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Help! Eye Removal

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Akshi

Akshi

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Hi all,

I am a first time piggy owner and have an emergency!

My piggy poked her eye a couple days ago...doctor gave her anti and dryness drops and said come back in a week for a follow up. Before I put the drops the eye just had a scratch...it then turned white and clowdy and has fluid coming out of it but for the most part her eye is dry until I put drops...she also can't close it. Today I went to the vet and the vet said that she popped her cornea and all the fluid came out and eye needs to be removed...when I look it looks like a scab with blood around it...taking the eye out sounds like too much...(I live in NJ,USA )...what should I do? Not many vets see piggies around here.
 
OMG I wish i could help but i'm sure that others on the forum will! they seem to have very knowledgeable people on here; I'm from NY and i know what you mean about the vet situation, same here; good luck to you and you're poor piggy!
 
The vets are terrible around here...and the look at me like it was my fault...apparently she poked her eye with hay...but it didnt look bad until I put drops in. Smh I'm really heart broken...and the bill is estimated to $700 max...I don't even earn that much in a month...
 
Greeting Akashi,
You are probably a wonderful parent to your piggies, but when a time comes like this when there is nothing you can do to keep your piggies alive, you have to listen to the vet.

If she said there is nothing you can do, you have to listen to her. It's certainly better than nothing. Make sure to ask the vet if she will still live in a fine way without the surgery.

Of course, you need to make sure that you feel safe with the procedure that the vet will use on her. If it seems it is too painful, avoid it if she can still live.

Hope I helped and best wishes for you and your piggies,
~Savvy Cavy :cool:​
 
Rocco (boy name since we thought she was a boy but is a girl) is the love of my daughters life! I cried all day when the dr told me they had to take her eye out...I have seen so many pictures of piggies with the same problem and most said blind in that eye but not removed or partial sight or completely heeled and I still have hope I religously put drops in her eyes and feel like if I didnt put the drops it wouldnt get this bad since if only got this bad after the drops...I don't want to risk her life with anesthesia if not needed...I can lose her...
 
Akshi said:
Rocco (boy name since we thought she was a boy but is a girl) is the love of my daughters life! I cried all day when the dr told me they had to take her eye out...I have seen so many pictures of piggies with the same problem and most said blind in that eye but not removed or partial sight or completely heeled and I still have hope I religously put drops in her eyes and feel like if I didnt put the drops it wouldnt get this bad since if only got this bad after the drops...I don't want to risk her life with anesthesia if not needed...I can lose her...
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Will she live, even if you don't get the surgery?
 
She will, shes not in pain and functions normally...but will probably need constant antibiotics in eyes to prevent infection and maybe to seal the eye to prevent further damage...but thats what I think...the dr just wouldn't budge from taking her eye out...I am however getting a second opinion tomorrow...lets see...she also is blind in that eye right now
 
If you can't afford her eye being taken out, do whatever you can do to take care of Rocco without pain from surgery. I mean, imagine your eye being taken out, that would hurt! :no:

I personally think, but this is totally your choice for your piggy, that you should at least try going without surgery. Just try adding her eye drop medication to your daily routine, and if it doesn't work out, you know what you have to do.
 
Well thats what I thought the doctor would atleast give her a chance...but didnt...it hasnt even been a week and I know eyes take a long time to heal...I read somewhere someone went for 6 months and then it was ok...I just want to give her eye a chance atleast.
 
My poor piggy...I just want to cry my heart out...
 
Yes she just really insisted on removing it...scheduled it for tomorrow but I just talked to a friend who runs an animal rescue group and he said that his dr will see my Rocco tomorrow befor I get send off to surgery...
 
Well, that's a relief. A real group to tend to dear Rocco, that sounds well.
 
Akshi said:
Yes she just really insisted on removing it...scheduled it for tomorrow but I just talked to a friend who runs an animal rescue group and he said that his dr will see my Rocco tomorrow befor I get send off to surgery...
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Ohhh that's a good plan I was going to suggest a second opinion! I can imagine how distraught you are! Piggies are so loveable. I so hope you get a good feeling with the vet you see tomorrow so that either way you can feel comfortable with the decision. Thinking of you both and hoping for the best!
 
it is god that you are getting a second opinion. However, if the eye is permananently damaged, it may have to be removed as the danger of infection is just too great - and ideally as soon as you can afford to.

The good news is that most eye operations go fine and that guinea pigs can lead a perfectly normal and fulfilled life afterwards; sight is not the strongest sense in guinea pigs.

Hay/eye pokes are sadly not at all rare; generally they heal well even when they ulcerate (the white stuff). You were very unlucky.
 
It never hurts to get a second opinion (and another price estimate. Some vets charge more than others.) It certainly isn't your fault, pigs are prone to hay pokes in the eye, and sometimes they don't heal well. The other vet may have a suggestion on alternatives to enucleation (removal of the eye), but there may not be another option, as the risk of infection/necrosis may be very high with the permanent damage (and the fact that the eye connects directly to the brain and behind the eye is a direct opening to the brain makes it a risky area for infection or tissue death.) Lots of luck with your appointment, be sure to keep us posted!
 
Oh bless you and your little one. So glad you're getting a second opinion. My girl has had a bad hay poke today, too. We are giving her pain relief and eye drops (antibiotics) and she's going back to the vet on Friday. I share your worries.
 
Ok so took to another vet and he removed her eye...it was horrible! My lil one is so scared of looking at her but shes doing so much better...he also caught a ear infection that the other dr didnt catch...i am so happy shes ok but now I'm paranoid about her other eye...but shes ok doing well with just one eye...she was very loopy after surgery but god bless that vet...such a good human being! I had a friend who ran a rescuse help me and it was much cheaper...but I got my baby back and its all I care about ❤️ Gotta hand feed her and keep an eye on her for a couple days...hope everyone who is going through the same thing makes it out ok!
 
Anyone know where I can find a piggy eye patch? I know the eye wont bother her but I feel like my little one is disowning her because shes too scared of the eye... vet only had cat and dog eye patches...
 
Akshi said:
Anyone know where I can find a piggy eye patch? I know the eye wont bother her but I feel like my little one is disowning her because shes too scared of the eye... vet only had cat and dog eye patches...
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No, I'm sorry, I have never heard of a guinea pig eyepatch. If I do, I'll contact you right away. :no:
 
I've never seen a guinea pig eye patch before. I suppose you could try to make one, but getting the guinea pig to keep it on might be a challenge! How old is your little girl? Is she old enough to understand that although she has had this surgery that makes her look different and potentially scary, she is still the same animal? Is there anything that can be done to make the cosmetic result less scary for her (did they stitch the eyelid closed over the socket, for instance?) I feel for your child, as I am very squeamish about eyes and when one of our dogs had a condition that caused the surface of her eyes to dry out and thicken/redden, it really bothered me, but I did get over it because it certainly wasn't the dog's fault that she had an eye condition that made her eyes look really freaky! Do you think she'll get more comfortable with it in time?

BTW, I'm so sorry your piggie had to have the eye removed, but it likely won't bother the pig too much, as their eyesight is not that great to start with, and it likely will heal much better than having an infected eye and trying to contain the infection to that area.
 
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