please help me urgent - guineapig ulcer

[Iluvcavies123]

took guineapig to the vet, apparently he is blind in one eye due to an ulcer (however I'm not entirely sure if this is true because if i wave my hand rapidly in front of the blind eye, even if it is completely quiet he still flinches? i have been prescribed metacam (0.24 orally once daily) and isathal one drop three times daily. (is this generally what would be given to treat this severe of an ulcer)?

although i am devastated that this has occurred, i am atleast happy that he seems to be eating and pooping fine and if worst case scenario we have to opt for eye removal surgery (i have an appointment booked for an exotic vet that specialises in rodents in two days) i will assure that he will have the highest quality of life possible.

 

[Wiebke]

took guineapig to the vet, apparently he is blind in one eye due to an ulcer (however I'm not entirely sure if this is true because if i wave my hand rapidly in front of the blind eye, even if it is completely quiet he still flinches? i have been prescribed metacam (0.24 orally once daily) and isathal one drop three times daily. (is this generally what would be given to treat this severe of an ulcer)?

although i am devastated that this has occurred, i am atleast happy that he seems to be eating and pooping fine and if worst case scenario we have to opt for eye removal surgery (i have an appointment booked for an exotic vet that specialises in rodents in two days) i will assure that he will have the highest quality of life possible.

Hi

If at all possible, please have your piggy seen as soon as possible for an ulcerating eye injuries. Thes can develop
and deteriorate very quickly.

Eye treatment and medication is the same in all pet species (as it is external and not systemic), so any decent general vet will do. Eye treatment for injuries is the one area where speed comes before qualification. The sooner you can step in with medical treatment, the more quickly and easily the eye will heal.

 

[Swissgreys]

The treatment you have been given sounds fine, and please don't feel bad.
Piggies get hay pokes, and having him seen promptly by the vet is the best thing to do.
Hopefully the eye drops will help, and it will clear up.
However even if he does need his eye removed, we have several members who have been through this and piggies tend to adapt and cope perfectly well.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s great you’ve got him to the vet quickly.
When piggies poke their eyes with hay it can ulcerate. The normal treatment is as you have been prescribed - painkiller and antibiotic eye drops.
Haypoke is a very common injury in piggies and with prompt treatment they tend to recover well, without it causing blindness - most of us on here will have dealt with several haypokes over our piggy keeping time! Of course, recovery it depends on the severity of the injury but even if it is a severe case they cope well after eye removal surgery

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Hi

If at all possible, please have your piggy seen as soon as possible for an ulcerating eye injuries. Thes can develop
and deteriorate very quickly.

Eye treatment and medication is the same in all pet species (as it is external and not systemic), so any decent general vet will do. Eye treatment for injuries is the one area where speed comes before qualification. The sooner you can step in with medical treatment, the more quickly and easily the eye will heal.

Hello thank you so much for replying so quickly . I have been prescribed isathal and metacam as of yesterday and tomorrow I am taking him to an exotic vet . Do you think it is likely that I have to opt for surgery ?
Thank you again

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hello thank you so much for replying so quickly . I have been prescribed isathal and metacam as of yesterday and tomorrow I am taking him to an exotic vet . Do you think it is likely that I have to opt for surgery ?
Thank you again

It’s not something we can answer I’m afraid - it depends on the extent of the injury.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello thank you so much for replying so quickly . I have been prescribed isathal and metacam as of yesterday and tomorrow I am taking him to an exotic vet . Do you think it is likely that I have to opt for surgery ?
Thank you again

Hi

Please take a deep breath.

Surgical removal is only ever considered as a last resort when any medical treatment is not working or the eye has got too bad due to lack of treatment in time.
Your eye doesn't look anywhere near to the cases needing removal that I have seen pictures of and going by my own ample collection of medically healed eye pokes over the years - but things will become clearer once the surface ulceration has gone.

Your vet will also need to have the surface ulceration gone first and foremost for a full assessment but your general vet should have already checked as to whether the eye is still reacting to light and movement and they will have applied the special dye to check the extent of the ulceration/injury under ultraviolet light as much as possible.
If they are prescribing isathal, then that usually means that they are not dealing with a really bad case in their estimation. Eye injuries can look rather gross the first time you see them.

Your piggy is now on a good way because you have stepped in with treatment as quickly as possible, so the infection will be stopped promptly and will therefore heal pretty straightforward, having much less ground to make up. Just keep applying the drops/gel, ideally as evenly spaced out as you can around your own work and sleep commitments. If you have been given drops, try to gently pull down the lower lid a bit and aim the drops into the resulting gap.

The vast majority of eye injuries heal really well if seen as quickly as possible; just keep at it and you'll get there. You should see a noticeable improvement within the next 2-3 days.

I would recommend to additionally get hold of some carbomer based tear gel (like viscotears ro comparable brands), which is not only giving your piggy added comfort in the eye but the extra hydration also helps the healing process in the deeper layers of the eye and speeds up the healing process quite noticeably in my own experience after having had it recommended by a guinea pig specialist vet. Nowever my local general vet is recommending it. It is not a medication, so is not necessarily dispensed by a vet.
You will need to wait at least half an hour until after the antibiotic drops in order to allow them to be fully absorbed first before applying the tear gel.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

It’s not something we can answer I’m afraid - it depends on the extent of the injury.

Thank you for letting me know, hopefully he will not be in discomfort soon

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Hi

Please take a deep breath.

Surgical removal is only ever considered as a last resort when any medical treatment is not working or the eye has got too bad due to lack of treatment in time.
Your eye doesn't look anywhere near to the cases where I have seen pictures of and going by my own ample collection of eye pokes over the years - but things will become clearer once the surface ulceration has gone.
Your vet will also need to have the surface ulceration gone first and foremost for a full assessment but your general vet should have already checked as to whether the eye is still reacting to light and movement and they will have applied the special dye to check the extent of the ulceration/injury under ultraviolet light. If they are prescribing isathal, then that means that they are not dealing with a really bad case in their estimation. Eye injuries can look rather gross the first time you see them.

Your piggy is now on a good way because you have stepped in with treatment as quickly as possible, so the infection will be stopped promptly and will therefore heal pretty straightforward, having much less ground to make up. Just keep applying the drops/gel, ideally as evenly spaced out as you can around your own work and sleep commitments. If you have been given drops, try to gently pull down the lower lid a bit and aim the drops into the resulting gap. The vast majority of eye injuries heal really well if seen as quickly as possible; just keep at it and you'll get there. You should see a noticeable improvement within the next 2-3 days.

I would recommend to additionally get hold of some carbomer based tear gel (like viscotears ro comparable brands), which is not only giving your piggy added comfort in the eye but the extra hydration also helps the healing process in the deeper layers of the eye and speeds up the healing process quite noticeably in my own experience after having had it recommended by a guinea pig specialist vet. Nowever my local general vet is recommending it. It is not a medication, so is not necessarily dispensed by a vet.
You will need to wait at least half an hour until after the antibiotic drops in order to allow them to be fully absorbed first before applying the tear gel.

Thank you so much you are a life saver I will definitely look into the tear gel right now .
God bless you

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much you are a life saver I will definitely look into the tear gel right now .
God bless you

They are widely available online if your closest pharmacy doesn't have them.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

They are widely available online if your closest pharmacy doesn't have them.

Hello sorry to keep disturbing you but I have just purchased this , have I got the correct product? And after waiting half an hour , how much tear gel do I put in his eye ? Just a drop ?
Thank you so much again , I cannot articulate how much I appreciate .

 

[Wiebke]

Hello sorry to keep disturbing you but I have just purchased this , have I got the correct product? And after waiting half an hour , how much tear gel do I put in his eye ? Just a drop ?
Thank you so much again , I cannot articulate how much I appreciate .

Sorry, can't see the product or the product name but any plain tear gel is fine.

You just dab a little on the eye; it will be absorbed and any excess will be excreted via the tear duct. .

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Sorry, can't see the product or the product name but any plain tear gel is fine.

You just dab a little on the eye; it will be absorbed and any excess will be excreted via the tear duct. .

thank you ((: i purchased the viscotears liquid gel. i have put it in his eye yesterday evening after his last/third dose of the isathal and i just gave him the first dose of isathal this morning and has put in more of the viscotears gel , do i continue following the second and third doses?
i take him to the exotic vet at 1pm today so i hope everything goes well so he doesnt have to be in discomfort soon.

 

[Wiebke]

thank you ((: i purchased the viscotears liquid gel. i have put it in his eye yesterday evening after his last/third dose of the isathal and i just gave him the first dose of isathal this morning and has put in more of the viscotears gel , do i continue following the second and third doses?
i take him to the exotic vet at 1pm today so i hope everything goes well so he doesnt have to be in discomfort soon.

Yes, you continue to give the gel up to three times a day in milder cases and op to 6 times in more severe cases for as long as you give the antibiotic.

All the best for your appointment.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Yes, you continue to give the gel up to three times a day in milder cases and op to 6 times in more severe cases for as long as you give the antibiotic.

All the best for your appointment.

Hello I just returned from the exotic vet and they replaced the isathal with chloramphenicol and they also prescribed me viscotears like you mentioned ((: they told me it’s unlikely that they will opt for surgery but they told me that it’s important I come in for weekly check ups

 

[Wiebke]

Hello I just returned from the exotic vet and they replaced the isathal with chloramphenicol and they also prescribed me viscotears like you mentioned ((: they told me it’s unlikely that they will opt for surgery but they told me that it’s important I come in for weekly check ups

All the best!

Chloramphenicol is a stronger antibiotic but - if that helps you - it has worked for piggies of mine even in cases where an operation would not have been a back-up option option because of age or other health issues and in one case where we didn't think we'd be able to save the badly damaged eye, not to mention to even regain a modicum of sight.

You starting treatment straight away has given you a head start and you have every chance for a full recovery. Regular check ups with eye infections are par for the course because the eye is such a sensitive organ. Just keep at it and persist.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

All the best!

Chloramphenicol is a stronger antibiotic but - if that helps you - it has worked for piggies of mine even in cases where an operation would not have been a back-up option option because of age or other health issues and in one case where we didn't think we'd be able to save the badly damaged eye, not to mention to even regain a modicum of sight.

You starting treatment straight away has given you a head start and you have every chance for a full recovery. Regular check ups with eye infections are par for the course because the eye is such a sensitive organ. Just keep at it and persist.

Thank you so much for all your help , you are amazing .

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Hello I posted a thread on Monday and since then have been prescribed metacam isathal and then they replaced the isathal with viscotears and chloramphenicol.

I have included two pictures the first day and today ,

Should I take him to the emergency vet it is 24 hour and 10 mins away .

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hello I posted a thread on Monday and since then have been prescribed metacam isathal and then they replaced the isathal with viscotears and chloramphenicol.

I have included two pictures the first day and today ,

Should I take him to the emergency vet it is 24 hour and 10 mins away .

Thank you

It can take a while for deeper injuries to heal but if you are worried, then do speak to a vet.

Ive merged your new post with your original thread so all the information is together. To find your threads, press ‘find threads’ at the top banner.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello I posted a thread on Monday and since then have been prescribed metacam isathal and then they replaced the isathal with viscotears and chloramphenicol.

I have included two pictures the first day and today ,

Should I take him to the emergency vet it is 24 hour and 10 mins away .

Thank you

Hi
The infection has obviously penetrated more deeply into the eye than obvious in the first picture (for that you need a vet examination; we cannot do that) but it looks to me like the surface is starting to clear. You can also see blood vessels increasingly lining the area, which means that the natural healing process is underway. It can look grosser at times.

Please be patient and don't panic. Just keep on treating. It is likely to take a good fortnight or more until it is fully healed but you will get there.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

It can take a while for deeper injuries to heal but if you are worried, then do speak to a vet.

Ive merged your new post with your original thread so all the information is together. To find your threads, press ‘find threads’ at the top banner.

thank you so much ((:

 

[Merab]

It can take a while for deeper injuries to heal but if you are worried, then do speak to a vet.

Ive merged your new post with your original thread so all the information is together. To find your threads, press ‘find threads’ at the top banner.

When Micah had a haypoke it took nearly 4 weeks to clear.
It’s worrying when something doesn’t heal as quickly as you hope.
Hang on in there.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

It can take a while for deeper injuries to heal but if you are worried, then do speak to a vet.

Ive merged your new post with your original thread so all the information is together. To find your threads, press ‘find threads’ at the top banner.

thank you so much ((: i know logically that it will take more than a few days to heal but i just feel so worried about him, i just hope everything will be okay

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Hi
The infection has obviously penetrated more deeply into the eye than obvious in the first picture (for that you need a vet examination; we cannot do that) but it looks to me like the surface is starting to clear. You can also see blood vessels increasingly lining the area, which means that the natural healing process is underway. It can look grosser at times.

Please be patient and don't panic. Just keep on treating. It is likely to take a good fortnight or more until it is fully healed but you will get there.

thank you very much for the information. i think especially in real life the blood vessels are definitely lining the area, i wasnt aware that this is a sign of healing, i was quite concerned and thought it had just got worse. )): fortunately the vet told me that if i ever feel worried that i can send a picture.

thank you forr the kind and consoling words, when i made my initial post i felt very concerned and panicked but i feel alot more calm now.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

When Micah had a haypoke it took nearly 4 weeks to clear.
It’s worrying when something doesn’t heal as quickly as you hope.
Hang on in there.

thank you very much, i really needed to hear this. this is my first time keeping guineapigs and this is the first severe injury that he has had, both of my guineas had mites and a respiratory infection but they healed in only a few days after being prescribed medication so this situation has been making me feel very worried.

 

[Merab]

Guinea pigs are very good at worrying us.
You sound like a very caring owner.
Persevere and I hope the eye heals soon.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Just adding progress pictures of the healing process just in case it will help anyone out in the future that is like me and not experienced with eye ulcers ((:

 

[Iluvcavies123]

Another progress pic ((:

 

[Swissgreys]

Another progress pic ((:

It's looking so much better.
You have done a great job.

 

[Iluvcavies123]

It's looking so much better.
You have done a great job.

this made my day, thank you so much ((: