Adapting To Blindness

[BertisKing]

George, one of my old men, a year ago today had his eye removed when a hay stalk tore his cornea. This morning, bless him, I rushed him to the vets because I was concerned, and it turns out that there's some hay behind his remaining eye. He's in theatre now to see if they can remove it, but there is a possibility that he may lose this eye too. Has anyone had a blind pig? He adapted very well to losing one, but will he be able to cope without any eyesight? I guess I'd have to make sure I didn't move his things around too much so he could still find his way around, but is blindness something a pig can get used to?
His brother Fred is beside himself with worry, he keeps calling out trying to find him, they have a really close bond. Must admit the thought of George going through a GA is worrying me a bit. He's at least 4.

 

[7squeakers.]

Oh, poor little George! Bless him. One of my past pigs had an eye removed after a scuffle with a cage-mate resulted in a claw in the eye.
She lived quite happily with one eye, but passed over the bridge after her medication stopped.
I have not had a completely blind piggie, but I'm sure there's a member out there somewhere who has.
Best of luck with George.

 

[biscandmatt]

i've heard that they can adapt well to being blind. i think other senses are more important to them. you could take fred in to be with him during recovery if he's staying for a bit. i think it really helps them being together, especially if they are close

 

[MissBubblegum]

I have saw people mention on other threads about blindness in piggies that it doesn't make much of a difference to them as they have such bad eye sight anyways. Just make sure to speak to him when you are in the room and anywhere near him so he knows you are there, and try and keeps things in the same place. Good luck! Fingers crossed all goes well

 

[piggyfan]

I am sorry George has to have his eye removed. I hope the operation goes well.

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs adapt well to loss of sight; it is not their strongest sense. I have several cataract piggies.

The worst time is the transition period when a piggy has to get used to loss of sight, relearn to orient itself in tis surroundings and compensate with its other senses. Once that has happened, they are fine. Mine have no problems with me switching around huts or changing the layout etc. as they orient themselves by their sense of smell. they still have their normal roaming time on the living room floor and go out on the lawn.

I would recommend that you start keeping up a flow of gentle talk as soon as you come into the room, and you create a ritual when picking him up and handling him. Most piggies don't like being surprised. I picture picking up the piggy in question in mind as well as touching it very lightly saying "up we go!" before picking it up. That way it can brace itself.

Don't coddle him too much; the more you demand within reason, the more he will learn to achieve again. One of my worst affected even learned to roam free in the garden again (under my supervision) and find her way back into the run simply by me standing next to it and telling her whether she was on course or not coming to me. Be generous with praise though and use things that appeal to his sense of smell, touch and hearing.

You may find this little children's story about my Mischief comforting:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...nd-eye-on-mischief-another-piggy-story.33420/

Fingers firmly crossed that the operation goes well!

 

[BertisKing]

Thank you everyone. I've just got him back and the good news is the vet has managed to remove the hay from the back of his eye without taking the eye. The bad news is there's possibly enough damage that he won't be able to see completely through it. He's sitting next to me huddled under his blanket looking very sorry for himself. He's got some eye drops and metacam and we'll be back for a check up friday to see how he's healing.
@Wiebke that story was beautiful. I hope George will adapt half as well as Mischief!

 

[Freela]

Awww, what sweet pictures and text of Mischief! I'm glad they were able to save the eye for George. Even a little bit of vision is better than none, but I agree with others that since sight is not their dominant sense, they will adapt well without it. My pigs can see (at least I think they can... I sometimes think Linney, age 6, may be developing cataracts, as her eyes look slightly cloudy under some light conditions) but I did have two dogs who went blind relatively early in life (both around age 9 or 10, they lived to be 16 and 15 respectively) and they adapted very well. One of them was very cautious and I think had some anxiety, but that was her personality even when she was sighted. The other dog you never would have known she was blind if her eyes hadn't been clouded over! It didn't change her boisterous, 'alpha dog' personality at all!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you everyone. I've just got him back and the good news is the vet has managed to remove the hay from the back of his eye without taking the eye. The bad news is there's possibly enough damage that he won't be able to see completely through it. He's sitting next to me huddled under his blanket looking very sorry for himself. He's got some eye drops and metacam and we'll be back for a check up friday to see how he's healing.
@Wiebke that story was beautiful. I hope George will adapt half as well as Mischief!

I am glad that George hasn't lost his eye and retains at least partial eyesight. That will make it somewhat easier on easier on him.

 

[biscandmatt]

i'm glad he hasn't lost his eye. hopefully limited sight won't be a problem for him and he will adjust well x