's why I've contacted them first.
 
isathal is very good for eyes, have used it on a few of mine and it works a treat
 
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