Double eye removal?

[danuutka]

Hi! As some of you may have seen previously, Lulu is our visually impaired piggy. After some gut issues in the past few days, we rushed Lulu to an emergency vet as she lost 100g in 36 hours, despite our best efforts to feed her with mushed up pellets, her favourite veggies, baby food and poop soup.

Thankfully all is well now. The vet discovered that Lulu is in severe discomfort/pain in her eye area, which probably explained all of her symptoms such as loss of appetite (and consequently weird poops, and loss of weight), “fluffing up” constantly, and even some of the odd jerking head movements she makes.

A couple of months ago, Lulu had a tonometry which revealed that he right eye was normal, however her left eye (the one that is quite bloody and nasty looking) had very high pressure. She was then put on once daily Metacam. However today when they tried to perform a tonometry, Lulu didn’t let the vet get anywhere near her RIGHT eye. It seems like whatever issue she has is now gone onto the right eye she winces and squeals if anyone tries to go near that eye, and she’s struggling to itch it - all of which seems like signs of severe discomfort.

Lulu has had her Metacam dose upped to twice daily, and has also been given eyedrops which are meant to decrease intraocular pressure. It seems like everything that the poor thing was going through was as a result of pain, and I wish I had known so I could help her sooner

The vet also mentioned that if we can’t keep her comfort levels under control via medication, we might have to consider removing one, or both eyes as they are the only things causing her pain and discomfort. Has anyone heard of piggies who have comfortably lived after having both eyes removed? Surely with Lulu being blind already, it wouldn’t make much difference?

However, I did see someone talk about how they and their vet both thought that it would be better to put down a guinea pig, rather than have both eyes removed - because that would be such a traumatic and serious procedure. But my Lulu is 2.5 years young, full of life and energy, and I just can’t imagine making that decision. However, I would obviously do what is right by my animal - this is all just playing on my mind.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

I know of a number of piggies with one eye successfully removed, but none with both removed. It is not quite an easy decision to make, admittedly.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Oh your poor girl! I can’t offer advice but there are a few people who have piggies that are either blind or have had an eye removed successfully. Sending you hugs, hope she’s stays comfortable and in no pain xI’m sure someone will be along soon to offer some advice

 

[Swissgreys]

I think you are doing a wonderful job putting the heath and welfare of Lulu first.
She is a very lucky piggy.

To be honest if she is already blind and her eyes are causing discomfort which can't be bought under control with medication, then it might be worth giving her a chance and opting for double eye removal.
Hopefully the meds will work, but it is always good to have a Plan B.

 

[alpacasqueak]

I’ve also got a one eyed piggy, Jess, and had a one eyed chinchilla called Pedro too! They both cope(d) really well with the limited sight. My old boar Sheepy had very bad cataracts and next to no vision and coped brilliantly too with his ‘sight pig’ Reggie helping him out.
Think I’d agree with removing the painful eye that can’t be helped too, if she’s blind anyway and it’s causing her so much trouble. Sounds like she’s in very good hands with you caring for her!
My naughty 7yr old Jess causing trouble the other day!

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I would do it, personally. I had a pig who the vet thought was all but blind from cataracts and she lived for a couple of years like that and was perfectly happy. If her eyes are hurting her, and can’t be medicated, I’d give her a chance at pain free life. Of course the operation and recovery come with risks, but I’d take the chance

 

[danuutka]

I think you are doing a wonderful job putting the heath and welfare of Lulu first.
She is a very lucky piggy.

To be honest if she is already blind and her eyes are causing discomfort which can't be bought under control with medication, then it might be worth giving her a chance and opting for double eye removal.
Hopefully the meds will work, but it is always good to have a Plan B.

Thank you so much! Lulu is happier than ever after a few days of a higher dose of Metacam, and eye drops!

 

[danuutka]

I would do it, personally. I had a pig who the vet thought was all but blind from cataracts and she lived for a couple of years like that and was perfectly happy. If her eyes are hurting her, and can’t be medicated, I’d give her a chance at pain free life. Of course the operation and recovery come with risks, but I’d take the chance

I completely agree, I would be more than happy to opt for the double removal and see how she gets on - I was just worried that it was selfish of me to put her through all that, after someone else mentioned the ethics of removing both eyes!

 

[GPTV]

Just a thought but has your vet considered a retrobullar? abscess? Basically an abscess behind the eye that can cause the eye to bulge?

Maybe ask your vets thoughts on this & if they think it's a possibility then ask if you can try Zithromax an antibiotic that's good for abscesses.
She may still need eye removal afterwards, but there are quite a few members with blind or one eyed guineas, they seem to cope well generally as their eyesight isn't their strongest sense anyway.

My old girl Orca has a permanently cloudy eye, that slightly bulges (mostly because of a sebaceous cyst in the middle of her forehead) & she's always getting hay pokes in it as she can't see through it, occasionally it gets red/bloody & veiny so I have antibiotics & eye drops on repeat prescription as the vet says its infection in the eye. She has Metacam/loxicom too. Usually a 7day dose of it all gets it back to her normal cloudy look!

It sounds like she's improving with treatment

Good luck in what you decide, healing vibes being sent your way for a full & speedy recovery xx