Possible Eye Injury, Advice Needed

[Wheekallweek]

I swear piggy eyes are like magnets for hay and other random bits

 

[KatieM]

I swear piggy eyes are like magnets for hay and other random bits

It sure feels like it

 

[CTWC]

It sure feels like it

You're not kidding

 

[Wiebke]

All the best with tackling your next eye injury. At least you have practice now...

They can unfortunately happen like London buses - a long time nothing and then several come along at once. The closest I had was coming home from the vets with all the meds for one piggy only to find that a neighbouring piggy was starting an ulcer as well! At least I got on top of the second one quickly since it was only starting to get going...

 

[KatieM]

All the best with tackling your next eye injury. At least you have practice now...

They can unfortunately happen like London buses - a long time nothing and then several come along at once. The closest I had was coming home from the vets with all the meds for one piggy only to find that a neighbouring piggy was starting an ulcer as well! At least I got on top of the second one quickly since it was only starting to get going...

Yes my pigs have never had them in almost 2 years and then bam! Thankfully the vet agreed to keep a standing prescription for the med. So I can get the meds immediately and then schedule for a follow up check! I hope no one else pokes their eye but if they do I feel we’ve got a great plan and I’m totally comfortable just treating them myself!

 

[Wiebke]

Yes my pigs have never had them in almost 2 years and then bam! Thankfully the vet agreed to keep a standing prescription for the med. So I can get the meds immediately and then schedule for a follow up check! I hope no one else pokes their eye but if they do I feel we’ve got a great plan and I’m totally comfortable just treating them myself!

See your vet for a check asap if there is any bleeding/blood in the eye (not the temporary healing blood vessels that you can see inside the eye that bring extra oxygen to the injury site) or if the injury looks really bad.

 

[KatieM]

See your vet for a check asap if there is any bleeding/blood in the eye (not the temporary healing blood vessels that you can see inside the eye that bring extra oxygen to the injury site) or if the injury looks really bad.

Of course! Now seeing two different cases of it, I definitely would know when to bring them in! And I would bring them in regardless, it’s just to get them started on meds asap so that I can wait the few days for the appointment time. They are always booked a few days out

 

[KatieM]

Baby Tinesl has been on drops for 6 days…her eyes has continued to get this red section more and more each day. I know they are supposed to have an uptick of blood vessels to help it heal…but my other pig was not a baby and had much bigger eyes so I saw the blood vessels come in, these look different
Shes also steal scratching at the eye (even on pain meds). Shall I just keep on doing twice a day or when does the redness indicate it’s not healing well? Shes still eating and acting normal!

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you feel things are worsening or are at all concerned, it would be best to return to the vet for a check up.
I hope she is ok

 

[weepweeps]

Bless her. Good luck at the vets. Maybe there’s still something in there?

 

[KatieM]

If you feel things are worsening or are at all concerned, it would be best to return to the vet for a check up.
I hope she is ok

Thank you, looking back at pictures it’s just not looking good. So I’ll call today and see if they can get her in this week…trust my gut and hope it’s just the healing process nothing more!

 

[KatieM]

Bless her. Good luck at the vets. Maybe there’s still something in there?

This is a good thought. She had to see a dog veterinarian initially not someone who deals with “pocket pets” as we call them here. Her eye is so tiny it’s possible they didn’t flush it well enough. Looking back at photos the red spot wasn’t there initially so I’m going to hopefully get her in this week

 

[Wiebke]

This is a good thought. She had to see a dog veterinarian initially not someone who deals with “pocket pets” as we call them here. Her eye is so tiny it’s possible they didn’t flush it well enough. Looking back at photos the red spot wasn’t there initially so I’m going to hopefully get her in this week

Hi

The red spot looks to me like healing blood vessels but they are still covered by ulcerating gunk so you cannot see them properly. Have you got tear gel, tear drops etc. to help clear out the ulceration gunk to allow the antibiotic drops to work fully on the injured and infected site? It can either be that the cornea is badly scratched or there is still something more stuck under the lid.

Eyes are actually the one part of the body where a general vet is as good as an exotics specialist since diagnosis, treatment and medication is exactly the same for guinea pigs as it is for cats and dogs.

 

[KatieM]

Hi

The red spot looks to me like healing blood vessels but they are still covered by ulcerating gunk so you cannot see them properly. Have you got tear gel, tear drops etc. to help clear out the ulceration gunk to allow the antibiotic drops to work fully on the injured and infected site? It can either be that the cornea is badly scratched or there is still something more stuck under the lid.

Eyes are actually the one part of the body where a general vet is as good as an exotics specialist since diagnosis, treatment and medication is exactly the same for guinea pigs as it is for cats and dogs.

Thank you! Yes I’ve got the tear gel!

What concerned me more is day 6 and she’s still so uncomfortable. Yes! I have read that dog vets can treat this, this dog vet didn’t debride the dead tissue like my regular vet does so I’m wondering if it’s that. Or she managed to get something else in it…they didn’t do a major look around except with the dye!

I moved her follow up appt to this week instead of next just in case! I don’t want her to be uncomfortable if it’s something in her eye still.

 

[Wiebke]

If the initial big ulceration is not majorly coming off within 3-4 days, then having the eye checked earlier (including a look under the upper eyelid) is not a bad idea as there could be some additional surface irritation still around.

Usually the tear gel is additionally pretty good at helping to wash any persistent gunk out; not just supporting the healing process with easing any itches and dryness in the eye and hydrating tissue deeper in the eye to create a better healing environment there.

The good news is that the poke is healing, though, so you are on the right road. It takes as long as it takes but you'll get there.