Lacerated Cornea

[Cymrupiggies]

Hi All,

I have a 5 year old female Eidith who lost her cage mate back in December.

We wanted to find another lone female of the similar age to pair with her.

We got Ethel 2 weeks ago and the bonding went well and they have been living together. Obviously normal pig behaviour of boundaries and putting eachother in their place but no negative behaviour at all.

We have a camera watching them so I can keep an eye on them.

10 days in and at about 11pm I heard an all mightly squeal. I ran in to the room and they each have a dome to sleep in. Ethel was in one making little seeking noises and Eidith was in the other squealing which she has never done!

I could see Eidiths eye was bleeding! We took her straight to the emergency vet and was given antibiotics, pain meds and eye drops to help heal and she is being monitored every other day back and forth the vets to keep a close eye on it but there is a possibility the eye will have to be taken out. Unfortunately the cornea has been cut very deeply and in a straight line.

It's one of 2 things..
They have a little tiff and Ethel did it
Or Eidith scratched with her back foot and did it to herself.

Now we do keep a ln eye on her nails but her quick is long so one of the nails is difficult to cut back. I think this is what happened. I have added a picture and trying to figure out by the way to cut is going (white line) if this would have been her or a fight?

Since, they have been separated purely to ensure eidith has the best chance of healing and have no one else disturbing the area but they can see eachother and have supervised play dates each day.

There is again, no negative interactions at all between the two of them!

What do you think?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi All,

I have a 5 year old female Eidith who lost her cage mate back in December.

We wanted to find another lone female of the similar age to pair with her.

We got Ethel 2 weeks ago and the bonding went well and they have been living together. Obviously normal pig behaviour of boundaries and putting eachother in their place but no negative behaviour at all.

We have a camera watching them so I can keep an eye on them.

10 days in and at about 11pm I heard an all mightly squeal. I ran in to the room and they each have a dome to sleep in. Ethel was in one making little seeking noises and Eidith was in the other squealing which she has never done!

I could see Eidiths eye was bleeding! We took her straight to the emergency vet and was given antibiotics, pain meds and eye drops to help heal and she is being monitored every other day back and forth the vets to keep a close eye on it but there is a possibility the eye will have to be taken out. Unfortunately the cornea has been cut very deeply and in a straight line.

It's one of 2 things..
They have a little tiff and Ethel did it
Or Eidith scratched with her back foot and did it to herself.

Now we do keep a ln eye on her nails but her quick is long so one of the nails is difficult to cut back. I think this is what happened. I have added a picture and trying to figure out by the way to cut is going (white line) if this would have been her or a fight?

Since, they have been separated purely to ensure eidith has the best chance of healing and have no one else disturbing the area but they can see eachother and have supervised play dates each day.

There is again, no negative interactions at all between the two of them!

What do you think? View attachment 270811

Hi
BIG HUGS

It was most likely a misjudged back leg swipe from Ethel, which is common milder dominance behaviour in sows.
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
Sows: Behaviour and Female Health Problems (including mounting and ovarian cysts)

You have to see how the girls are getting on after this as to whether it is perceived as a bond breaker or as an accident.

Hopefully, the corneal slit should heal pretty straight away. What have you been prescribed?

In addition to antibiotic eye drops or gel, Remend (for corneal repair) and metacam for pain/swellings we also recommend carbomer-based tear gel to hydrate the eye (comfort and creating the ideal healing environment) and speed up the healing process, especially deeper down. You can give the tear gel up to 3 times daily but you need to wait at least half an hour after any other application to the eye in order to allow it to be fully absorbed.

Thankfully, eyes will heal quickly and pretty straight forward when seen promptly - which you have done. The eye should feel a lot better within 2-3 days' time. If necessary, distract Eidith with a treat and gently pull down the lower lid to aim any drops into the gap.

I have had the odd misjudged back swing in my groups and they have always healed without problems if that helps you.

All the best.