Hay Poke

[Jesse's pigs]

So returned home from work and Steve had a thin bit of hay sticking out if the corner of his eye (not the cornea the other end toward his ear) at first I thought it was a hair or his whisker like that's how thin it was.

I removed it and it did require a small tug not like I yanked his eye out but it wasn't just a slipping out the eye like I would an eye lash. The eye looked dryish and I think it must've scratched it- yes I'm going to book a vet visit especially after what occurred with Mo's eye. Tonight I've bathed the eye and I'm just watching it. It is just slightly squinted which is why I believe it's been scratched and thus causing irritation.

My piggy savvy vet is next in Monday I believe, but they said to call back tomorrow as they would call tonight and see if they would come in for him tomorrow.

I guess all I'm seeking is a "he's going to be ok" vibe. Can't handle any more bad news. And what should I expect to be given. Eye drops of course lol but maybe baytril? Idk.

Added photo straight after hay was removed and now.

He is drinking and popcorning etc else id have pressed for an emergency visit but I'd rather see a piggy savvy then a dog/cat.

 

[piggieminder]

Hugs, not what you want to come home to, it's always something with these little furries.
The vet will put dye in the eye to see how damaged it is and you will be given drops, we've never been given anything else so I don't think you will need Baytril. You need to see a vet asap to avoid this getting any worse, you don't need to see a cavy savvy vet, a good general one can deal with this. I've only ever seen general ones with Peanut as an emergency when he has done it (3 times!). You put drops in for 5 - 7 days normally, your vet will advise.

 

[Wiebke]

So returned home from work and Steve had a thin bit of hay sticking out if the corner of his eye (not the cornea the other end toward his ear) at first I thought it was a hair or his whisker like that's how thin it was.

I removed it and it did require a small tug not like I yanked his eye out but it wasn't just a slipping out the eye like I would an eye lash. The eye looked dryish and I think it must've scratched it- yes I'm going to book a vet visit especially after what occurred with Mo's eye. Tonight I've bathed the eye and I'm just watching it. It is just slightly squinted which is why I believe it's been scratched and thus causing irritation.

My piggy savvy vet is next in Monday I believe, but they said to call back tomorrow as they would call tonight and see if they would come in for him tomorrow.

I guess all I'm seeking is a "he's going to be ok" vibe. Can't handle any more bad news. And what should I expect to be given. Eye drops of course lol but maybe baytril? Idk.

Added photo straight after hay was removed and now.

He is drinking and popcorning etc else id have pressed for an emergency visit but I'd rather see a piggy savvy then a dog/cat.

Hi!

Piggies have a talent to throw you curve balls...

There is a risk that the hay stalk could have scratched the cornea (which is the surface of the eye) and may cause an infection, so it needs to be seen and assessed by a vet. It has likely caused a lot of watering, hence why the eye seems dry.

The good news is that that antibiotic eye drops or gel should be enough to do the trick as long as the infection has not penetrated deeper into the eye. Eye injuries can deteriorate very quickly but they also heal quickly.

What you can do is try and get hold of some plain artificial tears from a pharmacy. If possible, get gel as it is easier to apply and is effective for longer than drops. Just say that it is for a family member with an eye problem to ease the eye overnight (hence the gel). They will help ease the discomfort and help with the healing process but they cannot replace the necessary antibiotic eye drops from the vet. Do this 3-6 times over the course of 24 hours.

When you get the medication, you have to wait at least half an hour before you can apply any tear gel or drops to allow the medication to be fully absorbed first.

I hope that that helps you? The sooner you can see a vet, the better but latest if you notice a bluish blot or film on the eye, which is an ulceration but these things have a bad habit of happening at the worst of times.
My piggies seem to prefer to pick the morning of my biggest fundraising days for serious eye injuries.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

Hi!

Piggies have a talent to throw you curve balls...

There is a risk that the hay stalk could have scratched the cornea (which is the surface of the eye) and may cause an infection, so it needs to be seen and assessed by a vet. It has likely caused a lot of watering, hence why the eye seems dry.

The good news is that that antibiotic eye drops or gel should be enough to do the trick as long as the infection has not penetrated deeper into the eye. Eye injuries can deteriorate very quickly but they also heal quickly.

What you can do is try and get hold of some plain artificial tears from a pharmacy. If possible, get gel as it is easier to apply and is effective for longer than drops. Just say that it is for a family member with an eye problem to ease the eye overnight (hence the gel). They will help ease the discomfort and help with the healing process but they cannot replace the necessary antibiotic eye drops from the vet. Do this 3-6 times over the course of 24 hours.

When you get the medication, you have to wait at least half an hour before you can apply any tear gel or drops to allow the medication to be fully absorbed first.

I hope that that helps you? The sooner you can see a vet, the better but latest if you notice a bluish blot or film on the eye, which is an ulceration but these things have a bad habit of happening at the worst of times.
My piggies seem to prefer to pick the morning of my biggest fundraising days for serious eye injuries.

Thank you very much it does help! I thankfully work in a shop with a pharmacy in store so I'll pick up eye drops tomorrow. Hopefully the piggy savvy vet will be in and I'll definitely query if I can book an appointment for tomorrow,but if not at least the drops will alleviate some discomfort until Monday morning. Grrrr these piggies.

Hugs, not what you want to come home to, it's always something with these little furries.
The vet will put dye in the eye to see how damaged it is and you will be given drops, we've never been given anything else so I don't think you will need Baytril. You need to see a vet asap to avoid this getting any worse, you don't need to see a cavy savvy vet, a good general one can deal with this. I've only ever seen general ones with Peanut as an emergency when he has done it (3 times!). You put drops in for 5 - 7 days normally, your vet will advise.

Thank you! Yes had many bad experiences with general vets but when they call to update me I'll ask whether they have a knowledgeable general vet who could have a look.

Thank you.

 

[Merab]

I’ve had to deal with hay poke.
I found that the eye drops worked well and quickly.
The fun part was trying to get an eye drop into an unwilling piggy.
Hope Steve’s eye heals quickly for you

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you very much it does help! I thankfully work in a shop with a pharmacy in store so I'll pick up eye drops tomorrow. Hopefully the piggy savvy vet will be in and I'll definitely query if I can book an appointment for tomorrow,but if not at least the drops will alleviate some discomfort until Monday morning. Grrrr these piggies.

Thank you! Yes had many bad experiences with general vets but when they call to update me I'll ask whether they have a knowledgeable general vet who could have a look.

Thank you.

I sincerely hope that you can get an appointment tomorrow! Please keep in mind that eye treatment is the same for cats an dogs as it is for guinea pigs (including eye drop brands), so you can get perfectly competent care from a general vet.

 

[Jesse's pigs]

@Wiebke sorry to tag again, but would this brand suffice? It's what came up when I typed in artificial tear drops.

Oh I will try get an appointment tomorrow I always take them Vets4Pets which thus far I've found to be the best with pigs in terms of handling etc. But I also have a vet clinic local so I'll call them up also and see if I can get him seen.

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke sorry to tag again, but would this brand suffice? It's what came up when I typed in artificial tear drops.

Oh I will try get an appointment tomorrow I always take them Vets4Pets which thus far I've found to be the best with pigs in terms of handling etc. But I also have a vet clinic local so I'll call them up also and see if I can get him seen.

I haven't got any experience with the drop brand, but they should work. I can't read the warning bit though.

All the best!