Toffee's eye - should I be worried?

[LondonLady]

It seems like it's one thing after another with Toffee these days. He was only at the vet a couple of weeks ago for impaction* and now I'm worried about something else.

I don't know if this 'white thing' in the corner of his eye is normal or something worrying. He's had it for a few weeks - the vet noticed it when we were there but didn't seem to think it was a problem - so I'm hoping it's not. But I can't help worrying especially as he doesn't seem quite 'himself'.

.

*Incidentally the impaction issue seems to have resolved itself, which is one good thing, though of course I'm keeping a close eye on him.

 

[Wiebke]

It seems like it's one thing after another with Toffee these days. He was only at the vet a couple of weeks ago for impaction* and now I'm worried about something else.

I don't know if this 'white thing' in the corner of his eye is normal or something worrying. He's had it for a few weeks - the vet noticed it when we were there but didn't seem to think it was a problem - so I'm hoping it's not. But I can't help worrying especially as he doesn't seem quite 'himself'.

.View attachment 283514View attachment 283515

*Incidentally the impaction issue seems to have resolved itself, which is one good thing, though of course I'm keeping a close eye on him.

Hi

HUGS

I am very sorry that this comes right on the heels of impaction.

Please take a deep breath. This is unsightly but totally harmless and painless.

It is just bony tissue replacing eye tissue, something that is not at all uncommon in mostly older guinea pigs. If it is on the outside of the eye in a ring, it is called osseous metaplasia (or other names that basically all mean 'replacement by bony tissue'); if it - more rarely - appears as a very white persistent dot on the eye surface then it is an osseous choristoma. It is not treatable, though.

Here is my old gent Maelog (RIP 2017) with a more fully developed osseous metaplasia forming a ring around his eye. It narrows his field of vision slightly but it does not impact on his eyesight.


Guinea Lynx :: Eyes

Our guide to older piggies and conditions that are more common at that stage of life: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

 

[Janey]

Here’s a picture of Fifi (RIP) who developed this in the corner of her eye too.

 

[LondonLady]

Hi

HUGS

I am very sorry that this comes right on the heels of impaction.

Please take a deep breath. This is unsightly but totally harmless and painless.

It is just bony tissue replacing eye tissue, something that is not at all uncommon in mostly older guinea pigs. If it is on the outside of the eye in a ring, it is called osseous metaplasia (or other names that basically all mean 'replacement by bony tissue'); if it - more rarely - appears as a very white persistent dot on the eye surface then it is an osseous choristoma. It is not treatable, though.

Here is my old gent Maelog (RIP 2017) with a more fully developed osseous metaplasia forming a ring around his eye. It narrows his field of vision slightly but it does not impact on his eyesight.
View attachment 283518

Guinea Lynx :: Eyes

Our guide to older piggies and conditions that are more common at that stage of life: Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection

Thank you, I'm very relieved. Yes I definitely need to calm down a bit. I know Toffee's getting old and I tend to panic every time I notice any small change in him.

The links are excellent, by the way

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I'm very relieved. Yes I definitely need to calm down a bit. I know Toffee's getting old and I tend to panic every time I notice any small change in him.

The links are excellent, by the way

Ask here first if you notice a change (except for a real emergency, of course) and then have a panic afterwards if it is actually required.

PS: It is normal to be more jittery when dealing with several issues in close succession or if you have had a bad experience with one before.