Cocoa has a bulging eye

[Ro_cobayin]

Hello, I hope you are all doing well. I'm new to the forum, I sadly bumped into it while looking for information about bulging eyes. I read many threads made before, and I honestly have mixed feelings with all the different diagnoses and resolutions of every case.

Today we found our Cocoa's eye was watery with a little tear and she closed it a bit, something she does not even do when napping, when I picked her up to see if it was red we realized it is bulging out way more. We are going to save money to take her to the vet as soon as we can, but for now I wanted to ask for advice or what you guys think it can be, as we most surely won't be able to make the money before a couple of days.

She's eating and drinking, she's enthusiastic about her lettuce, her poop is normal, the eye is not red so far, she's not drooling and her nose is dry, she seems a little lethargic* but reacts to stimuli and explored the bedroom as always, she is cranky with her sister Moka as usual (she does the rumble strutting everyday and pushes her sister's butt, she's the dominant one) but they have been sleeping close to one another, something she normally does not tolerate. She is 9 months old and weights 750 grams.

*I'm not sure if she is indeed less active or if it is just me being overly dramatic, she has always been less playful than her sister.



All advice or experiences you can give me will be very well received.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry it is in such circumstances. Please see a vet asap. Eye issues are serious with guinea pigs and can deteriorate quickly.

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. I agree. Sadly that can’t be left. It could be anything from an eye injury to infection to an abscess behind the eye but only a vet can diagnose.

Eyes can go downhill very quickly if left

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I hope you are all doing well. I'm new to the forum, I sadly bumped into it while looking for information about bulging eyes. I read many threads made before, and I honestly have mixed feelings with all the different diagnoses and resolutions of every case.

Today we found our Cocoa's eye was watery with a little tear and she closed it a bit, something she does not even do when napping, when I picked her up to see if it was red we realized it is bulging out way more. We are going to save money to take her to the vet as soon as we can, but for now I wanted to ask for advice or what you guys think it can be, as we most surely won't be able to make the money before a couple of days.

She's eating and drinking, she's enthusiastic about her lettuce, her poop is normal, the eye is not red so far, she's not drooling and her nose is dry, she seems a little lethargic* but reacts to stimuli and explored the bedroom as always, she is cranky with her sister Moka as usual (she does the rumble strutting everyday and pushes her sister's butt, she's the dominant one) but they have been sleeping close to one another, something she normally does not tolerate. She is 9 months old and weights 750 grams.

*I'm not sure if she is indeed less active or if it is just me being overly dramatic, she has always been less playful than her sister.

View attachment 122782

All advice or experiences you can give me will be very well received.

Hi and welcome!

Please always see a vet as quickly as possibly over any eye problem, especially over any suddenly bulging eye or serious eye injury!
A bulging eye can be caused by a retrobulbar abscess (an abscess behind the eyeball) or by glaucoma to be in with a chance of saving the eye. If it is a retrobulbar abscess that is blowing up, then your piggy will ideally need a very strong unlicensed antibiotic like azithromycin to get on top of the abscess.

I wish I had nicer news - please have your piggy seen today as an emergency.

 

[VickiA]

Hello and welcome. Any sort of changes to eyes needs an urgent vet examination. While some issues will wait, its a false economy to delay with eyes. They deteriorate rapidly and the treatment becomes more prolonged and more expensive. In some cases you can even need an eye removing if you delay. So please get her seen by a vet today.

 

[Flutterby]

Please let us know how you get on with a vet.

 

[Ro_cobayin]

We took her to the vet. It could be an abcess or an overgrown teeth, she was left with speciall food and painkillers. We'll somehow gather the money needed to make her the X rays this saturday and the needed procedure after that. There was a family saying their last goodbye to another piggie as we were paying, so I cannot express how worried I am of maybe having to be in the same situation.

 

[Wiebke]

We took her to the vet. It could be an abcess or an overgrown teeth, she was left with speciall food and painkillers. We'll somehow gather the money needed to make her the X rays this saturday and the needed procedure after that. There was a family saying their last goodbye to another piggie as we were paying, so I cannot express how worried I am of maybe having to be in the same situation.

All the best! I am worried that your vet has not given you any antibiotic in case it is a fast growing retrobulbar abscess; 5 days are a very long time.

Here is our illustrated step-by-step syringe feeding guide for inexperienced owners: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
And here is our crisis care guide: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Sadly too many owners are not aware that vet cost are the biggest life-long budget post in any pet's life and that it is vital to save up for a vet fund as part of the weekly/monthly living cost. I hope that you can get the money together sooner rather than later!

 

[Ro_cobayin]

I made a mistake, it could be an abscess, overgrown teeth or glaucoma, according to her this last is the less dangerous so far, so I really hope that it is this one and the abnormal teeth shape is just a sad coincidence. The vet gave her meloxivet, critical care, glicopan and eyedrops (I imagine most brands don't sound familiar to you because of the different region) , no antibiotics as far as I can see ☹ Thanks for the guide, she teached us how to feed her and it does not seem hard, besides, she still has appetite.

Sadly too many owners are not aware that vet cost are the biggest life-long budget post in any pet's life and that it is vital to save up for a vet fund as part of the weekly/monthly living cost. I hope that you can get the money together sooner rather than later!

I couldn't agree more with this, my partner and I had a few discussions before getting the babies because I know guinea pigs use to be more delicate and expensive than cats and dogs and I didn't think we could afford the veterinary care in case of an emergency, but he's kind of strong headed, we were bragging about the same topic again minutes ago.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Glad you have managed to get her to a vet and have some medication and syringe food for her. Keeping everything crossed for some good news on Saturday

 

[VickiA]

Everything crossed for you at this worrying time.

 

[Claire W]

I’m glad you managed to take her to the vet. Fingers crossed for Saturday

 

[Ro_cobayin]

Thanks so much to all of you. I asked my partner and he said the vet did not recommend antibiotics because she wasn't sure Cocoa would need them, I forgot because memory issues We'll try to make a raffie to gather some money. Cocoa has been feeling a lot better with the painkillers, and her sister Moka is as feisty as always.