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Ugh. Hay poke or bite? Thoughts much appreciated.

Tigermoth

Tigermoth

Adult Guinea Pig
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I posted a couple of weeks ago asking for help because Timmy and Jenny had had a big falling out. Ultimately I put in a divider for a day and then put them back together on neutral ground. They were fine so they went back together and all seemed fine. We then went away for a week with my in laws checking in on them twice a day. They sat with them for a couple of hours a day for company and said they were fine, zooming and popcorning and rumblestrutting as normal.

Yesterday MIL noticed that since the morning visit, Timmy had developed a sore eye.

My question. The vet says it’s a bite. I’m not convinced, they seem on decent terms, sat in the hay tray eating together just now. She says the size of the ulcer is what leads her to bite rather than a hay injury. Does it sound feasible for him to be bitten in the eye? No other wound.

I’ve got antibiotic ointment and metacam and a follow up in a week. Pressure in the eye is fine. £91 for this appointment. Ouch!
 
Probably hay poke. Have you seen a vet as it has dye in it? If so you should have been given drops to make it better. It usually takes around a week or so.
 
Poor chap. That is a big ulcer indeed. But I’ve seen hay pokes that large (where there has been hay under the lid that has rubbed and also where there has been scratching by the piggy to get it out. Was there any evidence of a puncture wound?
Hope it clears up nicely for you x
 
Betsy said:
Probably hay poke. Have you seen a vet as it has dye in it? If so you should have been given drops to make it better. It usually takes around a week or so.
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Post does say antibiotic ointment and Metacam have been given
 
VickiA said:
Poor chap. That is a big ulcer indeed. But I’ve seen hay pokes that large (where there has been hay under the lid that has rubbed and also where there has been scratching by the piggy to get it out. Was there any evidence of a puncture wound?
Hope it clears up nicely for you x
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That’s reassuring, the vet seemed very dismissive of hay as a cause. No, no puncture wound, just the sore eye.
Fingers crossed that’s all it is then and not more upset between them, I really don’t want them to be separated.

Thanks @VickiA
 
I think their behaviour will tell you if it’s time to separate or not. If the eye injury was caused by Jenny it seems likely that it was accidental if he’s forgiven her to the extent that they are sitting in the hay tray together. My old piggies Mr Ted and Mrs Fudge had a bit of an up and down relationship. At some point he gave her a bite in her snout that turned into an abscess. But I never separated them as a. I never saw any fight, b. It could well have been accidental and c. She clearly forgave him as she was sitting happily in the hay tray with him with no drama. Just take time to watch them - their behaviour will tell you what’s going on (or not).
 
It’s looking much improved already. The angry red around the edge has settled and it looks less cloudy. Obviously the dye has gone but even before the dye you could see the ulceration.

He hates his metacam though. Strange boy, I thought they loved it! Jenny did when she had it previously! It’s easier to do his eye ointment than the metacam!
 
Update. I had to look at the photo to remind myself which eye needed the ointment! It looks loads better, just a bit “dull” compared to the other one. The downside of him feeling better it is getting progressively harder to get the stuff in!

He still hates the metacam though!
 
Tigermoth said:
Update. I had to look at the photo to remind myself which eye needed the ointment! It looks loads better, just a bit “dull” compared to the other one. The downside of him feeling better it is getting progressively harder to get the stuff in!

He still hates the metacam though!
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He must be the only piggy on the planet not to be a Metacam junkie! :lol!: Mind you my Betsy must be the only piggy in the planet to enjoy Baytril!
 
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