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Just need some moral support. Op booked

Sorry it probably doesn’t make much sense, but the vet I used today has seen her once before at the beginning where she did see trauma to the eye and a little ulcer so it is a vet I have used before, they are much more expensive, but they are good vets, I flit between the two which I know I shouldn’t! I’m trying to weigh up which ones to use and see what their opinions are
 
Hello,

Thought I’d give an update. She has been referred to an eye specialist which hopefully I will get to see next week. The referral is 350 pounds unfortunately, but she deserves it and I’m planning on keeping her so I just need to see what the issue is and hopefully he will be able to see. On explaining it (the vet to him) he is very suspicious of entropion. He is a specialist who does eye referrals all round the UK and luckily he is only 10 mins away so it’s worked out well, so she is in the best hands possible albeit a high price.

I just need to try and keep her comfy and as less irritant free as possible till I see him, read a few posts online about entropion and it sums her up to a tee, no infections or ulcers but the older she is getting the more it is rolling inwards now

Just had some bad luck at the end of the day I guess
 
Obviously he will be able to see if it’s secondary to anything and she’s young so if surgery is needed to correct the eyelid I’m sure she will be OK
 
As the title states, only because I didn’t realise you shouldn’t be using steroids and metacam! I don’t know why my vet didn’t suggest this!!

I feel the steroid eye drop are helping her eye massively, but I’ve stopped them for today because they can’t have them together or is that more with oral and injected steroids?

Please advise, I would be very thankful
 
Gadzy said:
As the title states, only because I didn’t realise you shouldn’t be using steroids and metacam! I don’t know why my vet didn’t suggest this!

I feel the steroid eye drop are helping her eye massively, but I’ve stopped them for today because they can’t have them together or is that more with oral and injected steroids?

Please advise, I would be very thankful
Click to expand...

Hi

There is again the difference in application.

The steroid in the eye is not metabolised by the kidneys because it doesn't get into the body really. Medically, you distinguish between topical (on the spot/outside) and systemic (on the inside, going through the system) application.

Steroid eye drops are topical and the metacam is systemic.
 
I would double check with you vet but agree with Wiebke about the difference in administration.

For reference though my vet told me it’s about 5-7 hours to fully metabolise metacam but to leave it 24 hours before switching drugs (had a piggy with numerous health issues and for a while was on a cocktail of meds)
 
Metacam is metabolized in 12 hours in guinea pigs, hence the need for twice a day dosing but I agree with wiebke re the difference in application methods
 
Piggies&buns said:
Metacam is metabolized in 12 hours in guinea pigs, hence the need for twice a day dosing but I agree with wiebke re the difference in application methods
Click to expand...

Metacam can be given every 12 hours in a short term acute pain event, especially where a piggy is in real acute pain, but it is better to give it every 24 hours for longer term maintenance doses (such as arthritis for instance) as the metacam builds up in the body.

You'd best allow 24 hours for metacam to be fully worked out through the kidneys.
Please follow your vet's advice in this case. A large part of any vet training actually consists of judging dosages and studying about the interaction of varying drugs. None of us here has got this kind of training.
 
My very cavy savy-vet prescribed my boy to have metacam and a steroid eyecream given when he had a severe eye infection. I dont remember if the cream was once or twice/day, but the metacam was two times/day. the first week he had Prednisone (cortisone) orally and couldn't get any metacam, though.
 
Thanks all, much appreciated. Having episodes of very good with the eye and then a slight relapse, but it’s all something I will mention to the specialist. I honestly don’t think it’s entropion because when she has good episodes the eyelid lays fairly flat and isn’t swollen.

I am just using the steroid eye drop and then one drop of ocry gel, not sure if it’s just masking something but as long as I can get her through like this till the proper eye examination or the steroid is curing something the other meds couldn’t touch.

Also excia, your vet said she could take metacam with the steroid when it was eye drop form? That’s the exact steroid she’s on, I don’t know whether to ring the vet and say it’s been helping a lot and if I can do another week. She was on prescribed one week which last day is today or tomorrow, only twice a day as well

What was the eye infection you were battling with for yours?
 
ChatGTP says you cant give steroid eyedrops and metacam. Even though everything went all fine with my boy, really check with your vet and what he/she thinks. She might have another experience than my vet have?

He had "bug eyes", so I guess he was prone to have eye infections. But he had a very loving friend that loved to clean his eyes. My guess is that little friend also loved to eat his poo...
 
Okay so I have an update, I saw the eye specialist today. Some good and some bad news. The good news is her eye seems well and okay, the bad news is he said she does have very mild entropion and showed me a close up of a couple of lashes that touch her eye at certain angles. Explains why it’s been going on for so long and at times it’s okay but when she’s resting and that it pushes up against it. She will probably need a little op to correct it, so I’m spinning out about that now. The plus side is we basically have a diagnosis now.

I read on the Guniea lynx site under entropion someone had success with mild entropion using a steroid for two weeks and just gently moving the lids out the way at the same time. I will ask vets if I can use for another week. It’s worth a try!?

Thanks all again
 
Okay so I have an update, I saw the eye specialist today. Some good and some bad news. The good news is her eye seems well and okay, the bad news is he said she does have very mild entropion and showed me a close up of a couple of lashes that touch her eye at certain angles. Explains why it’s been going on for so long and at times it’s okay but when she’s resting and that it pushes up against it. She will probably need a little op to correct it, so I’m spinning out about that now. The plus side is we basically have a diagnosis now.

I read on the Guniea lynx site under entropion someone had success with mild entropion using a steroid for two weeks and just gently moving the lids out the way at the same time. I will ask vets if I can use for another week. It’s worth a try!?

Thanks all again
 
What would be the best age for a young Guniea pig to have a small procedure do you think? She’s only 4 months, not sure if it’s worth waiting a couple more till she’s grown a bit more and matured before doing anything? Not sure what people’s verdicts are

Thanks
 
It’s not for us to say - your vet will guide you on when any necessary surgery is to take place.
Her age alone is not a barrier (remember boars are neutered electively at 4 months), it’s more about the urgency of the surgery and overall health.
 
Hello all,

I have booked her in to fix the mild entropion with the eye specialist Monday. I am very nervous, but I hope she will be OK. He said it should be a fairly short procedure. I noticed this morning it was proper curled inwards where she sometimes lies on that side and the looser skin etc rides up and it pushes her eyelids inwards.

She has youth on her side as she is only 5 months. Hopefully she will be ok

I am stuck in a bit of a predicament because my normal vets said they can do it so I feel bad letting one or the other down. I thought the specialist might be best as he does eye surgery for a living and any complication down the line he will be there after the procedure.

She seems pretty healthy in herself and as I have heard people get their pigs spayed and all sorts around this age which is a lot more complicated. I’m just scared about the GA
 
Gadzy said:
Hello all,

I have booked her in to fix the mild entropion with the eye specialist Monday. I am very nervous, but I hope she will be OK. He said it should be a fairly short procedure. I noticed this morning it was proper curled inwards where she sometimes lies on that side and the looser skin etc rides up and it pushes her eyelids inwards.

She has youth on her side as she is only 5 months. Hopefully she will be ok

I am stuck in a bit of a predicament because my normal vets said they can do it so I feel bad letting one or the other down. I thought the specialist might be best as he does eye surgery for a living and any complication down the line he will be there after the procedure.

She seems pretty healthy in herself and as I have heard people get their pigs spayed and all sorts around this age which is a lot more complicated. I’m just scared about the GA
Click to expand...

Hi

Please try not to overthink everything. Booking with a specialist who can do these procedures very quickly is a good decision. The shorter she is under, the better.
It is only a minor corrective procedure that will bring her great relief once she is healed up.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.
 
Thank you! I wonder what I can do to keep her comfortable with the eye until Monday, I have metacam and lubricating gel, hopefully should keep anything at bay till then
 
Gadzy said:
Thank you! I wonder what I can do to keep her comfortable with the eye until Monday, I have metacam and lubricating gel, hopefully should keep anything at bay till then
Click to expand...

Just do what you have been doing until now. It's fended off an infection after all.
She's not any sicker just because you finally know what is going on and it can be cured for good with a little intervention...

You have already long been given all the necessary meds and care tips. Just continue with what she is on now.

The best you can is to simply stick to your normal routine, don't hover and please don't project your worries onto her if at all possible - the less stressed your girl is the better. That is the biggest present you can make her. ;)
 
Thank you!

He rang me this morning to discuss a few things, he said he doesn’t race against the clock but reckons it will only take 20-30 mins to correct. However, I think he is doing GA under injections and my previous pigs were put under using gas GA. I wonder if I should mention to him what he thinks is best Monday before I hand her over?

I hope I’m making the right decision, I am scared not going to lie. It’s very mild as he said, so sometimes she is squinting and sometimes not depending on angles and the hairs he saw, but he still thinks it should be done. I’m worried about the way he is doing GA, I’m sure first consultation vets use gas to administer the anaesthetic. Just looking at her earlier, she doesn’t know she’s going through it and i wish I could tell her :(
 
It's awful isn't it, you worry and overthink everything 😥
But yes ask any questions you have beforehand 💐
 
Gadzy said:
Thank you!

He rang me this morning to discuss a few things, he said he doesn’t race against the clock but reckons it will only take 20-30 mins to correct. However, I think he is doing GA under injections and my previous pigs were put under using gas GA. I wonder if I should mention to him what he thinks is best Monday before I hand her over?

I hope I’m making the right decision, I am scared not going to lie. It’s very mild as he said, so sometimes she is squinting and sometimes not depending on angles and the hairs he saw, but he still thinks it should be done. I’m worried about the way he is doing GA, I’m sure first consultation vets use gas to administer the anaesthetic. Just looking at her earlier, she doesn’t know she’s going through it and i wish I could tell her :(
Click to expand...

According to a discussion with one of my vets about gassing vs injection in terms of putting to sleep (pts), they felt that they had much more control over the anaesthesia process if it was done by injection and that it was in their opinion less stressful for the piggy as well.
Just because there is a bit of a reassessment of methods (both do work, by the way) doesn't mean that what your vet is doing is wrong. As things stand, it is currently down to each vet.

Personally, if a vet of mine has a decided preference, I will always support their choice because it means that they have their individual experiences and comfort zones which will ultimately benefit my piggy. Things are being reviewed and improved all the time but it usually happens as a gradual shift. ;)

Please try to calm down. What your vet has told you totally tracks with what I would personally expect.
 
Thank you, I tried telling him it’s been much better the last couple of days but he still thinks it needs doing, maybe the constant lubrication and that is just masking it all?

He said she may have a couple of good days and then it goes into a position where it’s irritating her again because it’s very mild, but is happening. He said on the examination at certain angles he got her in he saw numerous hairs touching the eye.

I'm second guessing it all, Her eyes been the best it has been today, the lids and skin is definitely looser that side though and it can ride up sometimes. I think I just go ahead because I’ll end up cancelling it and then she will start up again. The scars on her eye are slowly disappearing, but that could be the lubricating drops just stopping the constant abrasion of the hairs?

Maybe I can get him to have a recheck Monday before he goes ahead?
 
I have had to re arrange it because I forgot I am away from Friday for the weekend and I want to be there her to check things and give painkillers etc! I don’t think friends or family feeding them both will want or be able to do it! I’m going to see the vet at the end of the week before I go for a quick check of the eye and re book it for the following week I reckon. Don’t want to be worrying while away if she’s ripped a stitch out or something like that!
 
Okay all, I just need your honest and truthful answer here if that’s okay. Please bear with me while I try to explain.

Obviously I went and saw the specialist who witnessed hairs touching the eye and said entropion. However, he doesn’t know anything really about Guniea pigs, he’s an eye specialist. My usual vet who is very good said she would like to see me and check her eye before I go away and come
up with a plan on procedure. She has operated on my previous Guniea pigs before and done procedures with Guniea pigs. Obviously I was booked in with the specialist to do it, but had to cancel due to forgetting I’m away! My minds abit all over the place at the moment with things so I’m forgetting and this scenario is taking a lot of my energy unfortunately!

I just don’t know what to do or who to use and whether it needs doing asap or not! I don’t know if the lubricating gel is just masking it or it’s actually improved abit. The eyelids are laying more flat than they were albeit still not correct. I have an appointment with my normal vet I use to speak Thursday. What do I do?! I’m stuck

I can’t believe what is going on :(
 
Gadzy said:
Okay all, I just need your honest and truthful answer here if that’s okay. Please bear with me while I try to explain.

Obviously I went and saw the specialist who witnessed hairs touching the eye and said entropion. However, he doesn’t know anything really about Guniea pigs, he’s an eye specialist. My usual vet who is very good said she would like to see me and check her eye before I go away and come
up with a plan on procedure. She has operated on my previous Guniea pigs before and done procedures with Guniea pigs. Obviously I was booked in with the specialist to do it, but had to cancel due to forgetting I’m away! My minds abit all over the place at the moment with things so I’m forgetting and this scenario is taking a lot of my energy unfortunately!

I just don’t know what to do or who to use and whether it needs doing asap or not! I don’t know if the lubricating gel is just masking it or it’s actually improved abit. The eyelids are laying more flat than they were albeit still not correct. I have an appointment with my normal vet I use to speak Thursday. What do I do?! I’m stuck
Click to expand...

Hi

Since your piggy has had very mild entropion all her life, she can live another week with it. The lubricating gel is indeed providing more comfort and is protecting the cornea from the full impact of the off/on inturned eyelashes. Because of her medication/protective measures, she is currently at no risk of developing an infection and is as comfy as can be.

Turning out an entropion is still a minor non-urgent procedure that is done at the owner's convenience. Ultimately, which vet you want to go with depends on your trust and mental state.
 
Thank you, I appreciate your time to post massively. That goes to everyone on here. I get a little impatient sometimes and very disheartened when I see her have a little episode of squinting. I just need to tell myself what the issue is and it can be sorted. The eye isn’t any worse, if anything it’s better than it has ever been since I got her.

I did read something about them potentially being able to correct it themselves or it improving in time, but I’m guessing she’s too old now? Still only 4 months. It’s definitely improved as to when she was doing it constantly to around a month ago?…
 
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