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The Consequences of Hay Burrowing

Merab

Merab

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Micah loves to burrow under the hay.
Micah now has haypoke!

I noticed his eye looked odd this afternoon at veggie time so called the vet who fitted me in.
We saw the lovely vet who knows guinea pigs and was very good with him.
The eye dye showed a corneal ulcer in the corner of his eye, but just a superficial one she said.
We now have eye drops, Isathal, 4 times a day.
We go back on Friday for a check and I really hope the eye will be healed as we’re going away on Sunday and my guinea pig sitters are fine with feeding but not medicating.
The next few days are going to be fun!
 

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Ruby is our hay burrower and I love seeing her covered in a pile of hay but I also worry constantly about her eyes.

I hope Micah is better soon.
Sounds like you go onto it pretty quickly so am sure he will be fine by Sunday.
 
Sending Micha healing vibes. You caught it really quickly so it should heal quick.
Peanut's the king of hay pokes here, not just eyes, he's had 3 nose bleeds as well!
 
Merab's Slave said:
Micah loves to burrow under the hay.
Micah now has haypoke!

I noticed his eye looked odd this afternoon at veggie time so called the vet who fitted me in.
We saw the lovely vet who knows guinea pigs and was very good with him.
The eye dye showed a corneal ulcer in the corner of his eye, but just a superficial one she said.
We now have eye drops, Isathal, 4 times a day.
We go back on Friday for a check and I really hope the eye will be healed as we’re going away on Sunday and my guinea pig sitters are fine with feeding but not medicating.
The next few days are going to be fun!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the club!

This was Begw in January
27th January after the vet visit (the ulcer on the surface had been mostly washed out by then and was just sitting on the poke hole, but there was still plenty of ulceration in the chamber below; thankfully nothing had penetrated further into the eye!
IMG_0977_edited-1.jpg

30th January
The ulceration has gone but the eye is still somewhat dull and not quite fully healed yet.
IMG_1026.JPG

I am following Kim Maddock's advice and use a lubricant (usually an artificial tear gel, like UK brand viscotears; but any plain human gel from a pharmacy will do, as it is no medication but simply plain tear fluid in longer lasting gel form).

This is of course in addition to the antibiotic eye drops! Always allowing the antibiotic to be fully absorbed for half to one hour before applying any rehydration. But it really makes a difference in the healing process!
 
I use Viscotears gel now as well as the eyedrops the vet gives (usually Isathal) as they are around a fiver from Boots. The Lubrithal (virtually the same stuff) from the vets was £17!:yikes:
 
Hope Micah's eye heals up quickly so you can enjoy your time away without worrying about him x
Haypoke is one problem I've never had with my piggies. Having said that, j will now probably find one of my 3 with a sore eye tomorrow ..
 
Micah does not like eye drops!

He’s better at going into his pouch to be lifted out the cage.
He’s very good at eating the half slice of carrot which is the only bribe that works.
He’s very good at keeping his eye tightly closed when I try to put the drops in.
I think it’s a bit better but we’ll see what the vet says tomorrow.

Thanks for asking @alpacasqueak and thanks for the support everyone
 
Yesterday’s appointment went well - sort of.
The eye is getting better but the vet isn’t 100% sure it’s haypoke now.
Micah has a slight congenital abnormality in his eyes in that they are slightly more sunken than is normal.
She wondered if this means the eye damage is actually caused by Distichiasis where the short hairs on the eyelids irritate the eye.

That can only be confirmed if Micah is sedated for a proper examination.
So.......... as we are supposed to be going to Yorkshire tomorrow afternoon and Micah has another vet appointment on Monday my husband suggested that he goes tomorrow as planned and I will follow on Monday if the eye is doing ok with the drops.
We can decide about sedation and examination when we get back as it’s not critical.

I have now reorganised piggy care and instead of being fed by friends they are all going into pet boarding for a week with a lovely lady who has piggies of her own, fostered for the RSPCA so is home checked and is happy to do eye drops 4 times a day.

My vet fund is taking a real hit - so glad I followed forum advice and set one up just after I joined.

The joys of piggies - they are worth it though.
 
Merab's Slave said:
Micah does not like eye drops!

He’s better at going into his pouch to be lifted out the cage.
He’s very good at eating the half slice of carrot which is the only bribe that works.
He’s very good at keeping his eye tightly closed when I try to put the drops in.
I think it’s a bit better but we’ll see what the vet says tomorrow.

Thanks for asking @alpacasqueak and thanks for the support everyone
Click to expand...

Try to pull the lower lid away and aim the drops into the gap.

Use our piggy whispering tips to assert your friendly authority before you apply the medication: Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
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