Could this be a cataract or something sinister?

[-Drezella-]

Hi everyone,

I’ve noticed for a while now that my Hugo can be a little clumsy, often galavanting into things when he popcorns and/or getting in my way / running into me when I’m sweeping out the cage. I’ve also noticed in recent weeks that when he’s on my chest having a cuddle with me and signals that he wants to go back, I put his strawberry bed on my knee, and he doesn’t notice it’s there. I’ve had to literally tap the bed or move it really close to him before he’s realised that it’s there. He’s still on Metacam anti inflammatory medicine for when he had bladder sludge and blood in his wee so I don’t know whether that can affect their vision?

I checked his left eye after we had a cuddle today and notice something strange. I’m not sure whether it’s a cloudy patch or like a patch of the eyeball lense skin missing on his left eye. I’ve taken a photo, but it’s hard to get a clear shot as he doesn’t keep still for very long. He also squealed very loudly as if he was possibly in pain but it could have just been a protest at being held, and bit me when I tried to look in his eye. He’s never bitten me that hard before and it’s drawn blood. I’m worried about him. Has anyone else ever experienced this with their piggies before?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

I’ve noticed for a while now that my Hugo can be a little clumsy, over galavanting into things when he popcorns and/or getting on my way when I’m sweeping out the cage. I’ve also noticed in recent weeks that when he’s on my chest having a cuddle with me and signals that he wants to go back. I put his strawberry bed on my knee, and he doesn’t notice it’s there. I’ve had to literally tap the bed or move it really close to him before he’s realised that it’s there. He’s still on Metacam anti inflammatory medicine for when he had bladder sludge and blood in his wee so I don’t know whether that can affect their vision?

I checked his left eye after we had a cuddle today and notice something strange. I’m not sure whether it’s a cloudy patch or like a patch of the eyeball lense skin missing on his left eye. I’ve taken a photo, but it’s hard to get a clear shot as he doesn’t keep still for very long. He also squealed very loudly as if he was possibly in pain but it could have just been a protest at being held, and bit me when I tried to look in his eye. He’s never bitten me that hard before and it’s drawn blood. I’m worried about him. Has anyone else ever experienced this with their piggies before?


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Hi!

Please contact your vet clinic. It is impossible to tell for us just from your picture but it doesn't look like an abscess to me.
Any eye injuries and infections can deteriorate very quickly so please contact them first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[-Drezella-]

@Wiebke will do. Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke will do. Thanks

I can't really tell what or wether something is going on from your picture but if you have concerns over an eye, then you should act promptly.

 

[Merab]

Hope it’s nothing serious.
Keep us posted.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[-Drezella-]

I rang the vet and had a phone consultation with her, she said that judging by the photos that I’d sent her, and from what I’d described to her, it looks like Hugo has scratched a chunk of the jelly layer off the surface of his eye. So I went and got him some antibiotic eye drops which as per her instructions he is now having 3 times per day. So hopefully his eye will be healed within a week or so, if it’s not then more investigations will be needed. I’m keeping everything crossed that it’ll heal and his sight will be restored.

 

[Wiebke]

I rang the vet and had a phone consultation with her, she said that judging by the photos that I’d sent her, and from what I’d described to her, it looks like Hugo has scratched a chunk of the jelly layer off the surface of his eye. So I went and got him some antibiotic eye drops which as per her instructions he is now having 3 times per day. So hopefully his eye will be healed within a week or so, if it’s not then more investigations will be needed. I’m keeping everything crossed that it’ll heal and his sight will be restored. ❤

Hi!

Good that you have contacted your vet promptly. A non-ulcerating superficial eye scratch should heal very quickly and without any problems!

 

[Freela]

I'm glad the injury is being treated. It's also very possible for pigs to develop cataracts without it noticeably clouding their eyes for quite some time (my former pig, Sundae, had cataracts for 3 years or so without ever having her eyes cloud over, though you could see a 'ring' around her pupil in direct sunlight. The vet was able to confirm cataracts. If you're seeing a difference in visual acuity, it may be worth getting a confirmation appointment once things settle down from COVID-19. There may be more than one issue going on at once (i.e. the loss of vision may be unrelated to the injury you've just caught.) Hope you piggie is feeling much better soon!