• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Delilah's Eye (off to see Vedra)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Laura-CCC4

Laura-CCC4

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 4, 2008
Messages
11,537
Reaction score
253
Points
990
Location
Cambs, UK
Since they had all been getting on so well between the bars, I thought I'd introduce Frankie and Meghan to Delilah and Sophia. 15 minutes in, everything was great. A few rumblings, few small chatters, but nothing special. Then all of a sudden, Meghan flew at poor Delilah (who was sat, perfectly innocently eating some pepper) and gave her quite a cut:
Look away if you are squeamish!






DelilahEye4May.jpg


It's obviously not a surface wound, it's pretty deep. Luckily (thank the lord!) Meg did not catch her actual eye, seems she just ripped the corner. It's hardly bled, and it's not causing Delilah any bother, she is carrying on as normal. I rang Vedra straight away and she's said it may need stitching, so we're off to the CCT at about 7ish. While there I will also be asking about Delilah's strange walking, she's had trouble with a front foot the last couple of days so I'll get her a good checkover and see what the score is.

After the incident I instantly separated the two groups and can safely say I will not be interfering with Miss Meghan again! In the process I got a sliced finger, courtesy of the little madam. I should have known she'd still be a class A cow! She was trouble when we first got her, but she was so mellowed and settled with Frank, and got on so well with Del and Soph through the bars, I thought there might be a chance to put them all together. I have had some concerns about Sophia and Delilah, Soph is quite a dominant girl and does tend to interfere when Del goes to the hay or to have a drink, but I have to admit (head hanging) the motive was almost entirely my own thoughts - "Wouldn't it be nice to have two big groups?". Needless to say I feel horrendous now and will just leave things well alone. I couldn't have predicted that attack by Meg, but I should have known in the first instance that a leopard does not change its spots.
 
A tiny cut, possibily one suture, if at all. It is not very dramatic as far as wounds go.
Don't get yourself into a panic about what "could have happened, if...."
 
Thanks AP, that's reassuring to know. I guess I'm more concerned about infection, I know these things heal over very quickly but I've not had to deal with something so close to the eye and quite to this degree before.
 
It is difficult to tell from one picture but I would almost go so far as to say that if you had not noticed the problem it would have healed without further attention. I would be reluctant to try suturing the edges together. For want of a better description, in that position there is not much lose skin to get the needle through.
 
Thank you. I did wonder if there'd be much point in suturing, how possible it'd be. Your info is useful and I'll definitely bear it in mind. I almost did miss it, thought she'd been bitten on the nose from the way she was reacting.
 
How is Delilah, eye and all! Have been thinking about her.
 
oh no! i gasped out loud when i saw this. i hope she's all better soon. maybe you could bathe the wound regularly. what did vedra say/ how is del now?
 
Thanks ladies for your concern. :)

Delilah is doing great, no problems at all now. She didn't need any treatment, it's half healed already and it's not at all deep. I do have an updated picture but have had such problems getting on the forum today, I will save them for tomorrow!
I'm just to dab the wound with antiseptic a couple of times a day. I don't want to use anything strong with it being her eye, so I'm just using salt water. It doesn't bother her too much, she winced a little tonight but it's all going good.

I did ask Vedra about her legs/walking also. She had a good checkover and walked near perfectly for Vedra (naturally...). There doesn't seem to be particular signs of rheumatism or arthritis, tension in all the legs are the same, but she advised I keep her on the Metacam.

She also said she's definitely not as young as 2 years old - you can tell because her paws are so wide! Now I am examining everybodys feet... I now don't know if she's 3-4 or 4-5, but I would really be inclined to say 4-5 at the moment. We'll see after a few more weeks, I'll decide then if she's a 2004 or 2005 born piggie!
 
Thats interesting what you said about her paws. Poppy one of my girls who I got in November I feel is quite old - I was told 2 or 3. So I don't know, she could be 4 now. It's just cos we think she is like a seal bless her cos her front paws are rather splayed outwards and she seems to struggle with her back legs - sometimes she looks like she walks awkwardly. I had two vets look at her in relation to this and they can't find anything wrong thank goodness :)
 
Older pigs front feet can look like the front feet of a mole, rather like a spade.
I have noticed that in cases like this the toes/nails are often bent sideways, it is as though the pig has developed flat feet.
 
I glad that Delilah's eye is healing and nicely, and that there were no signs of arthritis :)
 
Interesting, AP. I adopted a sow back in 2005, told she was about 18 months to 2 years old - I played 'safe' and assumed 2 years. A year or so ago I questioned that as she seemed much older, and I put her age up a year. She died in December aged 6. My point is (I know I took my time to get to it) some of her toes were twisted on her back feet. Your comment does fit in with my thoughts on her age.

Delilah has twisted toes on her back feet also. Most of my other 3-4 year old pigs don't, although my "3" year old boar does have the beginning of twisted nails.

Edit - Forgot to add an update on Del's eye! Almost fully healed, you'd barely notice anything amiss. I have moved Del & Soph to the middle 2x4, they have 6 much friendlier neighbours (as well as 2 less friendly) and are much happier. It got to the point where Delilah was teeth chattering with Meghan - who inflicted the injury on her - every time they saw each other through the bars. They are still neighbours of course, but they avoid each other now!
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top