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Piggie Has Red Swollen Cloudy Eye

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Sarah Beckett

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Daisy has been staying indoors , not venturing out to eat grass since fri . Yesterday picked her up and saw her right eye is very cloudy , red around edges and appears a little dry . She is eating if food placed in front of her . As I had some left over from recent dog prescription , I started yesterday applying gentamicin Anti biotic eye gel 2-3 times per day and also gave her some metacam which I had from previous vet visits . Not sure if I can see any visible improvement but no worse at least . Is there anything else I should be doing until seeing vet tomorrow ?Any advice appreciated .
 
Can't offer any advice apart from the vets trip tomorrow. Possible a eye poke of some sort. Please let us know how Daisy gets on
 
I think you have it covered for now, wait to see what the vet says tomorrow. It could be a hay poke or maybe a URI or Conjunctivitis.

Is she eating any better since having the pain relief?
 
Thanks for your replies . I am not sure if she is eating any better after pain relief . Probably eating less ,generally and picking her fave nibbles . She is not usually fussy . This evening eye is looking cloudy , red but perhaps a touch less swollen . But then I could be imagining it ! Vets tomorrow and will keep you updated .
 
Dog prescription? I know absolutely nothing about animal medicine and I'm just interested if it is safe to use that with a guinea pig?

My mums old dog had to take metacam and one of my guinea pigs was recently prescribed metacam.
 
kerry said:
Dog prescription? I know absolutely nothing about animal medicine and I'm just interested if it is safe to use that with a guinea pig?

My mums old dog had to take metacam and one of my guinea pigs was recently prescribed metacam.
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Dog metacam is prescribed more often for guinea pigs than less strong cat metacam; some vets amy ask you which one you prefer. Please always make sure that you know which one you have got and what the correct dosage is before using it.
 
Wiebke said:
Dog metacam is prescribed more often for guinea pigs than less strong cat metacam. Please always make sure that you know which one you have got and what the correct dosage is before using it.
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Oh right, how strange. I have no need to use it right now but its always helpful to know for future reference :)
 
Metacam is dog metacam prescribed for guinea pig previously. I have read that gentamicin can be toxic to piggies but that eye drop version is ok ...guinealynx forums . I used this as it was the only optic antibiotic available while avoiding emergency vet fees . Obviously if I did't have that I would have gone down that route .Anyway today she is feisty as usual , giving her usual gentle nip of my fingers when I pick her up ! Once sitting on a lap she enjoys her cuddle but just dislikes handling .The eye is obviously tender as she doesn't like it touched , even for applying gel to it . She drank quite a lot of water from the syringe as I have't seen her drinking (
Doesn't mean she hasn't but just want to be sure ) and then she started foraging on muesli when I put her back in the cage .So at least still eating and pooing !will hopefully get some drops for her later as the gel,is a bit invasive .
 
Just back from the vets . Vet confirmed was ok to use gentamicin but as little improvement she has given her fucithalmic drops and a lubricating gel and to continue with metacam .She thought there appears to be a deep ulcer and that Daisy may lose the eye !:(So has to go back on Wednesday . Keeping fingers crossed for her
 
Just back from the vets . Vet confirmed was ok to use gentamicin but as little improvement she has given her fucithalmic drops and a lubricating gel and to continue with metacam .She thought there appears to be a deep ulcer and that Daisy may lose the eye !:(So has to go back on Wednesday . Keeping fingers crossed for her
 
Thanks everyone . Today Daisy is out and about eating grass , running through her tunnels and playing with Snuffles .The eye still looks a mess , still red, cloudy , slightly less yellow so I suppose something positive must be happening ...
 
It's been over a week since Daisy started on antibiotic drops for her eye. Changed from gentamicin to fucithalmic drops last Monday . On fri little improvement so started on oral baytril as well .Little improvement that I can see and due back to vets tomorrow. There was talk of removing the eye but I have read that other procedures are available such keratotomy whatever this is . Also , how should the vet check for foreign body behind the eye ? The last vet did look into the eye with a light .Obviously I would like to think removal of the eye as a very last resort . Daisy is eating well ,still her cheeky self and enjoys outside time on the grass . However I can't begin to imagine how painful this is for her and she must be a brave little soul . She has a slight head tilt but is on daily metacam too . I am thinking of getting a second opinion tomorrow from a guineapig expert vet rather than go back to same vet.Does anyone here have any experience of severe eye infection and how was it treated ? Should I save Daisy further pain and accept removal of the eye or is it worth getting another opinion ?
 
I think it would be worth seeing a specialist. Where abouts are you?

I am wondering about tooth root issues which could cause an abcess behind the eye and possibly the head tilt too.
 
Hi helen,I am in Scotland . Going to try Apex today .Thanks for that bit of info ,I didn't know teeth could cause this but I will mention to the vet. Another thing I noted from the start was the eye appearing dry .She has lubricating drops .
 
Update..we went to Apex ( from recommended vets here) and they were very accommodating , agreed to do x- ray's today as we had travelled a bit of a distance .Daisy had x-rays and thorough eye & dental exam under GA .Her teeth are ok but inner ear infection found thus the head tilt . Unsure if this is related to the eye symptoms . She was started on oral metronidazole for this along with chloramphenicol drops 8-12 times per day for the eye . Also on some other things for the eye ..atropine and Remend . She will continue to get baytril and lubricant & metacam .Phew...what list ...she will need her own drug cabinet soon ! Some of these are non licensed for guinea pigs so had to sign disclaimer but also I feel we may now get somewhere . The vet felt more positive about the eye after examination / X-rays . So fingers crossed ! Now ,I would definitely recommend using a vet who knows a bit about piggies and prepared to try out different options . Back again on fri ...meanwhile Daisy could do with some healing wheeks please !
 
Oh , and just to add, I am giving her some natural yogurt past few days as a prebiotic to try to fend off GI stasis . Told the vet this and seemed ok with it . Daisy likes it too .
 
i have very little experience with eyes, but @Claire W or @sharonS may be able to help you a bit more with this one.
bucketfulls of major healing wheeks for Daisy . hope she is on the mend soon & feeling better.:nod:
i didn't know piggies could have yogurt.... i always thought they were dairy/lactose intolerant? oh well every days a schoolday.:tu:

:luv:Good luck & heres to a speedy recovery from the girls & i. xx
 
Thank GPTV ,I think Daisy is improving ,eye is looking a bit better. Regarding the yogurt , I have a dog with a serious milk allergy ( severe blood streaked diarrhoea every 2 hrs for about 4 days if untreated ) .so she cannot have milk , cream , custard, ice cream etc .She can eat cheese and live yogurt without any problems though . Something to do with the fermenting process and good bacteria reducing the lactose ,I think ! This was a learning curve for me too !
 
Daisy was back for a check up today and it seems the 2 hourly chloramphenicol ( as opposed to previous twice daily prescription )has paid off, along with the other drops and meds she is getting :nod:. It looks like she will not lose the eye now but she may not recover full sight .Continuing for another week before next check . Another good thing to come out of this is she seems to have got used to being handled now and doesn't try to nip when picked up , she seems to like the syringe .. If she sees me holding it , she goes up to it and gives it a nibble and likes to drink water from it .She is getting used to being a pampered pig !:D
 
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