Oreo has a matted eye! Quick response appreciated!

[GinnyforPhoebe]

We just recently got two guinea pigs. As I posted in my other thread, we lost our Ginny last week after only owning her a few days. She died from pneumonia. The only symptom was a matted eye at first, but by day two she was obviously sick - breathing hard and seemed tired. After Ginny died we got two sisters, Oreo and Fluffy. I just went to play with them and Oreo has a matted eye! I called the Vet but it's Saturday so they cannot get her in until Monday. There is always the emergency vet but they don't specialize in guinea pigs. Is it safe to wait until Monday? Is it common for guinea pigs to get some gunk like sleepers in one eye? I worry its a respiratory infection and it won't end well if I don't hurry and get her treated, but at the same time I don't' want to be paranoid. Are there other symptoms I can look for that would signal an emergency? She still seems quite spunky. Running around her cage and won't let me catch her, although she has been hiding more often today?

 

[Claire W]

What do you mean by 'matty eye' is it watery at all? Is it crusty? Look closley on the lens if ger eye. Is it cloudy? Try not to panic as watery eyes can be a sign of quite a few things.

Have a look on the guinea lynx page on eyes http://www.guinealynx.info/eyes.html Can you see anything in her eye? She could have an injury, hay poke or something stuck under the lid.

If Oreo stops eating and drinking that would be a sign that she needs to see a vet ASAP.

One of my girls has a watery eye today. I have cleaned it out with a saline solution of 1 tbs of salt dissolved in a pint of boiled cooled water recommended by another forum member.

I am sorry that you lost Ginny x

 

[Squidge]

If you mean the eye is cloudy and a 'blue' colour then brolene or golden eye drops (one drop in each infected eye twice a day) until you can get her to the vets will stop it from getting any worse.

 

[Wiebke]

Eye injuries as well as URI should be seen by a vet. A bluish eye indicates an injury or infection (ulceration). A crusty eye can be a sign of URI.

Here in Britain, many vet clinics have some out-of-hours cover for nights and weekends. You can usually get the contact number from the clinics' answering machine. Please do not treat on spec if you don't know what you are dealing with.

Here are the signs of URI. If you suspect it (especially if two or more of the symptoms listed are present like crusty eyes and loss of appetite), then please see the emergency vet; if necessary print out this page. He should be able to diagnose a respiratory problem even of he is not a small animal specialist and he can prescribe an antibiotic until you can see your regular vet on Monday.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uri.html

I am sorry, weekend emergency can really shake you up!

 

[Mrs Sport_Billy]

I agree with Wiebke eye injuries really need to be seen by the vet. If you suspect an uri then I think you need the vets as well.