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Guinea Eye Removal :(

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Piggiepops

Piggiepops

Junior Guinea Pig
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Today my guinea pig (Finn) had to go to the vets after a completely unfortunate accident which involved our dog breaking down the guinea pig's run and getting into it. We got him out and checked all of the piggies to make sure they were all okay. All were fine except for Finn. Her eye was popping out with all blood running down her face, after taking her to the vets they said she'd have to have her eye removed on Monday :(
My question is how can I keep her comfortable until then? She's currently in an indoor cage in my bedroom and isn't allowed any hay etc, only newspaper. Is there anything I can do to keep her happy for today and tomorow until she has her surgery? :(
The vet says she doesn't appear to be in any pain and she isn't making any squeaking sounds to indicate that she is.
Grateful for any help! :)
 
What a shock for you! :(

Just keep her as comfy as you can you can and switch her bedding at least twice daily to make sure that nothing gets into the eye that could cause an infection. Otherwise, keep her as normal and comfy as possible. If you can please top her up with either mushed up pellets or syringed recovery food for fibre as long as she is not allowed near hay, to make sure that her guts stay steady.

You can prepare for the operation and make sure that you have got everything ready. When you pick her up from the vets on Monday, please ask how soon you can give pain relief and try to get some. it can make a difference if a piggy is off its food after an op.

Here are more tips:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/
http://www.guinealynx.info/postop.html
 
Thanks for the reply!
Great help, she's used to having plenty of veggies everyday, can I still give her those?

Wiebke said:
What a shock for you! :(

Just keep her as comfy as you can you can and switch her bedding at least twice daily to make sure that nothing gets into the eye that could cause an infection. Otherwise, keep her as normal and comfy as possible. If you can please top her up with either mushed up pellets or syringed recovery food for fibre as long as she is not allowed near hay, to make sure that her guts stay steady.

You can prepare for the operation and make sure that you have got everything ready. When you pick her up from the vets on Monday, please ask how soon you can give pain relief and try to get some. it can make a difference if a piggy is off its food after an op.

Here are more tips:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/
http://www.guinealynx.info/postop.html
Click to expand...
 
Another thing, she's quite a small piggie, anything to strengthen her up some more as I know guinea pigs don't do well under anaesthetic?
:) x
 
I would think she would be fine to have veg. Have they said no hay in case it gets in her eye?

I agree with the hand feeding. I am sursprised they haven't put her on a low level of pain relief until the op though.

What is her weight?
 
Piggiepops said:
Thanks for the reply!
Great help, she's used to having plenty of veggies everyday, can I still give her those?
Click to expand...

Otherwise she can have a normal diet. Unlimited hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake, so you will need to compensate for that until after the operation. You can give her some extra vitamin C, but generally a good general diet, supplemented with hand feed, should be enough. Loading her up with empty calories will not really help to make her fit.
PS: Here are our recommendations for a balanced diet. However, I wouldn't make any unnecessary changes right now and wait until she is well again. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

Thankfully, guinea pigs adapt generally well to the loss of an eye. What they do not like is being approached and surprised from their blind side, and you will have to take that into consideration from now on. When you re-introduce her into your group, please do so on neutral ground.
 
Yes she isn't allowed anything that could get into her eye.
All they've given us is some eye drops that are of a gel consistency!
She's around the 900g mark.
helen105281 said:
I would think she would be fine to have veg. Have they said no hay in case it gets in her eye?

I agree with the hand feeding. I am sursprised they haven't put her on a low level of pain relief until the op though.

What is her weight?
Click to expand...
 
She usually has lots and lots of hay in her hutch so she's used to that. There's small pieces of hay in her dried food.
I've put in her cage a small bowl of dried food, some spring greens and a little bit of grated carrot as that's her favourite. Does that sound okay?

I have 10 guinea pigs all together and none of them have ever had so much as a sniffle so it's a shock to suddenly have to care for a very poorly piggie.

I'll look into hand feeding!
Thanks for the advice on afterwards!

Wiebke said:
Otherwise she can have a normal diet. Unlimited hay should make up to 80% of the daily food intake, so you will need to compensate for that until after the operation. You can give her some extra vitamin C, but generally a good general diet, supplemented with hand feed, should be enough. Loading her up with empty calories will not really help to make her fit.
PS: Here are our recommendations for a balanced diet. However, I wouldn't make any unnecessary changes right now and wait until she is well again. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

Thankfully, guinea pigs adapt generally well to the loss of an eye. What they do not like is being approached and surprised from their blind side, and you will have to take that into consideration from now on. When you re-introduce her into your group, please do so on neutral ground.
Click to expand...
 
Piggiepops said:
Yes she isn't allowed anything that could get into her eye.
All they've given us is some eye drops that are of a gel consistency!
She's around the 900g mark.
Click to expand...

They are probably Fucithalmic drops, so they should help a bit.
 
900g is a perfectly acceptable adult weight, so don't worry.

Do you only have muesli dry mix? You can mush up pellet food but not muesli mix.
(How to is all in our hand feeding guide, plus all the extras, including recovery foods, probiotics (to counter the effect of any post-op antibiotics) and vitamin C)
 
My goodness you poor thing! Do you think she could at least go on some fleece or vet bed? That would be softer for her?

If it helps you feel any better. One of my girls had to have an eye removed a year ago and she has transitioned really well. The first few days she was a little confused but after that she was fine. If anything I would say she is more confident and more adventurous than she ever was, bizarrely. I am just careful not to change things in the cage too much. She has done better than I ever expected so I hope that helps give you some comfort.

Sending you loads of hugs and healing vibes. xx
 
There's pellets in her muesli mix, we get 15k bags so I'll pick those out. She's eating her dry food and veggies as normal so she hasn't lost her appetite it seems!
Wiebke said:
900g is a perfectly acceptable adult weight, so don't worry.

Do you only have muesli dry mix? You can mush up pellet food but not muesli mix.
(How to is all in our hand feeding guide, plus all the extras, including recovery foods, probiotics (to counter the effect of any post-op antibiotics) and vitamin C)
Click to expand...
 
I'm going to find something soft for her to lie down on, we don't have anything especially for guineas but I'm thinking maybe putting a small towel folded up in her cage? And just changing it quite often?

That's reassuring to hear! Our hutches are large and the food bowl stays in the same place and their run doesn't have anything that she could hurt herself on so she should be absolutely fine!

Just praying she doesn't pass away under anaesthetic!
Thank you:hug:
Guinea Slave said:
My goodness you poor thing! Do you think she could at least go on some fleece or vet bed? That would be softer for her?

If it helps you feel any better. One of my girls had to have an eye removed a year ago and she has transitioned really well. The first few days she was a little confused but after that she was fine. If anything I would say she is more confident and more adventurous than she ever was, bizarrely. I am just careful not to change things in the cage too much. She has done better than I ever expected so I hope that helps give you some comfort.

Sending you loads of hugs and healing vibes. xx
Click to expand...
 
Piggiepops said:
I'm going to find something soft for her to lie down on, we don't have anything especially for guineas but I'm thinking maybe putting a small towel folded up in her cage? And just changing it quite often?

That's reassuring to hear! Our hutches are large and the food bowl stays in the same place and their run doesn't have anything that she could hurt herself on so she should be absolutely fine!

Just praying she doesn't pass away under anaesthetic!
Thank you:hug:
Click to expand...

Generally, small animal operations have become a lot safer over the last few years, but there is always a very anxious wait, which I find the worst part in the whole process. Fingers firmly crossed!
 
Towels are great too, I use them if I run out of fleece. I am sure she will be fine and sounds like she is in very good hands With you.
 
How awful!

Just wanted to say, years ago I had a little girl pig called Cherry & she had to have her eye removed as she got a strange infection. Others in her family also had.

She was totally fine afterwards & lived a happy normal life for years bless her.

Hope everything goes well xx
 
So reassuring hearing these stories! She's taking it way better than I thought she would! Bumbling round her cage happily and eating the good she has out, even though she's used to living with 3 of our other piggies she seems quite content on her own really! Hope she keeps it up after her op.
Thank you! :hug:
PAMELAKT said:
How awful!

Just wanted to say, years ago I had a little girl pig called Cherry & she had to have her eye removed as she got a strange infection. Others in her family also had.

She was totally fine afterwards & lived a happy normal life for years bless her.

Hope everything goes well xx
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I'm sure she will do well, I'm talking years ago as well maybe 15 years ago! So anaesthetic etc will be much better managed these days. My little guy just had a bladder stone removed & was up & eating within 10 mins of waking up! Sometimes they are stronger than we realise. Good luck xx
 
Good Luck with the operation! This is really sad! My doggie like to jump up in my pigs faces and goes wild about them :( I'll have to make sure nothing like this happens! Hope she gets back to a normal happy life!

Paws Crossed! x
 
He runs around their run a lot and they never seem to mind, they all sniff at him but hasn't ever broken into it before! We're definitely going to have to stop him going on the back garden whilst the pigs are out!
Thank you! Hope your piggies are all well :)
Gizi said:
Good Luck with the operation! This is really sad! My doggie like to jump up in my pigs faces and goes wild about them :( I'll have to make sure nothing like this happens! Hope she gets back to a normal happy life!

Paws Crossed! x
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Hope all goes well, will be thinking of your little one tomorrow. Our piggies have always recovered well after GA. Please remember to ask for some pain relief to give at home for after the operation. Let us know how she gets on.
 
Thanks a lot:hug:
I'm glad to hear so and I'll definitely ask for some pain relief for her! I'll update tomorrow for sure x
sport_billy said:
Hope all goes well, will be thinking of your little one tomorrow. Our piggies have always recovered well after GA. Please remember to ask for some pain relief to give at home for after the operation. Let us know how she gets on.
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What an awful shock for you! Good luck at the vets & definitely make sure piggy has regular pain relief as soon as possible as the others have said.

@Claire W had Eliza her one eyed piggy, she can probably give you some useful advice due to experience!

Speedy recovery little furball.
Keep us updated.
fingers & paws all crossed from the girls & i. xx
 
Thank you, I certainly will do!
Some advice from experience would definitely be useful.
She's off to the vets at 8 and we can ring at 2 to see if she's okay and if she's ready to come home. Fingers crossed!

Hope your guineas are good! Xx
GPTV said:
What an awful shock for you! Good luck at the vets & definitely make sure piggy has regular pain relief as soon as possible as the others have said.

@Claire W had Eliza her one eyed piggy, she can probably give you some useful advice due to experience!

Speedy recovery little furball.
Keep us updated.
fingers & paws all crossed from the girls & i. xx
Click to expand...
 
Good luck Finn!

I've had a piggy have an eye removed and he was fine after the operation. He also got used to it fairly quickly. I just made sure I kept everything in his cage in the same place so he didn't bump into things
 
I'm going to make sure I don't move anything around too much!
Thank you!
Jaycey said:
Good luck Finn!

I've had a piggy have an eye removed and he was fine after the operation. He also got used to it fairly quickly. I just made sure I kept everything in his cage in the same place so he didn't bump into things
Click to expand...
 
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