Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you, I’m going to get them to have a good look under her upper lid tomorrow. When you had it did yours just suddenly come out or did they have to keep checking
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Just need some moral support. Op booked
- Thread starter Gadzy
- Start date
Sometimes it comes out and sometimes not. It also depends on what it is; how big it is and how tight the lid is. Generally, it is a two person job - one for holding the piggy.
But there is certainly some kind of irritation in the eye; and I really don't think it is the antibiotic.
All the best.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
thank you 
… I’m taking her tomorrow morning. They will probably use a dye and check again. Do you recommend not doing the antibiotic and gel before they look, or will it be okay to still do it beforehand
… I’m taking her tomorrow morning. They will probably use a dye and check again. Do you recommend not doing the antibiotic and gel before they look, or will it be okay to still do it beforehand
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
thank you
Keep doing it til the appointment, and then if they say to stop then that'll be the time to stop. There's no reason (at the moment) to skip that dose.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Many thanks all, so kind of all of you. Much appreciated
CTWC
Forum Donator 2025/26
Hope all goes well x
flowerfairy
Senior Guinea Pig
Best of luck at the vet's tomorrow.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Well I am well and truly stumped. The last day or so the eye was looking really good. Woke up this morning and it was like it was back to square one.
Did the drops etc before the vets and looked ok again. Vet thought it was definitely on the mend and improving and to continue for another week. Got her back and she was just squinting and again back to square one and the day hasn’t been good in regards to it. I’m not going to lie I’m having a bit of a melt down with it all. I feel I’m getting absolutely nowhere. They did mention maybe sedating her and having a proper look in there to see because she is so skittish it’s impossible to look in the eye properly. I don’t know what your thoughts are on this. I don’t know how it can just regress like that so quickly. I’m beginning to think maybe the eye lube round the eyes is just helping keep the hairs out the way or something and it is entropion?
I have another check up next week, but it’s not looking good and I don’t know how much longer I can put up with all this. I am scared and worried and I feel lost
Did the drops etc before the vets and looked ok again. Vet thought it was definitely on the mend and improving and to continue for another week. Got her back and she was just squinting and again back to square one and the day hasn’t been good in regards to it. I’m not going to lie I’m having a bit of a melt down with it all. I feel I’m getting absolutely nowhere. They did mention maybe sedating her and having a proper look in there to see because she is so skittish it’s impossible to look in the eye properly. I don’t know what your thoughts are on this. I don’t know how it can just regress like that so quickly. I’m beginning to think maybe the eye lube round the eyes is just helping keep the hairs out the way or something and it is entropion?
I have another check up next week, but it’s not looking good and I don’t know how much longer I can put up with all this. I am scared and worried and I feel lost
Sometimes these things can take a long time to resolve. Maybe there is something still stuck in there or maybe it is the lashes causing the problem. Just be led by your vets. Calm yourself with the knowledge that you are doing everything you can right at this moment.
the vet can tell you better than we ever could, and if they want to continue as is then I'd be led by them.
If they haven’t been able to look at the eye properly then I’m guessing they have not been able to fully rule out something being caught under the eyelid, as per Wiebke’s suggestion?
I would just continue for another week as they suggest and then be led by them as to getting the sedation done so they can have a proper look
I would just continue for another week as they suggest and then be led by them as to getting the sedation done so they can have a proper look
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
She just rang me and said always ring if your worried which I was, we have some options. Continue as we are on exocin, remend, lube and metacam for another week. We had a long chat
Take good quality pictures of the eye and send to the exotics vets specialist who they keep in touch with and see what they think
Sedate for a short amount of time and have a good look in there
Never know she may have just poked it in the night with something which would be sods law
She said the sedation wouldn’t need to be long to have a look in there, but she said with her sedated she can get a good look and get a good lens in there etc to look.
She said the sedation would be last resort if nothing is resolving because they don’t like to unless they have to which is fully understandable
I’m scared she might loose her eye
Take good quality pictures of the eye and send to the exotics vets specialist who they keep in touch with and see what they think
Sedate for a short amount of time and have a good look in there
Never know she may have just poked it in the night with something which would be sods law
She said the sedation wouldn’t need to be long to have a look in there, but she said with her sedated she can get a good look and get a good lens in there etc to look.
She said the sedation would be last resort if nothing is resolving because they don’t like to unless they have to which is fully understandable
I’m scared she might loose her eye
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
I know it's easy to overthink it but enucleation would be an absolute last resort if nothing else was working and so far, that's not the case, from what I can tell anyway. Enucleation isn't a death sentence regardless but if your vet thought that was an appropriate line of treatment they'd have told you.
Bann wouldn't let them put the dye in at first, and then let them put the dye in but refused to let them actually look in it. It took several appointments before he realised it was safe and wouldn't harm him. They do learn, it just takes a while. It's scary to them at first and with an already irritated eye she's just not sure what you're doing. With any luck, it won't last, but even if it does you have your treatment plan for the week and that extra week might do the trick - and if it doesn't, it means your vet can properly assess her options again.
But, it's not an emergency, and she's not in dire straits. It might be stressful for you both, but a little bit of a silver lining is better than none.
Bann wouldn't let them put the dye in at first, and then let them put the dye in but refused to let them actually look in it. It took several appointments before he realised it was safe and wouldn't harm him. They do learn, it just takes a while. It's scary to them at first and with an already irritated eye she's just not sure what you're doing. With any luck, it won't last, but even if it does you have your treatment plan for the week and that extra week might do the trick - and if it doesn't, it means your vet can properly assess her options again.
But, it's not an emergency, and she's not in dire straits. It might be stressful for you both, but a little bit of a silver lining is better than none.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you Lorcan. That’s what I gotta keep telling myself. That the eye looks more clear albeit squinting at times still. There are no ulcers which they checked today and the lesion marks are faded even if there still slightly. She is eating and drinking and her weight is stable if not heavier slightly. My heart sinks when I go in there in the morning hoping it’s going to be vibrant and open and when she’s there squinting it’s like for goodness sake please god help!
Is exocin a decent eye drop? They have mentioned triacil, but they can’t get it anywhere from the supplier.
In regards to their eyelashes, where are they? I know when they zoomed in with their lens they couldn’t see any eyelashes near the eye, but I think the irritation and constant squinting is just making the lids turn in as a secondary thing
When she’s squinting I have held the eyelids for like half a minute to a minute out the way and she still does it so it makes me think it’s not that.
Also do you think it needs sedation to look in there? I’m guessing it does to have a proper look and with a skittish pig it would be next to impossible to look
Is exocin a decent eye drop? They have mentioned triacil, but they can’t get it anywhere from the supplier.
In regards to their eyelashes, where are they? I know when they zoomed in with their lens they couldn’t see any eyelashes near the eye, but I think the irritation and constant squinting is just making the lids turn in as a secondary thing
When she’s squinting I have held the eyelids for like half a minute to a minute out the way and she still does it so it makes me think it’s not that.
Also do you think it needs sedation to look in there? I’m guessing it does to have a proper look and with a skittish pig it would be next to impossible to look
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
If she's really fighting against the dye and the torch to look in the eye then yes, she might need sedation to get it looked at. But she also might not. I know it's easy for me to say but worry about sedation when it becomes necessary, not before, because there's still a chance this will clear up without it. Your vet thinks so or they wouldn't continue with the current care plan.
Like I said, my experience with eye issues is limited, and Bann was very good about letting me hold the eye open just long enough drop the isathal on. There's no chance any of the current lot would let me do that. Each pig is individual in what they'll let you do and how they'll let you do it.
I know I keep saying it but you're doing a great job (and again, it sounds like your vet agrees). It's hard when they're not quite right again quickly but you can do no more than you're already doing. Just don't let the stress and the worry get the better of you.
Like I said, my experience with eye issues is limited, and Bann was very good about letting me hold the eye open just long enough drop the isathal on. There's no chance any of the current lot would let me do that. Each pig is individual in what they'll let you do and how they'll let you do it.
I know I keep saying it but you're doing a great job (and again, it sounds like your vet agrees). It's hard when they're not quite right again quickly but you can do no more than you're already doing. Just don't let the stress and the worry get the better of you.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
The squinting and lashes going into eye could just be from irritation though I guess of something else?
You are clearly a fantastic guinea pig parent. That's obvious from how much you care.
You want your piggie to be healthy and enjoy life.
Take it from someone who often feels the same: just remind yourself that if they're eating, drinking, urinating, pooing and maintaining a healthy weight, they're probably very happy.
A guinea pig in pain will stop doing at least one of these.
I know how you feel - our piggie Angus has a chronic problem that we just can't completely resolve, after at least 15 vet visits.
We just have to remind ourselves that he's active, happy and otherwise healthy.
Just carry on doing what you're doing.
You want your piggie to be healthy and enjoy life.
Take it from someone who often feels the same: just remind yourself that if they're eating, drinking, urinating, pooing and maintaining a healthy weight, they're probably very happy.
A guinea pig in pain will stop doing at least one of these.
I know how you feel - our piggie Angus has a chronic problem that we just can't completely resolve, after at least 15 vet visits.
We just have to remind ourselves that he's active, happy and otherwise healthy.
Just carry on doing what you're doing.
Ramia
Forum Donator 2025/26
When my Stripe was so sick with an ear infection I was so overwhelmed. On top of that he got a wound from a jagged hide.
He became temporarily paralyzed from the ear infection, I thought he was going to die. But I stuck with the treatment and although he has CBS he hasn't had an ear infection in 8 months.
He had X-rays and everything.
I felt out of my element but glad I stuck with him, although now he's a brat!
Just keep on with your vet. You got this!
He became temporarily paralyzed from the ear infection, I thought he was going to die. But I stuck with the treatment and although he has CBS he hasn't had an ear infection in 8 months.
He had X-rays and everything.
I felt out of my element but glad I stuck with him, although now he's a brat!
Just keep on with your vet. You got this!
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello,
Just want to give a little update. Last night and today the eye has looked a lot better. I don’t want to tempt fate because I have seen this before over the last few weeks, but it’s looked the best it’s been for a while! I got her out this morning and noticed what looked like a bit of hay on the centre of her eye laying flat. I tried to use some saline to get it out, but it disappeared and I been worrying since if it’s washed back into her eye. Although I’m not even sure if that was in her eye cause the eye was looking okay before that. I guess if it did it will come out again but I think she’d be blinking more or squinting. I still got till Thursday on the exocin, but now she’s used to it it’s an absolutely wrestle and nightmare to get in now!
I hope whatever that was on her eye hasn’t washed back into there
Just want to give a little update. Last night and today the eye has looked a lot better. I don’t want to tempt fate because I have seen this before over the last few weeks, but it’s looked the best it’s been for a while! I got her out this morning and noticed what looked like a bit of hay on the centre of her eye laying flat. I tried to use some saline to get it out, but it disappeared and I been worrying since if it’s washed back into her eye. Although I’m not even sure if that was in her eye cause the eye was looking okay before that. I guess if it did it will come out again but I think she’d be blinking more or squinting. I still got till Thursday on the exocin, but now she’s used to it it’s an absolutely wrestle and nightmare to get in now!
I hope whatever that was on her eye hasn’t washed back into there
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
I’m not sure if someone can advise or help me, but the apparently smaller eye seems due to having slightly more baggy skin above her eye, the top eyelid seems to cover the eye a bit more (not squinting) is this inflammation or just something she was born with? The skin seems more tight around her head and eyes on the other side, but when you stroke her and tighten the skin back a bit the actual eyeball itself looks a similar size. I was going to do another thread on it, but thought it was pointless. I will ask vet again on Thursday when she has her checkup. Wondered if she might have lethal gene as she has some white in her? I’m not panicking just curious
Lorcan
Forum Buddy
She's definitely not a lethal, nor does she look like a carrier (partially white fur isn't a sign of it).
I'm not seeing anything in her eye that would worry me, like it doesn't look odd to me. I'm no vet and I'm no anatomy expert but it looks like it's normal for her.
I'm not seeing anything in her eye that would worry me, like it doesn't look odd to me. I'm no vet and I'm no anatomy expert but it looks like it's normal for her.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello,
I went to a different vets today for a second opinion and mentioned all what other vet thought. She was very good, said absolutely no ulcer but some inflammation in the eye. Uvetis or something and wants to treat the possible chlamydia caviea from the inside out using doxycycline. She has given me a steroid eye drop which I asked twice if Guniea pigs are okay with and she said yes. I have read some absolutely devastating posts on here with people using steroid eye drops so please can someone let me know
I went to a different vets today for a second opinion and mentioned all what other vet thought. She was very good, said absolutely no ulcer but some inflammation in the eye. Uvetis or something and wants to treat the possible chlamydia caviea from the inside out using doxycycline. She has given me a steroid eye drop which I asked twice if Guniea pigs are okay with and she said yes. I have read some absolutely devastating posts on here with people using steroid eye drops so please can someone let me know
What you don’t want is steroids to go anywhere near the digestive tract so that is why oral steroids are an absolute no for rodents. Eye drops are obviously not going into the digestive tract so the risk is not the same - but some vets will use them, some won’t.
You will also find positive stories of steroid eye drops needing to be used in forum piggies also.
The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.
You will also find positive stories of steroid eye drops needing to be used in forum piggies also.
The Problems With Steroids And Why They Shouldn't Be Used.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you, is there anything I need to really
Look out for with potential issues with steroid eye drops? I’m fairness she was really good, no ulcers but part of the clear lens on front has some inflammation or something said uveitis. Doing 0.1 doxycycline which they mixed up for me and to syringe feed with some water a bit.
She ruled out entropion because when her eye relaxed with the anaesthetic eye drops it stayed flat. She said entropion would be there all the time so it is secondary
Look out for with potential issues with steroid eye drops? I’m fairness she was really good, no ulcers but part of the clear lens on front has some inflammation or something said uveitis. Doing 0.1 doxycycline which they mixed up for me and to syringe feed with some water a bit.
She ruled out entropion because when her eye relaxed with the anaesthetic eye drops it stayed flat. She said entropion would be there all the time so it is secondary
Hi
My piggies have had steroid drops for specific aspects without any problems - and the drops did the job where normal eye meds haven't. You can rest assured that your vet has carefully considered the pros and cons before prescribing it.
Steroids do have a - restricted and carefully considered - role in rodent medication, especially in topical (on the outside of the body) use or where the benefit in terminal care cases outweighs longevity issues.
Where steroids are a big no no is anything to do with oral use and the digestive system.
Please be aware that while the proportion on this forum is not as bad as on the rest of the internet, it is still not a normal one because we are disproportionally more often contacted over the problem cases and bad outcomes than over positive ones.
If you suffer from acute anxiety in combination with other mental health issues, then please be aware that any searches can act like a form of mental self-harm.
You also have to accept that the more vets you see, the more variety in treatments you will get as your first vets have done the standard approach - which is the totally correct procedure and no detriment to them. You always have to work your way from horses to ponies, to donkeys and mules before you can consider zebras, medically speaking; as one vet explained it to me once.
The problem sits with your trust issues and your need to see quick results, which is not always possible.
My piggies have had steroid drops for specific aspects without any problems - and the drops did the job where normal eye meds haven't. You can rest assured that your vet has carefully considered the pros and cons before prescribing it.
Steroids do have a - restricted and carefully considered - role in rodent medication, especially in topical (on the outside of the body) use or where the benefit in terminal care cases outweighs longevity issues.
Where steroids are a big no no is anything to do with oral use and the digestive system.
Please be aware that while the proportion on this forum is not as bad as on the rest of the internet, it is still not a normal one because we are disproportionally more often contacted over the problem cases and bad outcomes than over positive ones.
If you suffer from acute anxiety in combination with other mental health issues, then please be aware that any searches can act like a form of mental self-harm.
You also have to accept that the more vets you see, the more variety in treatments you will get as your first vets have done the standard approach - which is the totally correct procedure and no detriment to them. You always have to work your way from horses to ponies, to donkeys and mules before you can consider zebras, medically speaking; as one vet explained it to me once.
The problem sits with your trust issues and your need to see quick results, which is not always possible.
Gadzy
Junior Guinea Pig
Thanks, I forgot to ask whether to continue to use the Exocin with the steroid. I know you are not all vets, but what do you think?
She looked at everything with her eye and even compared it to the good one and she said no signs what so ever of infection or ulcers. There was some trauma scar from before which did show a small ulcer but that’s gone. She said she just has some inflammation in part of the clear lens on eye which is why she wants to use the steroid with the doxycycline. I have been using the exocin for like 11 days or 12
She looked at everything with her eye and even compared it to the good one and she said no signs what so ever of infection or ulcers. There was some trauma scar from before which did show a small ulcer but that’s gone. She said she just has some inflammation in part of the clear lens on eye which is why she wants to use the steroid with the doxycycline. I have been using the exocin for like 11 days or 12