New Guinea Pig blinking in one eye

[GuineaPigGuys]

Hi there, me and my partner got guinea pigs about a week ago. Both sisters. One of the guinea pigs has been blinking in one eye. It has been eating normally and drinking, there doesn’t appear to be anything stuck in it but it’s slightly concerning. Is this normal? Thanks In advance.

 

[GuineaPigGuys]

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Hi there and welcome.
I think if it were me, whether the piggie was new to me or not, I would be taking her to the vet as soon as I could. I don't think guineas blink like humans do, so closing an eye like that probably means there is something irritating it. Sometimes tiny hayseeds that you can't see can get stuck under the edge of the eye. They can get conjunctivitis too, which is irritating.
It's best to get it seen by a vet as soon as possible as eye problems can get serious quickly, but if they are seen in time are easy to resolve.
Best of luck!

 

[DMS260820]

My boar had the same issue once. It was a long piece of hay trapped between the eye ball and the skin at the bottom

 

[GuineaPigGuys]

Thanks very much. Will be taking her to the vet.

 

[DMS260820]

I got his out myself. But only because the end i was able to grab with my fingers. Good luck at the vets.

Best to see a vet anyway, incase it has scratched his eye ball

 

[GuineaPigGuys]

Have been recommended from family to try a saline solution? Does anyone know if that would be an option? Apologises if that’s a stupid question. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

It wouldn't hurt, and would help stop any scratches etc getting infected, but if there was something stuck under the edge, I doubt it would wash it out. If there is a scratch on the surface of the eye, drops are usually prescribed to promote healing.
My son once got a tiny piece of ash in his eye from from a steam train. Just its momentary presence on his eye was enough to scratch it and lift the surface, though only the eye doctor at the hospital could see it with his microscope. He had to have drops for a week.

 

[GuineaPigGuys]

Thanks again

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there, me and my partner got guinea pigs about a week ago. Both sisters. One of the guinea pigs has been blinking in one eye. It has been eating normally and drinking, there doesn’t appear to be anything stuck in it but it’s slightly concerning. Is this normal? Thanks In advance.

Please see a vet promptly for a potential non-ulcerating eye injury or major irritation in the eye! Potential eye injuries always need to be vet checked quickly because they can get worse very quickly.
It can be a tiny piece of hay stuck under a lid or scratch/poke through the cornea. Eye injuries can be often not visible to the eye. A vet uses a special dye and ultraviolet light to assess the eye. Please never wait with potental eye problems as they can deteriorate very quickly and even a seemingly harmless problem can affect a much larger area than you would think. At the worst, the infection can penetrate into the eye, where it is much more difficult to treat and may at the worst require an eye removal operation.
With prompt and correct treatment, eye injuries tend to usually heal quickly and easily.

If your piggy has already come with the problem, you can reclaim the vet cost from the shop; it comes under your customer rights for being sold damaged ware. You can find information on this aspect in this link here:
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)