Piggy With Eye Scratch

[Rachel_C_91]

Hello! I need some advice with my poor hurt piggy Hedwig! I noticed this morning the skin around her eye was shocking red (she is completely white so this was so scary) and noticed a white film/blob covering on her eye. Immediately I rang around to two local vets (Saturday afternoon and one was not open and the other did not see guinea pigs!) I immediately could see poor Hedwig had a scratch on her eye! (She is my third guinea pig and this is the first scratch, I dont know what caused it, she is 12 weeks old and I've had her since she was 4 weeks old with my older guinea pig, 7 month old Pisky) Pisky sometimes kicks her and Hedwig squeals. Maybe some nips but gentle ones because Hedwig is so loud and rambunctious and pisky is a chubby and older Abyssinian and so relaxed. ANYWAY! I took her to the vet, vet says her eye is completely damaged and will have to be removed in two days time but there is a threat because she is so small that she might not wake up after the anesthesia. She gave me drops (only once a day and they are cat and rabbit eyedrops > and I'm so worried and decided to book a check up this wednesday instead of monday to try and let the eye heal itself. I'm not sure if this vet has much experience with guineas, and after some reading of forums, it seems that alot of piggies that have scratches with outer blue clouding heel within a few weeks. I have Hedwig nestled up in towels and have her treats in a box with her (didnt want to leave her in the hutch as there is straw there and a storm tonight, even though they get covered with three beach towels and a duvet each night ) Do you think her eye will heal? Do you think I will need to get it removed. I am making sure she is getting water and I'm sitting up at 4.15 am keeping her company. I can upload a picture if needed. She is drinking and eating, but sometimes she closes her eyes over, also she is not vocal, and usually she whistles about 3/4 times an hour, runs EVERYWHERE and makes constant noises to herself, so I know my poor sweetie is sick, but I dont want to have to put her through an operation, especially if it is something that can be treated and healed with the appropriate care

 

[Deleted member 114675]

Are you happy to tell us where you are located? If you are not happy with the decision your vet has made would you be happy to take her to another vet?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello! I need some advice with my poor hurt piggy Hedwig! I noticed this morning the skin around her eye was shocking red (she is completely white so this was so scary) and noticed a white film/blob covering on her eye. Immediately I rang around to two local vets (Saturday afternoon and one was not open and the other did not see guinea pigs!) I immediately could see poor Hedwig had a scratch on her eye! (She is my third guinea pig and this is the first scratch, I dont know what caused it, she is 12 weeks old and I've had her since she was 4 weeks old with my older guinea pig, 7 month old Pisky) Pisky sometimes kicks her and Hedwig squeals. Maybe some nips but gentle ones because Hedwig is so loud and rambunctious and pisky is a chubby and older Abyssinian and so relaxed. ANYWAY! I took her to the vet, vet says her eye is completely damaged and will have to be removed in two days time but there is a threat because she is so small that she might not wake up after the anesthesia. She gave me drops (only once a day and they are cat and rabbit eyedrops > and I'm so worried and decided to book a check up this wednesday instead of monday to try and let the eye heal itself. I'm not sure if this vet has much experience with guineas, and after some reading of forums, it seems that alot of piggies that have scratches with outer blue clouding heel within a few weeks. I have Hedwig nestled up in towels and have her treats in a box with her (didnt want to leave her in the hutch as there is straw there and a storm tonight, even though they get covered with three beach towels and a duvet each night ) Do you think her eye will heal? Do you think I will need to get it removed. I am making sure she is getting water and I'm sitting up at 4.15 am keeping her company. I can upload a picture if needed. She is drinking and eating, but sometimes she closes her eyes over, also she is not vocal, and usually she whistles about 3/4 times an hour, runs EVERYWHERE and makes constant noises to herself, so I know my poor sweetie is sick, but I dont want to have to put her through an operation, especially if it is something that can be treated and healed with the appropriate care

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HI! Whether an eye needs to be removed (which is an operation that goes generally well and leaves the piggy with a perfectly good quality of life) depends on the extent of the injury to the eye and that is something only a vet seeing her can judge. If you are not happy with your vet's diagnosis, you can always seek a second opinion from another vet, preferably an exotics or very experienced small animal general vet. Has your girl got some painkiller for them meantime as she must be in some discomfort?

That said, eye ops for the majority go well and a guinea pig can have a perfectly fine quality of life with just one eye. I am tagging some members I know have been through an eye removal operation with guinea pigs of theirs.
@Claire W @furryfriends (TEAS)

We have got members from all over the world, so in order to help you most effectively, it would be great if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!
There is a recommended piggy savvy UK vets locator on the top bar, but can provide a link to recommended vets in other countries.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

In most cases eyes can be saved. Even those where the eye is very damaged can be spared, if appropriate antibiotics are used. However, if the eye does need to be removed it is important to use a vet who has experience in enucleation surgery. Last week one of our temporary sanctuary residents developed a retrobulbar abscess (abscess behind eye). You can see his story here Cedric's Eye Problem - A Diary

First and foremost you need to get the eye examined by a guinea pig savvy vet, as sometimes it can look a lot worse than it actually is. Getting treatment quickly is key to a good result.

 

[Rachel_C_91]

Hi Thanks for the replies. I live in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Hedwig (injured piggy) seems in much better form today. She is eating and drinking plenty and making the occasional whistle when she hears the doors opening etc. I have her separate, in a cozy nest with no hay and inside the house so I can monitor her closely. The vet only gave me drops called Isathal, but I am also using saline drops also. She is a great piggy and coping very well despite her young age. The eye looks better, sometimes its opened and sometimes its closed. Considering this is only day 2 of her treatment, hopefully we will see some form of recovery. I brought my other piggy in to see her. Pisky is not affectionate and never snuggled with Hedwig before. but when i slowly popped her into Hedwigs box she went very close to Hedwigs eye, almost like she was sniffing it, then nestled into Hedwig and cuddled on her hind legs. I think this is causing a deeper bond for them I'm just not sure what other vets I'm going to bring her to, and to be honest, I'm not working at the moment I'm a student who had to move back home, I cant really afford many more vet trips. I understand its for my precious piggy, but if I were to go to the previous vet for her checkup then a different vet who is a specialist you're looking at about 120 euro before any medication is involved.
Right now I'm looking closely at her eye, it looks almost as if there is a soft white scab on her pupil....soft but not pus....if that makes sense, a scab in the way something moist would have a scab. I'm not sure if this is a good sign or not, the rest of her eye has returned to her blue/black condition. (her eyes are originally blue/black, not fully black)

 

[piggie smitten]

Hi, I'm afraid I can't offer any advice regarding Hedwig's eye but I noticed you said you've taken the hay away. All piggies need access to hay 24/7 as it is vital for keeping the back teeth ground down, in fact it should make up 80% of their diet. I wish you luck with getting the eye sorted.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

As has already been mentioned, please do not take away the hay. It's a necessary part of the diet.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Thanks for the replies. I live in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Hedwig (injured piggy) seems in much better form today. She is eating and drinking plenty and making the occasional whistle when she hears the doors opening etc. I have her separate, in a cozy nest with no hay and inside the house so I can monitor her closely. The vet only gave me drops called Isathal, but I am also using saline drops also. She is a great piggy and coping very well despite her young age. The eye looks better, sometimes its opened and sometimes its closed. Considering this is only day 2 of her treatment, hopefully we will see some form of recovery. I brought my other piggy in to see her. Pisky is not affectionate and never snuggled with Hedwig before. but when i slowly popped her into Hedwigs box she went very close to Hedwigs eye, almost like she was sniffing it, then nestled into Hedwig and cuddled on her hind legs. I think this is causing a deeper bond for them I'm just not sure what other vets I'm going to bring her to, and to be honest, I'm not working at the moment I'm a student who had to move back home, I cant really afford many more vet trips. I understand its for my precious piggy, but if I were to go to the previous vet for her checkup then a different vet who is a specialist you're looking at about 120 euro before any medication is involved.
Right now I'm looking closely at her eye, it looks almost as if there is a soft white scab on her pupil....soft but not pus....if that makes sense, a scab in the way something moist would have a scab. I'm not sure if this is a good sign or not, the rest of her eye has returned to her blue/black condition. (her eyes are originally blue/black, not fully black)

There are several small animal clinics/exotic vets in Dublin. We have unfortunately no specific recommendations for any vets in Ireland and neither has the international recommended guinea pig vets list on Guinea Lynx. You may need to enquire for their fees first, though.

You can help us a lot by adding your city/country to your details, so we can always take your situation into account when giving advice. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

 

[Rachel_C_91]

Hi all who replied, I didnt take her hay away per se, the original vet recommend I remove her from the hutch and my other piggy to keep an eye on her. I did, I set up a new nest with proper cushion stuff ( like cotton wool made for guinea and hamsters) and towels, I gave her hay 6 times a day, but I didnt give her free rein, like in the hutch where it is in a hay box, their houses and a hay rack. But I took the smaller pieces and cut them smaller and put them in her nest. She had loads of hay dont worry I took her to a second vet who referred me to a third vet After a 4 hour car journey she was taken into the vets for over night care. When she was weighed she weighed in at 320, when 5 days earlier she was 470, the vet said at 11 weeks old she should be gaining alot of weight not dropping it. But I had been making sure she was drinking and eating fresh carrots, hay, guinea pellets, parsley plants and I even picked her fresh grass. Her operation for eye removal is tomorrow. Fingers crossed she will be ok. I'm a bit angry with alot of friends and family who have been saying "How much did you buy her for? And the operation is 370 euro, would you not just put her down and buy a new one"? And so that has me even more motivated to be positive for Hedwig (who the vet said should be called Mad-Eyed Moody instead, from Harry Potter) Anyways fingers crossed Hedwig will come through the op. ok

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all who replied, I didnt take her hay away per se, the original vet recommend I remove her from the hutch and my other piggy to keep an eye on her. I did, I set up a new nest with proper cushion stuff ( like cotton wool made for guinea and hamsters) and towels, I gave her hay 6 times a day, but I didnt give her free rein, like in the hutch where it is in a hay box, their houses and a hay rack. But I took the smaller pieces and cut them smaller and put them in her nest. She had loads of hay dont worry I took her to a second vet who referred me to a third vet After a 4 hour car journey she was taken into the vets for over night care. When she was weighed she weighed in at 320, when 5 days earlier she was 470, the vet said at 11 weeks old she should be gaining alot of weight not dropping it. But I had been making sure she was drinking and eating fresh carrots, hay, guinea pellets, parsley plants and I even picked her fresh grass. Her operation for eye removal is tomorrow. Fingers crossed she will be ok. I'm a bit angry with alot of friends and family who have been saying "How much did you buy her for? And the operation is 370 euro, would you not just put her down and buy a new one"? And so that has me even more motivated to be positive for Hedwig (who the vet said should be called Mad-Eyed Moody instead, from Harry Potter) Anyways fingers crossed Hedwig will come through the op. ok

Thank for the update and sorry about your odyssey! I will keep my fingers firmly crossed for her big operation tomorrow!

Sadly, the comments you have been facing are typical for people who do not understand that a pet is not a toy but a friend for the duration of its life. Good on you that you are carrying on!

Here is our illustrated guide on syringe feeding, which you will have to do to help her keep and put on more weight; it includes tips on post-operative care, so you can help Hedwig as much as possible during her recovery. It is absolutely vital that you keep the guts going as much as possible. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Rachel_C_91]

Oh thank you for the link I am studying from home so will keep an eye on her loads! Thanks for the thumbs up, I knew I was doing the right thing I didnt think twice about the cost (my Christmas holiday to Edinburgh is cancelled instead ) thats how devoted I am to her. Also her piggy friend Pisky is verrrrry docile, I'll keep Hedwig separate first and care for her properly before she goes back into the hutch. I will let you know how she gets on. Thank you again for your reply

 

[Wiebke]

Oh thank you for the link I am studying from home so will keep an eye on her loads! Thanks for the thumbs up, I knew I was doing the right thing I didnt think twice about the cost (my Christmas holiday to Edinburgh is cancelled instead ) thats how devoted I am to her. Also her piggy friend Pisky is verrrrry docile, I'll keep Hedwig separate first and care for her properly before she goes back into the hutch. I will let you know how she gets on. Thank you again for your reply

As soon as Hedwig is eating fully by herself and is putting on weight again, she is safe to go with her companion. The sooner the better, as the support of the companion is very important. If you could keep Pisky next to her, that would help both enormously, especially in view of the coming very cold nights.

I would get up at least once throughout the first night to check that she has not pulled on the fresh scar, more if she is off food to syringe feed. Make sure that you have got either pellets or recovery food and probiotics at home, so you can step in if and as soon as needed.
See your vet asap as an emergency on the next day if Hedwig is lethargic and not perking up after the op and has a bad reaction to the anaesthetics. Also ask the vets how soon after the operation she can have painkiller again when you pick her up in case of an emergency, just in case.

All the best! You are a wonderful piggy mummy!

 

[Rachel_C_91]

Oh stop the coldness I have been placing hot water bottles in their hutch, covering the roof with a duck-down duvet and have been wraping 4, yes 4 beach towels over the chicken-wire, no fear they will be cold I will welcome staying up doing feedings with her, after the first vet and when the second vet couldnt see me I stayed up 3 nights straight until somebody else could relieve the watch duty. If she comes through the operation I will be so happy I will not leave her side. I will definitely do everything you mentioned above ^ and just need to make sure I have some probiotics. God this is such a new experience! Thank you again for all your helpful replies