Cataract

[RoloPip]

Hi Guys, just a quick question! Currently treating my piglet for a hay poke, unsure as to whether it is yet a cataract. If it turns out he has a cataract, can he still live a normal life? Its worrying me because hes only 4 months old! want to make sure he lives as normal as possible with my other boar! x x x

 

[Claire W]

Chances are at that age is that it’s a hay poke but on the slim chance that it is a cataract, he will be able to live a very normal life. Guinea pigs do surprisingly well with lack of eye sight as they use their other senses

 

[Merab]

Meet Merab.
She has cataracts in both eyes and has been blind for about a year now.
Apart from being a bit slower and more cautious she still lives a full life. She happily wanders all around the hallway and the Piggy Room when out, although she doesn't leave the cage by herself. She's nearly 6 so some of her slowing down is age. She has 2 younger casemates and still manages to retain her place as top pig.

If your baby does have cataracts there shouldn't be anything to stop him leading a full life.
Hopefully it will just be hay poke which is easily treated - if it is I'm sure you will have fun with the eye drops.

 

[RoloPip]

Hi lovely! Thank you for your reply!

Yes, he isn't too keen on the eye drops lol!
I feel like Pip is losing his sight, because if i move my hand near his left eye (the one with either hay poke or cataract) he doesn't flinch and it's as if he cant see I'm there! but when i do it in front of his other eye, he moves and knows i am there. Can this still happen with a hay poke due to the cloudiness of the eye?

P.s Merab looks amazing for 6! have you had her since she was a baby? x x

 

[Betsy]

This is the Ever Beautiful Betsy The vet has diagnosed cataracts. She is just over 2 years old and they are just starting to form. Apart from being easier to pick up and a bit slower on the uptake than the other piggies she is doing just fine. Piggies rely on smell rather than vision so do very well with failing sight.

 

[RoloPip]

She is very cute! I'm glad shes lived normally! I am so scared that I'm doing something wrong or not being a good enough piglet mummy, but the vet said if it is cataract theres nothing i can do, which i need to accept! Is cataract painful for them? thats the thing I'm worried about, i just dont want him to be in any pain x x x

 

[Merab]

Hi lovely! Thank you for your reply!

Yes, he isn't too keen on the eye drops lol!
I feel like Pip is losing his sight, because if i move my hand near his left eye (the one with either hay poke or cataract) he doesn't flinch and it's as if he cant see I'm there! but when i do it in front of his other eye, he moves and knows i am there. Can this still happen with a hay poke due to the cloudiness of the eye?

P.s Merab looks amazing for 6! have you had her since she was a baby? x x

Yes - haypoke can cause reduced vision temporarily. The eye drops should work quite quickly and normal vision restored.

Merab has been with me since she was 6 months old. She is gorgeous but I’m biased.

 

[Betsy]

She is very cute! I'm glad shes lived normally! I am so scared that I'm doing something wrong or not being a good enough piglet mummy, but the vet said if it is cataract theres nothing i can do, which i need to accept! Is cataract painful for them? thats the thing I'm worried about, i just dont want him to be in any pain x x x

Cataracts are not painful. It is a clouding of the lens in the eye.

 

[Merab]

Panic not - if it is cataracts they’re not painful.
As @Betsy said with her beautiful Betsy it just makes a piggy easier to catch as they don’t see us coming.
It’s nothing to do with your care.
Haypoke happens - it’s just surprising it doesn’t happen more often.
Cataracts are not painful

 

[RoloPip]

Hi guys! I believe this with pippin is deffo a cataract, it’s not changed at all while he’s been having eye drops. I guess I need to give extra extra extra love to my little boy!

 

[Betsy]

It's only been 2 days it often takes longer for the eyes to clear just be patient.