My friend’s guinea pig Dusty, 5 years old, his eye has suddenly become really swollen/bulging (see the picture attached) overnight, it wasn’t like this yesterday. He is still eating and acting normally but it looks terrible, they have an appointment booked for today but the vets aren’t specialists so I’m not sure what they will say. Does anyone know what this could be?
-
Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement
Urgent eye problem
- Thread starter lucyr
- Start date
Oh dear, that looks very sore. it could be injury or an abscess behind the eye - we can only guess
Eyes don’t require an exotic specialist so I’m glad piggy is being seen today. I hope everything is ok.
Eyes don’t require an exotic specialist so I’m glad piggy is being seen today. I hope everything is ok.
Thanks for the reply, we’ll just have to see what the vet says. I hope so too
PigglePuggle
Senior Guinea Pig
Yes that really does require urgent vet care, but the vet neednt be a piggy specialist- human and animal eyes all require pretty much the same diagnostics and treatments for eye injuries, time is much more important than species specific expertise here. I hope piggy will be ok, that looks very sore- dont forget to ask for some metacam/loxicom anti inflammatory pain relief to give orally as well as whatever the vet prescribes to put directly in the eye x
The appointment is at 4 today so it’s good it will be checked soon. I will let my friend know to ask for that. Thanks for the reply
Good that you have to got a same day appointment! Eye injuries deteriorate very quickly so don't beat yourself up over missing anything for days - it will come on in a matter of hours. The sooner they are seen, the better and usually easier the recovery. Medication and treatment is the same as with other pet species, so any decent general vet will do; it is the speed that is crucial with eyes.
I would also ask your friend to ask the vet for a lubricant/hydrating gel to help with the hydration of the deeper levels as well as the eye surface if the usual cleaning/hydration is supended. It goes a long way for comfort but also contributes to the healing process in conjunction with any necessary antibiotic drops/gel. Some vets automatically prescribe a lubricant, but not all do. If necessary, you can ask for artificial tear gel (or drops if they don't have a longer lasting and easier to apply gel) in a pharmacy. You always need to wait for at least half an hour after any medicated drops to allow them to be fully absorbed before you can apply any tear gel.
All the best!
Merab
Forum Buddy
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 49,945
- Reaction score
- 69,556
- Points
- 2,925
- Location
- East Riding of Yorksire
Hope all goes well at the vet and that eye can be dealt with.
Keeping you in my thoughts
Keeping you in my thoughts
Thanks for the info
All the best with the appointment!
However, it rather looks like the possibility of a retrobulbar abscess to me (an abscess behind the eyeball), not just an eye infection, the way the eye is pushed out. In this case your piggy will need the strongest possible antibiotic at the highest safest dosage, which could impact on the appetite.
However, it rather looks like the possibility of a retrobulbar abscess to me (an abscess behind the eyeball), not just an eye infection, the way the eye is pushed out. In this case your piggy will need the strongest possible antibiotic at the highest safest dosage, which could impact on the appetite.
alpacasqueak
Forum Donator 2022/23
Really hope Dusty is ok and vet appointment goes well. Poor little piggy, that looks very sore! x