Eye licking?

[Claire W]

Now I know that eye licking is a sign of affection and normal grooming behaviour but can it damage the eyes?

Ella has taken to licking her friends eyes quite a lot especially when they are out of the cage and I’m a little concerned as I’ve never had a piggy do this quite so often before

 

[VickiA]

It’s a sign of affection and gentle dominance. Ralph regularly licks Holly’s eyes. She doesn’t object and she’s got no eye problems that I know of.

 

[rp1993]

Pepper does this to Pringle a fair bit, Pringles eyes are fine

 

[weepweeps]

Awwwww piggy kisses.

 

[YvonneBlue]

Mavis has a blocked tear duct and Peggy licks her eye all the time. It actually helps keep it clean and has certainly not done any harm.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Jess always licked Rupert’s eyes (as well as me and mine!), then Luigi’s, who did it back to her with her eye op! He now does it all the time to Aliona (as he’s the boss in that pair), as well as a bit of ear licking!

He can get a bit excited doing it sometimes but don’t think he hurts her at all, she’s never bothered anyway!
I never saw it with my boar pair and I’ve never seen Jasper and Cleo doing it either!

 

[Swissgreys]

Oreo used to do this to Eddi.
He never seemed bothered, but occasionally he would wander off mid lick to go and destroy something!

 

[My Piggies]

Mine do this too, it's very cute

 

[Wiebke]

Remember Hafina with her blocked tear ducts?

Please don't worry; it doesn't cause any harm.

 

[HeatherW]

Can eye licking also be a show of affection rather than dominance? Pickle did it to Jasmine quite a lot, but Jasmine was definitely the dominant sow!

 

[Claire W]

Can eye licking also be a show of affection rather than dominance? Pickle did it to Jasmine quite a lot, but Jasmine was definitely the dominant sow!

I think it can yes. Ella isn’t the dominant sow, Elizabeth is but Elizabeth doesn’t lick the eyes of her friends

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Muffin suffered from conjunctivitis on and off. I had to treat bis eyes quite frequently untill Billie moved in and started to lick his eyes (and ears). It wasn't a sign of dominance in this case, just affection.

 

[ThatPurpleB]

Luna has a dodgy eye and Nova licks it for her. It's one of the ways I knew something was wrong as she'd only do that eye. It helps keep on top of it to be fair and now I rarely intervene with her eye.

 

[Merab]

Micah loves to lick Phoebe’s eyes, sometimes with more enth than is warranted.
He occasionally tries to lick Priscilla’s eyes but she’s much less tolerant.