How to tell at home if a pig is blind in one eye?

[4boipigs]

I got a new baby back in August from a pet store. Long story short, he was bought and returned same day by a customer. He was returned with a big cut, so once he was healed I swore I would adopt him. I took him to our vet a week after I got him and she gave him a clean bill of health. Now is he is about 5 to 6 months old. I have noticed at times it seems like he has a slight head tilt, but it's not so bad that's it very noticeable. Additionally, I have seen him sometimes run into things in his cage. His eyes both look perfectly fine, no cloudiness, injury, discharge, etc. I'm wondering if there is anything I could do at home to 'test' if he's got potential issues with an eye (suspecting the right, which is the side he seems to have the mild tilt towards). I suppose these would just be congenital or genetic issues from being a pet store pig.

I've had a senior pig with head tilt, cataracts, and an eye removal in the past, so this isn't a new experience for me. That pig got around quite well, aside from making the mistake of trying to enter an occupied hide.

 

[Tnoz]

Hello, sorry to hear your baby not well, tilting of the head could mean a ear infection, I had one of my boars doing the same thing, wasn’t very active, slow to respond, have you checked ears for any discharge? If unsure I would get piggy checked by a vet. Hope he recovers soon, keep us posted good luck?

 

[Wiebke]

I got a new baby back in August from a pet store. Long story short, he was bought and returned same day by a customer. He was returned with a big cut, so once he was healed I swore I would adopt him. I took him to our vet a week after I got him and she gave him a clean bill of health. Now is he is about 5 to 6 months old. I have noticed at times it seems like he has a slight head tilt, but it's not so bad that's it very noticeable. Additionally, I have seen him sometimes run into things in his cage. His eyes both look perfectly fine, no cloudiness, injury, discharge, etc. I'm wondering if there is anything I could do at home to 'test' if he's got potential issues with an eye (suspecting the right, which is the side he seems to have the mild tilt towards). I suppose these would just be congenital or genetic issues from being a pet store pig.

I've had a senior pig with head tilt, cataracts, and an eye removal in the past, so this isn't a new experience for me. That pig got around quite well, aside from making the mistake of trying to enter an occupied hide.

Hi

It is not easy to tell whether a piggy is blind or not since they compensate with their other senses; they can be born blind without any outward signs. There is also no surefire method. A vet would usually check the light sensitivity of the eyes.

A bit of a head tilt can happen in blind guinea pigs but as you are in the USA, you may also want to be aware of potential CBS syndrome and that you always need to exclude low level respiratory infection or an ear infection first.
CBS (Calcified Bulla Syndrome) and Neurological Problems - Symptoms and Care

 

[Princess Dustmop]

We had a piggy that we were fairy certain was blind. She had no outward signs, just acted like she couldn't see. She was timid during floortime, only really moving around when she could follow another piggy, acting lost if she wasn't able to (and/or actually crying out for help when left alone). She led a perfectly normal life and had no issues from her reduced or lack of sight. I don't know how you can check for blindness, though. I just wanted to say that if your piggy is blind in one eye, he can still have a happy, healthy, normal life.