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Potential eye poke?

Well done for having him seen so quickly, it makes recovery that much easier
One of mine had haypoke within two weeks of me getting them (the other managed to wait a bit longer!), it’s a sharp introduction to piggy owning!
Definitely worth ensuring you have a vet fund put aside as these things crop up when you least expect them!
 
My boar had the same looking eye, luckily I could see the hay strand poking out, so I carefuly managed to pull it out and his eye was back to normal withing an hour, luckily he didn't get a scratch, but I was keeping a close look out on it, ready for a vet appointment. I think any vet will b ok for eyes, as an eye is an eye

I now check all pig.eyes every morning and evening quickly. I check my gerbils scent gland and my rats noses lol. Fun fun fun
 
Piggies&buns said:
Well done for having him seen so quickly, it makes recovery that much easier
One of mine had haypoke within two weeks of me getting them (the other managed to wait a bit longer!), it’s a sharp introduction to piggy owning!
Definitely worth ensuring you have a vet fund put aside as these things crop up when you least expect them!
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Thankfully it wasn’t expensive at all and no damage was done. He recommended I keep the hay in the rack, but I guess it could still happen
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
My boar had the same looking eye, luckily I could see the hay strand poking out, so I carefuly managed to pull it out and his eye was back to normal withing an hour, luckily he didn't get a scratch, but I was keeping a close look out on it, ready for a vet appointment. I think any vet will b ok for eyes, as an eye is an eye

I now check all pig.eyes every morning and evening quickly. I check my gerbils scent gland and my rats noses lol. Fun fun fun
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Yeah I check everyday for anything obscure but it just have happened today
 
Ellie-May said:
Thankfully it wasn’t expensive at all and no damage was done. He recommended I keep the hay in the rack, but I guess it could still happen
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Yes it could. I think I’ve mentioned to you before, I keep Timothy in a rack but because my two live in a hutch in my shed, they are bedded on meadow hay so there is a constant risk even with soft meadow
 
Piggies&buns said:
Yes it could. I think I’ve mentioned to you before, I keep Timothy in a rack but because my two live in a hutch in my shed, they are bedded on meadow hay so there is a constant risk even with soft meadow
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My whole cage is floored with meadow and Timothy and alfalfa King timothy 🙄.
 
Piggies&buns said:
Yes it could. I think I’ve mentioned to you before, I keep Timothy in a rack but because my two live in a hutch in my shed, they are bedded on meadow hay so there is a constant risk even with soft meadow
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I have both hay and Timothy but I will keep it in the rack for now, but thankfully all is well. It looks a lot better than it did earlier so that’s a start
 
Ellie-May said:
I have both hay and Timothy but I will keep it in the rack for now, but thankfully all is well. It looks a lot better than it did earlier so that’s a start
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I think a Guinea pig can easily walk up to a hay rack, and walk straight into a strand with their eye ball, bit like when I'm Sheering a hedge and I get poked in the face with a twig. I guess it minimises it a bit.
 
I use meadow hay for them to jump into (and pee/poo in... messy boars) and Timothy hay in a hay bag from someone’s advice here, working out a lot better :) x
 
Ellie-May said:
I think it’s where he likes to dive into the day and it just happened unfortunately
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Yes it does and there is nothing you can do about it unfortunately. The hay all over my boys hutch is around a foot deep for warmth at this time of year so until they’ve squashed it down, after a few hours, they are running within it and always at risk of hay pokes
 
Piggies&buns said:
Yes it does and there is nothing you can do about it unfortunately. The hay all over my boys hutch is around a foot deep for warmth at this time of year so until they’ve squashed it down, after a few hours, they are running within it and always at risk of hay pokes
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Mine are indoors so it’s a lot warmer. I can hear him running around lol
 
Rivervixen said:
I use meadow hay for them to jump into (and pee/poo in... messy boars) and Timothy hay in a hay bag from someone’s advice here, working out a lot better :) x
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I normally had meadow on the floor and Timothy in the rack, but for now I will just keep it in the rack
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I think a Guinea pig can easily walk up to a hay rack, and walk straight into a strand with their eye ball, bit like when I'm Sheering a hedge and I get poked in the face with a twig. I guess it minimises it a bit.
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It does a little bit, but what can you do. Boys will be boys lol
 
Ellie-May said:
Hi everyone,

Just keeping you updated about Ernie. He is fine thankfully! It was a hay poke, but luckily a minor one and nothing serious. Just gave us some drops and should be cleared within three days. Bert is fine so it’s nothing contagious. I think they’re kind of annoying because they had to go lol but I’ve given them some dill and they waffled it down quickly. Should I keep them out of the play pen for a few days?
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Also, they gave me isathal if anyone has heard of it
 
Ellie-May said:
Also, they gave me isathal if anyone has heard of it
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Yes, that is the common UK antibiotic eye drops brand for treating eye pokes in pets, including guinea pigs.

It has recently been rebranded. The old brand name is fucithalmic; the product is the same. ;)
 
Well done for getting it seen quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment is needed with eyes as they can very quickly go downhill causing a lot more trouble and great expense. Isathal is a good eye drop for piggies. Mine have had it when they’ve had a hay poke. I’m afraid piggies are always at risk of hay pokes. It’s a design fault!
 
Wiebke said:
Yes, that is the common UK antibiotic eye drops brand for treating eye pokes in pets, including guinea pigs.

It has recently been rebranded. The old brand name is fucithalmic; the product is the same. ;)
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VickiA said:
Well done for getting it seen quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment is needed with eyes as they can very quickly go downhill causing a lot more trouble and great expense. Isathal is a good eye drop for piggies. Mine have had it when they’ve had a hay poke. I’m afraid piggies are always at risk of hay pokes. It’s a design fault!
He was fine this morning so it must have just happened this afternoon so luckily I saw when I did and managed to get an appoitment
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Ellie-May said:
Aw thank you! He was fine this morning so it must have just happened this afternoon so luckily I saw when I did and managed to get an appoitment
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The sooner you can treat an eye injury, the better as the damage is usually larger than visible to the naked eye and can spread quickly; the good news is that eye injuried when caught in time also generally heal quickly and easily, especially if that happens before ulceration (infection) can set in. ;)
 
VickiA said:
Well done for getting it seen quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment is needed with eyes as they can very quickly go downhill causing a lot more trouble and great expense. Isathal is a good eye drop for piggies. Mine have had it when they’ve had a hay poke. I’m afraid piggies are always at risk of hay pokes. It’s a design fault!
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Thank you! I have put their hay in their hay racks for now just to try and minimize anything
 
Wiebke said:
The sooner you can treat an eye injury, the better as the damage is usually larger than visible to the naked eye and can spread quickly; the good news is that eye injuried when caught in time also generally heal quickly and easily, especially if that happens before ulceration (infection) can set in. ;)
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Thankfully! He checked the eye and could not see any damage, but we are going back on Friday for a general health check for both so they can check again then
 
Ellie-May said:
Thank you! I have put their hay in their hay racks for now just to try and minimize anything
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Eye pokes are one of the more common piggy hazards, especially as burying in soft hay is one of the greatest joys for them...
 
Ellie-May said:
I could be over worrying, but has Ernie got a haypoke? He’s eating, drinking, playing etc and he seems generally fine. The first picture is the one I’m worried about and the second is the other eye. He seems perfectly fine in himself, but I did have to wipe away a little bit of gunk I guess it’s called
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I just thought I would give you guys a quick update. I put a drop in his eye this morning and no gunk seems to be there anymore, but his eye still looks a little sore and is not opened fully. Overall all is well :)
 
Ellie-May said:
I just thought I would give you guys a quick update. I put a drop in his eye this morning and no gunk seems to be there anymore, but his eye still looks a little sore and is not opened fully. Overall all is well :)
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That's good news, you should see improvement quite quickly
 
Lady Kelly said:
That's good news, you should see improvement quite quickly
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It looks a lot better than yesterday but still healing. He did say a couple of days, but I can use the drops for up to a week if needed. I was a bit confused as the packaging said apply twice a day, but he said once so I take his word
 
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