Squinted Eye And A Lot Of Scratching?

[peanutthebutter]

I just my female guinea pig a few days ago and I've noticed that one of her eyes is more squinted/receded than the other. There some type of residue around the bottom and shes been scratching it a little to get it off. I just got her so its hard for me to touch her, let alone grab her and try and get close to her eye. I plan on seeing a vet but does anyone have any idea what this could be? Is it life threatening?

This is her squinted eye

This is her regular eye

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

Please have her seen by a vet. She may have injured her eye (hay poke) or have something stuck under her lid that is hurting her. The drawn in eye means that it is painful.

Eye injuries can deriorate very quickly, but they also generally heal fairly quickly, especially if you step in promptly. A vet can see with a special dye whether there is an injury to the eye that is not necessarily visible because it is hidden under a screen of watery fluid.

The treatment is usually by antibiotic eye drops. Please also ask for a lubricant if your vet isn't giving you one; that can help ease the discomfort more quickly.

Because the eye is very sore at first, getting gel or drops in is not all that easy. Persist, and distract your piggy with a bowl of fresh grass or its favourite veg while sitting on your knees facing away from you. Once it is fully absorbed you can sneak in from behind. Guinea pigs don't multitask when eating, so the distraction method can make it that bit easier at first, even if the first attempt is usually not successful.