Cataracts-is A Vet Visit Needed?

[Germaine]

Hi,
I adopted Winnie back at the end of December, we took her to the vet for a check up about a week or two later. She was fine. She has developed a cataract in one eye over the past month. No other symptoms, it doesn't seem to bother her.
From researching, there isn't treatment for it, it is something that happens to some pigs. (Maybe I'm wrong). Now i have no problem taking a sick pig to the vets but since adopting these three In November/december I have spent well over 400euro on vet visits, check ups meds, xrays etc. Check ups cost 50euro a pop.
One of our other pigs could be in need of a bladder stone op 450euro and X-ray 100euro soon so we are struggling to keep up at the minute.
Like i said i would pay it if necessary, but is it something that should be seen?

 

[jenniferanneharris]

If i were you i would get her checked by a vet, from what I have read and have seen in a few piggies and if you look on google at hay-poke in guinea pigs pics and cataracts- they both look very similar...(mistake me if I'm wrong?) But the eye can cloud up after being poked by a sharp peice of hay or a sharp object that caught her eye.

If i were you i would take Winnie to a vet to make sure that it is not pierced or ulcerated from a hay poke. If so she will need eye drops and poss some antibiotics and maybe further treatment. I always say when in doubt get her checked- better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Amanda1801]

Is it definitely a cataract? If it is, and there's no other symptoms, it should be fine just to monitor at home. If it's a corneal ulcer however, that will require treatment - the quicker these are treated, the better recovery they will make.

 

[Germaine]

Is it definitely a cataract? If it is, and there's no other symptoms, it should be fine just to monitor at home. If it's a corneal ulcer however, that will require treatment - the quicker these are treated, the better recovery they will make.

It started clouding about a month ago (just a tiny bit if it caught the light) now its not fully clouded but is cloudier. Its so slow and gradual and without weeping or pus that we are assuming its cataracts (they remind us of an elderly persons eyes).
Would hay pokes that ulcerated not be more painful/crusty or something?

 

[Claire W]

It started clouding about a month ago (just a tiny bit if it caught the light) now its not fully clouded but is cloudier. Its so slow and gradual and without weeping or pus that we are assuming its cataracts (they remind us of an elderly persons eyes).
Would hay pokes that ulcerated not be more painful/crusty or something?

I would definitely take Whinnie to the vets just to be sure it is a cateract.

My Enoch had a cloudy eye a couple of months ago which soon turned blue. His eye wasn't red or watery but dye on the eye at the vets revealed a corneal ulcer. After a few days on antibiotic eye drops prescribed by the vet, he was soon right as rain.

Last week Enoch had a watery eye which revealed he had conjunctivitis. Again after a few days of antibiotic eye drops, he is right as rain.

My Eliza on the other hand sadly lost her eye after a bad eye injury last year.

It is always advisable getting eye problems checked.

 

[Germaine]

Took her to vets. She said it was cataracts. She checked for diabetes as she had glucos in her urine. She needed a ten on their scale to be diabetic and got 8.5? So she said its proably congenital but to watch for weight loss/increased water intake! Thanks for responses!

 

[GuineaGuy]

Do continue to keep a close eye on the cateracts - our Butters had one that ruptured and it is apparently very painful.

He did however have a successful operation to have it removed and piggies cope very well with just one eye.

Hopefully it won't come to that but just something to be aware of. Sending you all the best and healing vibes for both your piggies.

 

[Germaine]

Oh i didn't know that was possible. Thanks fr info!