Guinea pig bulging eye

[Diezeltruck]

Just noticed my young guinea pig her left eye is bulging out. Appreciate any advice as to what may be causing this to happen?

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

You will need to get her seen by a vet, as a matter of urgency. It could be a retrobulbar abscess (abscess behind the eye), but only a vet can assess and give the correct treatment.

 

[Diezeltruck]

You will need to get her seen by a vet, as a matter of urgency. It could be a retrobulbar abscess (abscess behind the eye), but only a vet can assess and give the correct treatment.

Booked her at the emergency vets in 1hrs time

 

[Wiebke]

Just noticed my young guinea pig her left eye is bulging out. Appreciate any advice as to what may be causing this to happen?

Hi!

Please see a vet as an emergency as soon as possible!
How to contact a vet out of hours
COVID-19 - Vet visits/emergencies during coronavirus/Covid-19 lockdown

A sudden'y bulging eye is usually caused by an abscess blowing up behind the eye (a so-called retrobulbar abscess). It needs intervention with a strong antibiotic asap in order to save the eye.

I am very sorry for you - these things have a nasty tendency to happen at the most incovenient possible.
All the best!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Booked her at the emergency vets in 1hrs time

That's good you're able to get her seen so quickly! xx

 

[Siikibam]

What did the vet say?

 

[Wiebke]

Any news?

Good that you could be seen so promptly!

 

[Diezeltruck]

What did the vet say?

Thanks everyone that replied and offered advice.
The vet was amazing, within a matter of seconds he'd popped her eye back into place by just opening her top and bottom eyelid and applying gentle pressure to her eye and it moved back into place.
He's given us antibiotic eye drops to prevent any infection.
The cause:- well, it seems it might have been when I went to pick her up and as I went to hold her she lurched forward and the strain of her doing this caused her eye to come out of its socket.
They are outdoor guinea pigs and although will eat from your hand if you attempt to catch one and hold one they will run so they are not really humanly tame.
Once you've got them in your arms they are fine but its catching them.
She may lose her vision in that eye for a while but hopefully not for long.
The vet said once the eye ball has come out of its socket it may do it again more easily so to be careful and mindful of this.
Dotty is now resting in the house away from her two other sisters Trixie and Zelda.
Will have to see how she goes but seeing her eye go back into place and the pressure relieved was a relief.
What an amazing vet he was.

Thanks everyone

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks everyone that replied and offered advice.
The vet was amazing, within a matter of seconds he'd popped her eye back into place by just opening her top and bottom eyelid and applying gentle pressure to her eye and it moved back into place.
He's given us antibiotic eye drops to prevent any infection.
The cause:- well, it seems it might have been when I went to pick her up and as I went to hold her she lurched forward and the strain of her doing this caused her eye to come out of its socket.
They are outdoor guinea pigs and although will eat from your hand if you attempt to catch one and hold one they will run so they are not really humanly tame.
Once you've got them in your arms they are fine but its catching them.
She may lose her vision in that eye for a while but hopefully not for long.
The vet said once the eye ball has come out of its socket it may do it again more easily so to be careful and mindful of this.
Dotty is now resting in the house away from her two other sisters Trixie and Zelda.
Will have to see how she goes but seeing her eye go back into place and the pressure relieved was a relief.
What an amazing vet he was.

Thanks everyone

Glad that it wasn't an abscess behind the eye!

Here are our tips on understanding guinea pig prey animal instincts and working around them.

You may find these links very helpful in avoiding a repeat:
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics