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Crusty Eye - Vets Needed?

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chesca_27

chesca_27

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Only just had time to start this thread but anyway.

I stayed at my dad's house this weekend, entrusting my mum with her normal piggie duties of care. When I got home last night, I went in to cuddle Oreo, as normal. After I got him out, I immediately noticed his left eye was very crusty, dripping down onto his fur below, and his eye was covered with fluid. He is being very sensitive to movement and closing it if I get too close (more so than his other eye). He is also keeping it slightly more shut than the other eye and it is slightly sunken. He has been sneezing more, but I think his nose is just more decongested than normal (he is a sniffly pig). There doesn't seem to be a change in eating, drinking, activity or toilet habits. I don't think it's massively bothering him.

I haven't done anything to it in case I made it worse. What could it be? He has the same symptoms as when he had hay poke, but I can't see any hay.

We have him booked into the vet, but I don't know which one. I would have made sure it was with the local exotic specialist who saw my hamster last week, but apparently he's off all week. This is the second time I've used the practice (first was last week with Larry-Jasper). The appointment is tomorrow evening, as there weren't any available today. Should I take him?

Is there any home remedy I can try (washing it out with something etc).

I will attach photos from last night, this morning and now.

Last night
IMG_3351.webp
This morning
IMG_3353.webp
10 minutes ago
IMG_3354.webp

Thanks in advance
 
Please have him seen by a vet.

My Edward had similar last year and was diagnosed with mild conjunctivitis. A course of eye drops prescribed by my vet soon cleared it.

It could also be an eye injury or simply irritation from a bit of dust but only a vet can make a firm diagnosis x
 
Please have him seen by a vet as soon as you can. It could be a hay poke, conjunctivitis or a URTI.
 
Not yet - his appointment isn't for another hour or so.

His eye looks much clearer today - didn't get a good look this morning so I can't compare. Just normal amount of crustiness but he's still bit sniffly than normal and more sensitive to movement with that eye. Should I still go to the vet?

If he's fine, my mum will get very angry with me and take the money out of my pocket money. She also barely believes me when the pigs need the vet at the moment. She thinks I make illnesses up for attention. Obviously I don't want this to happen so I have to be sure he needs the vet.
 
So we got back a couple of hours ago.

The vet was lovely. She thoroughly checked Oreo's eye. Nothing. She said it was likely linked to his sniffly nose. So there's nothing in his eye. She also listened to his heart because of his naturally heavy breathing. She couldn't hear anything unusual. She also cut his nails and checked his incisors. We have been given Septrin 0.2ml twice a day for 7 days and then a check up to help clear his nose. Everything seems good apart from his nose.

My mum is so angry at me because she sees it as a "waste of an appointment" and it was quite expensive. I have only just switched to this new vet practice and it is more expensive, but the vets are more knowledgeable. My mum wants to keep using my old, cheaper vets who aren't as good. Any tips for what to do? She thinks I'm crying wolf.
 
Please reassure your mum that a vet would not prescribe antibiotics to a piggy unless they needed them. You caught whatever it is early on (well done!) if you had left it any longer then the vet bill would be much bigger because he would have needed more treatment than he has :)
 
It obviously wasn't a wasted appointment as you came away with antibiotics for a upper respiratory infection.
 
I can't understand mums, I actually encouraged my kids to have pets. I would always pay the vet bills they just had to give me a portion of there wages if they did have a weekend job or paper round. I think it teachers children responsibility.
 
I think it harks back to when they were young. A guinea pig was a pet who lived at the bottom of the garden, you gave them a carrot every now and then and they only lived for 2 years.

My boyfriend actually thought that was true when I met him, pigs live for 2 years if you're lucky.

He had a few pigs and his mum had one when she was young, and she adored him. He lived for about a year.

People aren't educated enough about pigs and really see them as a short term pet who don't get ill.
 
I also think it can be difficult to justify vet bills, when even one vet visit often costs more than the entire piggy did in the first place!
Of course once you fall in love with them it isn't an issue, but for the adult who is paying, this may not always be the case.
Just remember to thank you Mum at an appropriate time, acknowledge that the bills are expensive, and you appreciate her allowing you to get proper medical treatment for your much loved pet.
Oh and make her a cup of tea too - Mums' like unexpected cups of tea!
 
Maybe send a Mother's Day card from your piggy to your mum to say thank you? My piggies and hamster send their own birthday and Christmas cards to their 'grand parents' and 'Guinea dad' to say thank you (weird I know but I use it as an excuse to send them rude cards but that's another story!)

It may help to humanise them and get her to soften a little
 
Guinea Slave said:
Maybe send a Mother's Day card from your piggy to your mum to say thank you? My piggies and hamster send their own birthday and Christmas cards to their 'grand parents' and 'Guinea dad' to say thank you (weird I know but I use it as an excuse to send them rude cards but that's another story!)

It may help to humanise them and get her to soften a little
Click to expand...
That's a very good idea.When my pig Sam (rip) was poorly my mum syringe fed him while I was at work and really took care of him so when it was Mother's Day last year I ordered a Mother's Day card from moon pig with a picture of him on and inside I wrote thanks from him for taking good care of him.
 
Gem789 said:
That's a very good idea.When my pig Sam (rip) was poorly my mum syringe fed him while I was at work and really took care of him so when it was Mother's Day last year I ordered a Mother's Day card from moon pig with a picture of him on and inside I wrote thanks from him for taking good care of him.
Click to expand...

Oh that's lovely. it really shows that your Guinea support family are appreciated doesn't it? The fur babies have Also been known to send flowers as well, I dread to think what the florist thinks when they write the card out!
 
Guinea Slave said:
Oh that's lovely. it really shows that your Guinea support family are appreciated doesn't it? The fur babies have Also been known to send flowers as well, I dread to think what the florist thinks when they write the card out!
Click to expand...
Ha ha I also buy my mum a gift from the pigs on her birthday etc and put on the tag to mummy lol.
 
Oreo's nose hasn't really cleared at all. Is 0.2ml Septrin twice a day a low dose? I can't remember exactly, but I think I've always had 0.5ml once a day in the past. He at least takes his medicine well, being the friendliest animal on the planet, unlike a certain fluff ball AKA Pemba.

I may book an appointment with the exotic specialist to sort this out if his teeth over grow again. I obviously care about his health, but he's been very sniffly since Toffee died, so I don't think it's a major health concern. It's annoying, but I don't think there's too much to do about it.

Tiamolly123 said:
I can't understand mums, I actually encouraged my kids to have pets. I would always pay the vet bills they just had to give me a portion of there wages if they did have a weekend job or paper round. I think it teachers children responsibility.
Click to expand...

I don't understand my Mum sometimes either. I love pets so much :)! Sounds fair to me,

Jaycey said:
I think it harks back to when they were young. A guinea pig was a pet who lived at the bottom of the garden, you gave them a carrot every now and then and they only lived for 2 years.

My boyfriend actually thought that was true when I met him, pigs live for 2 years if you're lucky.

He had a few pigs and his mum had one when she was young, and she adored him. He lived for about a year.

People aren't educated enough about pigs and really see them as a short term pet who don't get ill.
Click to expand...

My Mum never had guinea pigs when she was younger (she missed out big time)! My grandparents have only just got used to them after 5 and a half years! My Dad had a piggie called Gulliver when he was younger, but he doesn't remember what happened to him.

To be honest, my Mum is quite well-educated on them, after me randomly spouting facts about them and justifying my massive cage. I think she's sick of what she's had to put up with.

Swissgreys said:
I also think it can be difficult to justify vet bills, when even one vet visit often costs more than the entire piggy did in the first place!
Of course once you fall in love with them it isn't an issue, but for the adult who is paying, this may not always be the case.
Just remember to thank you Mum at an appropriate time, acknowledge that the bills are expensive, and you appreciate her allowing you to get proper medical treatment for your much loved pet.
Oh and make her a cup of tea too - Mums' like unexpected cups of tea!
Click to expand...

Yep! My Dad repeatedly tells me I could have about 40 guinea pigs for all the vet bills I've had in the last year. I argued "Why would I want 40 when I could have Oreo?"

Oh my Mum certainly loves the piggies. She cuddles them when I'm away or at my Dad's. :)

I guess I'm making tea tomorrow, after the guinea's breakfast of course!

Guinea Slave said:
Maybe send a Mother's Day card from your piggy to your mum to say thank you? My piggies and hamster send their own birthday and Christmas cards to their 'grand parents' and 'Guinea dad' to say thank you (weird I know but I use it as an excuse to send them rude cards but that's another story!)

It may help to humanise them and get her to soften a little
Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea! :)
 
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