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Hay Poke?

Little Ones

Little Ones

Adult Guinea Pig
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I have had no experience whatsoever with hay pokes, or any eye problems for that matter. However, my guinea pig seems to have an eye problem. He was asleep on me and I could only see one of his eyes - it was almost completely shut so I thought it was sweet until I noticed his other eye was open wide.
I looked closer at the injured eye and saw that it was watery and wouldn't really open much. It looks as though he has like an ulcer perhaps (?) near the front of his eye. I couldn't really capture a clear photo of it but you may still be able to see it on the pictures, it looks like it has a yellow tinge to it on the photos but it doesn't look like that in real life. Ive managed to get a picture of him with his eye open and the front of his eye is red. I can't seem to see any hay stuck in the eye.
So I am really thinking it is a hay poke - the problem is my exotic vet is an hour and a half away and I have no way of getting there, it's also New Year's Eve so I won't be able to get him to the vet today or tomorrow, he has also been on antibiotics only recently, he stopped two weeks ago. His cage mate is also on antibiotics for on going treatment for an abscess, so money is extremely tight right now.
There is a regular vet not too far away that I'd be able to get to on the 2nd, would that suffice? Should I wait longer and see how he goes? We don't have any eye drops but we have lots of Sulfatrim, should I give him that? I read that someone had a solution they applied, I have what I believe is called a Hibiscrub solution (I bathe the other guinea pigs abscess twice a day with it), and I've also read that someone bathed the eye with a saltwater mixture - would any of these be beneficial?
His eye doesn't seem too closed now that he's back in his cage and eating.
Any advice would be extremely appreciated as I'm very worried :(

IMG_1591.webp IMG_1592.webp IMG_1593.webp
 
Little Ones said:
I have had no experience whatsoever with hay pokes, or any eye problems for that matter. However, my guinea pig seems to have an eye problem. He was asleep on me and I could only see one of his eyes - it was almost completely shut so I thought it was sweet until I noticed his other eye was open wide.
I looked closer at the injured eye and saw that it was watery and wouldn't really open much. It looks as though he has like an ulcer perhaps (?) near the front of his eye. I couldn't really capture a clear photo of it but you may still be able to see it on the pictures, it looks like it has a yellow tinge to it on the photos but it doesn't look like that in real life. Ive managed to get a picture of him with his eye open and the front of his eye is red. I can't seem to see any hay stuck in the eye.
So I am really thinking it is a hay poke - the problem is my exotic vet is an hour and a half away and I have no way of getting there, it's also New Year's Eve so I won't be able to get him to the vet today or tomorrow, he has also been on antibiotics only recently, he stopped two weeks ago. His cage mate is also on antibiotics for on going treatment for an abscess, so money is extremely tight right now.
There is a regular vet not too far away that I'd be able to get to on the 2nd, would that suffice? Should I wait longer and see how he goes? We don't have any eye drops but we have lots of Sulfatrim, should I give him that? I read that someone had a solution they applied, I have what I believe is called a Hibiscrub solution (I bathe the other guinea pigs abscess twice a day with it), and I've also read that someone bathed the eye with a saltwater mixture - would any of these be beneficial?
His eye doesn't seem too closed now that he's back in his cage and eating.
Any advice would be extremely appreciated as I'm very worried :(

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Hi,
My boy had hay poke not long ago.
Definitely don't use hibiscrub. It would cause severe irritation. Boil some water, cool it down, add TINY bit of salt and bathe eye with it.
He'll need to go to a vet asap as they need to put eye dye to check it properly. Problem with eyes is that left untreated they can turn into nightmare and cost a lot... not to mention the pain and discomfort.
People use optrex infected eye drops until they can get to a vet. Problem is, you'll need to say it's for someone with conjunctivitis otherwise pharmacists won't give it to you...
I used my "regular" vet to treat hay poke.
Good luck!
 
You don't need to go to an exotics vet for a hay poke. I advise you get him seen ASAP as this looks painful.
 
Hath said:
Hi,
My boy had hay poke not long ago.
Definitely don't use hibiscrub. It would cause severe irritation. Boil some water, cool it down, add TINY bit of salt and bathe eye with it.
He'll need to go to a vet asap as they need to put eye dye to check it properly. Problem with eyes is that left untreated they can turn into nightmare and cost a lot... not to mention the pain and discomfort.
People use optrex infected eye drops until they can get to a vet. Problem is, you'll need to say it's for someone with conjunctivitis otherwise pharmacists won't give it to you...
I used my "regular" vet to treat hay poke.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
I will definitely do what you said with the saltwater! I will get him to the vet as soon as I can! I'll try with the optrex, too! Thank you for your advice!

PiggyOwner said:
You don't need to go to an exotics vet for a hay poke. I advise you get him seen ASAP as this looks painful.
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It's good to hear that I can go to a regular vet and not an exotic one. I'll get him there as soon as I can - I don't think they're open tomorrow with it being New Year's Day but I could be wrong.
 
Please have him seen as soon as possible with any vet that is open! Eye infections can deteriorate very quickly; dihering too long can lead to the loss of the eye (eye removal operation). Any vet can deal with in an eye injury; the treatment is the same, whatever the species.

I have had to use out-of-hours services several times for piggies of mine; it has at least in one case definitely made the difference between Nosgan keeping his eye and even regaining a degree of sight and losing it.
 
I would use a cooled tea bag and wipe his eye from the inside to the outer. Tea bags are great for the eyes
 
Sam and Ellie said:
I would use a cooled tea bag and wipe his eye from the inside to the outer. Tea bags are great for the eyes
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We DO NOT recommend home treatment with eyes. They really need to be seen by a vet ASAP as an emergency!
 
Wiebke said:
Please have him seen as soon as possible with any vet that is open! Eye infections can deteriorate very quickly; dihering too long can lead to the loss of the eye (eye removal operation). Any vet can deal with in an eye injury; the treatment is the same, whatever the species.

I have had to use out-of-hours services several times for piggies of mine; it has at least in one case definitely made the difference between Nosgan keeping his eye and even regaining a degree of sight and losing it.
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Hopefully our nearest vet will be open tomorrow, as we will take him then. Upon looking again, I think there may still be hay in the eye - but it is so thin and not very long that I don't know if I'm seeing things or not. I've tried to get it out but can't so I'm not even sure if it's there as I think I'm seeing it like under his bottom eyelid - if that makes any sense - and it's just so watery that I don't want to make things worse by continuing to get it out especially if it's not even there. Really want to get it checked out tomorrow, so fingers crossed it's open.
 
Little Ones said:
Hopefully our nearest vet will be open tomorrow, as we will take him then. Upon looking again, I think there may still be hay in the eye - but it is so thin and not very long that I don't know if I'm seeing things or not. I've tried to get it out but can't so I'm not even sure if it's there as I think I'm seeing it like under his bottom eyelid - if that makes any sense - and it's just so watery that I don't want to make things worse by continuing to get it out especially if it's not even there. Really want to get it checked out tomorrow, so fingers crossed it's open.
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It is likely going to take two people and pair of tweezers to get the bid of hay out from under a lid, so best done by a vet. They will also give you some suitable antibiotic eyedrops after assessing whether there is ulceration/eye damage.

If you want to ease any distress a bit you can use visco tear gel, which is just artificial tear fluid to keep the eye hydrated until it can be seen, but please do not medicate eyes on spec.
 
Wiebke said:
It is likely going to take two people and pair of tweezers to get the bid of hay out from under a lid, so best done by a vet. They will also give you some suitable antibiotic eyedrops after assessing whether there is ulceration/eye damage.

If you want to ease any distress a bit you can use visco tear gel, which is just artificial tear fluid to keep the eye hydrated until it can be seen, but please do not medicate eyes on spec.
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I didn’t dare go in with the tweezers as I was so afraid to clip his inside eyelid or something - it’s so difficult to see if it’s there so a vet would 100% be the best people to get it out. Do you think there’s a possibility they’d flush the eye instead?
Thank you for your help :)
 
Little Ones said:
I didn’t dare go in with the tweezers as I was so afraid to clip his inside eyelid or something - it’s so difficult to see if it’s there so a vet would 100% be the best people to get it out. Do you think there’s a possibility they’d flush the eye instead?
Thank you for your help :)
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Flushing won't necessarily work, but it is better if you don't try it on your own. Generally tweezers are the best way forward. I've been there - at the vets - with piggies of my own... :(

Poor boy - he must be in real discomfort! :(
 
Wiebke said:
Flushing won't necessarily work, but it is better if you don't try it on your own. Generally tweezers are the best way forward. I've been there - at the vets - with piggies of my own... :(

Poor boy - he must be in real discomfort! :(
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I’m not going to try on my own, I’d be too scared to do anything at all so I think the vets are the best people to handle it.
It’s always worrying when something is wrong and requires the vets, I feel like Guinea pigs can be such fragile little creatures as they can deteriorate so fast :(
He seems to be doing okay - eating, drinking, etc. but his eye just seems so sore :( hopefully it’ll all be resolved tomorrow and he’ll have some antibiotic drops.
Thanks again :)
 
IMG_1595.webp This morning it seems to have gone blue/cloudy! What does this mean?
Rung two vets and it'll be between the price of £59-65 for the check up excluding treatment. Would he be okay to wait another day, or am I really pushing it? It's just so much money that we can barley afford :( so upset.
 
Little Ones said:
View attachment 77745 This morning it seems to have gone blue/cloudy! What does this mean?
Rung two vets and it'll be between the price of £59-65 for the check up excluding treatment. Would he be okay to wait another day, or am I really pushing it? It's just so much money that we can barley afford :( so upset.
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Problem is, it'll get worse. He's in pain and you'll end up with even larger bill if left untreated. Only vet can assess the damage.
If it's including treatment, guessing they'll do basic course if isathal. Just that is approx £10 a tube (depending on how much they charge). Plus out of hours fees. Unsure what's your standard vet exam fee. but don't think it'll be much cheaper to wait I would ask for the breakdown to ensure it does include the eye drops,too.
I know how you feel! Mine got his during weekend,too...
Is there anyone who can help financially? Did you try any charity vets, they can be cheaper. Just depends on how far you live...
 
Unfortunately, the eye could be ulcerated and definately needs attention by a Vet asap.

I had the same thing happen with Hettie on a Sunday and the Emergency Vet cost £75 just for the check up.
 
Took him to the vets, it ended up costing £84! Turns out he has a scratched cornea I believe, nothing too bad and the back of his eye is fine, he's got some antibiotic eye drops to use twice a day until Saturday, as they want to see him again.
He now has the funniest green eye! Thank you to everyone for their advice, I really appreciate it. :)
IMG_1598.webp
 
Hath said:
Problem is, it'll get worse. He's in pain and you'll end up with even larger bill if left untreated. Only vet can assess the damage.
If it's including treatment, guessing they'll do basic course if isathal. Just that is approx £10 a tube (depending on how much they charge). Plus out of hours fees. Unsure what's your standard vet exam fee. but don't think it'll be much cheaper to wait I would ask for the breakdown to ensure it does include the eye drops,too.
I know how you feel! Mine got his during weekend,too...
Is there anyone who can help financially? Did you try any charity vets, they can be cheaper. Just depends on how far you live...
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Unsure of what medication I have, but it cost £20 for it. Usually the vet would change £24, but it was an extra £40 for it being out of hours. He's gone to the vets though now and should be on the mend! Thanks for your help though!
 
*kate* said:
Unfortunately, the eye could be ulcerated and definately needs attention by a Vet asap.

I had the same thing happen with Hettie on a Sunday and the Emergency Vet cost £75 just for the check up.
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He's been to the vets - £84 altogether. The out of hours checkups are so much money! At least the vets are still there when we need them though.
 
Little Ones said:
I’m not going to try on my own, I’d be too scared to do anything at all so I think the vets are the best people to handle it.
It’s always worrying when something is wrong and requires the vets, I feel like Guinea pigs can be such fragile little creatures as they can deteriorate so fast :(
He seems to be doing okay - eating, drinking, etc. but his eye just seems so sore :( hopefully it’ll all be resolved tomorrow and he’ll have some antibiotic drops.
Thanks again :)
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All the best with your vet trip today! The sooner he can get vet care, the better.
Sadly these things always happen at the most inconvenient of times. :(
 
Wiebke said:
All the best with your vet trip today! The sooner he can get vet care, the better.
Sadly these things always happen at the most inconvenient of times. :(
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The vet told us it was a scratched cornea, but she's also said an ulceration - either way we have some antibiotic drops and he can be on the mend. She mentioned she thought it was done my some metal however we have no metal in the cage aside from metal hay balls which are completely smooth, so I'm really not sure how it happened but hopefully it won't happen again.
Yes they do, inconvenient or not, I knew the best thing to do was to take him despite the cost. Let's hope the antibiotics start working quickly! :)
 
Little Ones said:
The vet told us it was a scratched cornea, but she's also said an ulceration - either way we have some antibiotic drops and he can be on the mend. She mentioned she thought it was done my some metal however we have no metal in the cage aside from metal hay balls which are completely smooth, so I'm really not sure how it happened but hopefully it won't happen again.
Yes they do, inconvenient or not, I knew the best thing to do was to take him despite the cost. Let's hope the antibiotics start working quickly! :)
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As the cornea is not pierced by a hay poke, but most likely badly scratched by a hard bit or sharp edge of hay, the eye should heal completely within a week or two, depending on the severity.

Make sure that you apply the drops 3-4 times a day during the first week; the more regularly you can do this, the sooner it will heal. it is going to get easier to apply once the eye is less sore. Distract your boy with a bowl of his favourite food on your knee; once he is absorbed, sneak you finger in from behind. It may still take more than one attempt at first, but less than otherwise if you do not have anybody to hold him for you.
 
Wiebke said:
As the cornea is not pierced by a hay poke, but most likely badly scratched by a hard bit or sharp edge of hay, the eye should heal completely within a week or two, depending on the severity.

Make sure that you apply the drops 3-4 times a day during the first week; the more regularly you can do this, the sooner it will heal. it is going to get easier to apply once the eye is less sore. Distract your boy with a bowl of his favourite food on your knee; once he is absorbed, sneak you finger in from behind. It may still take more than one attempt at first, but less than otherwise if you do not have anybody to hold him for you.
Click to expand...
The drops we have is Isathal, are we okay to be doing it 3-4 times even though it says to only do it twice?
 
Update
We’ve been using the drops for 4 days now, he can open his eye fully now, but it’s still looking blue and is very cloudy and slightly red in what I believe is the affected area - it also seems to have a slight red vein (?) going through the start of the eye to the cloudy spot, not sure if that’ll pick up on camera though.
(Also his eye looks kind of watery still however I had just given him the drops 5-10 minutes prior to the photo)
Does it seem like it’s healing?
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Hi, when's the recheck? They usually do one week to check if it's working and if eye is healing. That looks like an ulcer, which takes time to heal. However, only vet can say what's going on inside and if it's healing. Sending healing vibes!
 
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