Penelope has one cloudy eye

[KimberleysWheekers]

I've noticed that Penelope has one cloudy eye. She is a lilac baby pig (8wks yesterday) with pink eyes. One is open as normal, bright and pink, the other is closed very slightly, like a tiny squint, not running/no discharge or anything, just cloudy.

I've booked her into the vet tomorrow and had a look on guinea lynx - There's no sign of injury or fighting etc. She's moving about and eating fine. Other than the cloudiness, she seems her normal self.

If it is something like a hay poke, will it clear on its own? Is it likely that the vet will prescribe something like eye drops?

If it's not something like a hay poke, any suggestions on what it could be? I'd assume (perhaps incorrectly?) that she's be too young for cataracts. Perhaps diabetes, I read on another site that it can cause cloudy eyes, but I assume (again maybe incorrectly?) that something medical would affect both eyes?


Any ideas/advice appriciated whilst we wait for the appointment tomorrow!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

If it's developed very suddenly, it's most likely to be a hay poke. The cloudiness helps the eye to "rest" while it heals quickly, although a degree of cloudiness can remain for a good week.

Eye drops/ointment may help, depending on the problem; the vet would usually prescribe Fucithalmic eye drops, but you can use saline to cleanse the eye at home - probably something worth doing anyway.

 

[pigpig479]

Cataract?

 

[KimberleysWheekers]

If it's developed very suddenly, it's most likely to be a hay poke. The cloudiness helps the eye to "rest" while it heals quickly, although a degree of cloudiness can remain for a good week.

Eye drops/ointment may help, depending on the problem; the vet would usually prescribe Fucithalmic eye drops, but you can use saline to cleanse the eye at home - probably something worth doing anyway.

Very helpful and reassuring as always Laura Thanks

Cataract?

Yes I have thought maybe cataracts, but being so young hmmm I don't know. I always think of cataracts as an old person(piggie) thing. But I guess it isn't impossible.

 

[sharonS]

Could I suggest that you flush the eye with clean water, you may find that a hay seed has gone in there. This has happened to one of mine recently, they have very fleshy eyes, you may need to have a look inside the lower lid after you have flushed the eye to see if you can see anything.

 

[pigpig479]

I've had ALOT of experience with cataract's, especialy agouti's! just for future reference!
But anyway, wish you luck, whatever it is, i'm 99% sure it won't end her life!
Pigpig!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

The only thing with cataracts is that they don't just appear suddenly, the eyes gradually cloud up more over time. The squinting usually suggests there's been an injury or irritation of some sort.

If they occur in diabetic pigs, there would be further symptoms relating to the diabetes e.g. sustained weight loss, excessive drinking and urination. I think cataracts are one of the later symptoms...if I'm not mistaken.

 

[pigpig479]

That's a good point they do!

 

[Wiebke]

The squinting is pointing towards something stuck in the eye (hayseed or even a bit of soft hay, etc.)

Thankfully, eye infections tend to clear pretty quickly, although getting eye gel into the eye can be a bit tricky during the first couple of days! I found it very useful distracting the piggy with some favourite food - they seem to forget about their body when they are tuckng in!