Poor baby is blind

[mork]

Those of you who read my posts on the Pregnancy and Labour thread will know that 10 days ago Mabel surprised us with 2 pups - a biggie and a littley
For a while littley's chances didn't look good but she is doing well, putting on weight and eating etc.
But as she had got braver and started wandering around the cage on her own we now know that what we feared from the start is true: poor littley is totally blind.
She seems to manage pretty well - doesn't walk into things too often but can disorientated when Mum and big baby run away from something and its sad to see her looking for them. Similarly her sense of smell doesn't seem that good as I can put food practically up her nose(!) and she will continue to look for it
But maybe sense of smell is something that develops over time?
Of course we don't love her any less and wouldn't consider having her put to sleep or anything like that.
I just wonder if anyone has any experience of raising a blind guinea and if there are any things we can do to help her as she goes along.

(BTW - littley is now called BRAIN (horrible name, chosen by Melissa, apparently something to do with a cartoon called Pinky and the brain) and big baby is Mike or Mavis whichever, lol.)

 

[gembob]

arrrr bless, you have a special guinea pig there, i bet you she will be lovely, and she will be unique in her own little ways.sorry i cant offer you any advice on the blindness,but I'm sure with your care and attention she will do fine!gemxx

 

[Wiebke]

Have you checked whether Brain's hearing is OK? You can use that to make yourself known (I had a guinea pig going blind from congenital cataracts once).

If she doesn't have hearing, you will have to give her directions by touch. Always touch her lightly first, so she can brace herself, before you do something with her.

 

[Farquhar]

So sorry to hear about the bub. I'm sure there are several people who have experience of blind piggies. I have no experience but if he is eating and drinking then hopefully he will probably just adapt to his disability. Can I just also say that I think 'Brian' is a splendid name for a piggy!

 

[mork]

Have you checked whether Brain's hearing is OK? You can use that to make yourself known (I had a guinea pig going blind from congenital cataracts once).

If she doesn't have hearing, you will have to give her directions by touch. Always touch her lightly first, so she can brace herself, before you do something with her.

Yes, luckily her hearing is fine - she already comes to her name (and then runs off again, lol).
Good idea about touch tho - thanks. Will start to do that ASAP.

 

[piggy person]

aaahhhh isent that the cutest pig in the world! I'm only 10 but i want a disabled guinea pig (or another disabled animal!) becouse i want to be a vetiary nurse

 

[mork]

So sorry to hear about the bub. I'm sure there are several people who have experience of blind piggies. I have no experience but if he is eating and drinking then hopefully he will probably just adapt to his disability. Can I just also say that I think 'Brian' is a splendid name for a piggy!

Except its not "Brian" (I would like that name) its "BRAIN"!:red

 

[Farquhar]

Except its not "Brian" (I would like that name) its "BRAIN"!:red

Aaaah, I see. Brain is still a fine name, most unusual and I think it will be a first on the forum!xx>>>

 

[mork]

aaahhhh isent that the cutest pig in the world! I'm only 10 but i want a disabled guinea pig (or another disabled animal!) becouse i want to be a vetiary nurse

Thank you piggy person! How lovely of you to say so. And good luck with your ambitions. I'm sure you will make a lovely pet owner and a great vet nurse p

 

[mork]

Aaaah, I see. Brain is still a fine name, most unusual and I think it will be a first on the forum!xx>>>

Well I'm not so sure - Have you seen the Brain in question? I just looked up some pictures of Pinky and the Brain and its a gross misrepresentation of our little lovely lol. Shame she recognises it already!

 

[halfpenny]

We took in a litter of pigs including mum, and 2 of the babies had mircopthalmia- due to lots of inbreeding. Sadly one of the babies died at about 3 months- he never grew properly. The other guinea pig was normal apart from her eyes and was rehomed with mum and sis. In the last contact I had with the owner, she was top pig and was doing very well. I still have her sister who has a weird whiteness in one of her eyes - not a cataract, she is also fine.

 

[piggy person]

ow thanks mork")

 

[LennyPig]

I have a piggy (Called Belle) with a congenital cataract and since getting her it is clear that she is completely blind on one side. her other eye seems fine. I know its slightly different but wanted to share anyway.

Belle manages fine with only the very occasional clonk of her head on something if she turns round in the direction of the blind eye. I notice she usually favours turning in the direction of the good eye. I always make sure I approach from the good side so as not to startle her.

 

[mork]

Thank you all for your kind replies and encouragement, its very reassurring to know about the other piggies who manage and one is even top pig! Good news|)
As I said Brain is doing well and has more than doubled her birthweight and I will take some new pix tomorrow and post them here. She is already looking very different from the scrappy little thing she was a few days ago.
One of the unfortunate aspects of her blindness is that, because she loves to eat, she is rather indeterminate and I often see her munching determinedly on something with no nutritional value at all e.g. bedding etc. And when I try and swap the subject of her interest with something better for her she really doesn't get the message at all. I know its not bad for her particularly its just poingnant.
Another thing I hate to see is when I have put something extra nice in like a bit of banana and her mum and the other baby are sharing it and Brain is oblivious to what's going on. But when I give Brain her own piece she doesn't know its there.....bless her:rose

 

[daleksarah]

ahhh poor little piggie but I'm sure she`ll have a happy life nevertheless
ive seen pinky and the brain isnt brain rather evil!

 

[mork]

Exactly! Its a horrible name, I shall try and change it without my daughter knowing!{:|

 

[alcesterpigs]

I used to have a rescue boar, who had been blind from birth, he lived to the age of 5 years. He had no problems getting around. The only thing I had to be careful of was approaching him if I had the smell of food on my fingers. Normally they rely on sight/smell to recognise food. I was bitten on more than one occasion!

 

[gp lover]

Hehe pinky and the brain, thats cute, used to be a good cartoon. :p
As for the little one, shes got nothing majory wrong with her to be put to sleep, shes just a little more special then the other. However, I wish I could provide you with help, but I havent had experiance with guineas like that. She'll do fine, and shes a wonderful! x)

 

[Beautifulmess]

Aye, all the other senses should built up for him =] It'll mainly be hearing and smell for a pig I'm guessing, Africa tries and eats everything so I don't think it'll be the blindness lol you just get pigs that want to have a taste of everything, maybe it conforts him? Hope your well =D

 

[mork]

You're right! She is, very special, our Brain. A real treasure. She's a delicate little female while Her ( very macho) brother is now called Mike and is exactly as a boar in training should be - very rumbunctious!
Thanks for asking BM - we're doing Ok - you too I hope. It looks like Mike will have to go (all alone :0) into the bgger of the 2 cages you gave us soon BM - we have had use out of both already so thanks again. Any news on your new piggie?