Ulcer Eye... Help Getting Gel In!

[Jojessgaz]

Any advise in how with 1 pair of hands do I keep my tilly still and get gel in her poorly eye without her either darting off ..shaking her head or shutting her eye! ! Took her the vets yesterday as her eye had a mist over it...assumed as come over nite she had poked herself with the hay. Vet given me metacam and isathal which needs pitting in 4 to 6 times day. Have daughter here first thing ...but then no one til after school..so wanted to try n get at least another in before school ends. Very hard when there is only me and a 11mth old guinea who won't stay still!

 

[Wiebke]

Any advise in how with 1 pair of hands do I keep my tilly still and get gel in her poorly eye without her either darting off ..shaking her head or shutting her eye! ! Took her the vets yesterday as her eye had a mist over it...assumed as come over nite she had poked herself with the hay. Vet given me metacam and isathal which needs pitting in 4 to 6 times day. Have daughter here first thing ...but then no one til after school..so wanted to try n get at least another in before school ends. Very hard when there is only me and a 11mth old guinea who won't stay still!

Hi! If you are on your own, the best way is to sit your piggy on your lap, facing away from you with a nice plate or tub full of fresh (dog/fox-pee free) grass or its favourite veg and wait until it is totally absorbed in munching. Then carefully sneak your finger around from the back. You should find that it takes you less attempts that way to get the isathal into the currently very sore eye than otherwise, as piggies don't multitask. it is never easy to get drops or gel into a very sore eye that is not so badly affected that it has lost sight altogether.

Thankfully, minor eye injuries come down nearly as quickly as they deteriorate, so you should find that you job is a lot easier after a couple of days when the eye is no longer as sore ad the ulcer has gone.

 

[sport_billy]

It is going to be a two person job I am afraid, someone needs to hold the piggy, especially a little one they are so wriggly. You could try feeding them a lettuce leaf to distract as you try and drop it in - may keep them a little stiller if you cant wait for an extra pair of hands. Sending lots of healing vibes

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks @Wiebke

 

[Jojessgaz]

Thanks both of you... have just tried with some romaine and that did distract her a bit but as soon as my hand goes near her eye she now shuts it. Think she realises whats coming now. Have managed a little in it..so here's hoping ... after tho did notice her curled round scratching what looked like side of her face... can't stop her ...can she do any damage? Need one of those cones for a guinea pig haha! Trying the syringe later... hoping that will be easier. The vet made it all look so simple!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks both of you... have just tried with some romaine and that did distract her a bit but as soon as my hand goes near her eye she now shuts it. Think she realises whats coming now. Have managed a little in it..so here's hoping ... after tho did notice her curled round scratching what looked like side of her face... can't stop her ...can she do any damage? Need one of those cones for a guinea pig haha! Trying the syringe later... hoping that will be easier. The vet made it all look so simple!

Guinea pigs are often going into the "unresponsive prey" mode at the vets being very much out of their comfort zone, so it is easier to handle them.

Don't worry about the scratching, she's not going into the eye!

Your experience is normal. I would recommend to aim for 4-5 times instead just 3 (depending on how much you get in each time) giving the ointment during the first 2 days in order to get the amount in; it gets easier once the eye is less sore!

Here is our medicating guide, with tips on how to deal with uncooperative piggies: Administering Medications

 

[Jojessgaz]

That's great thanks @Wiebke ..will have a go later fingers crossed she will take it all well

 

[Deleted member 114675]

I wouldn't ever be able to get an eye drop in a Guinea Pig's eye from a dropper, bottle OR syringe !

I have found the best system for me is to put a drop onto my clean finger - put the drop in from my finger.

I use a similar method to how Wiebke described in post no 2 .

I wash my hands. ( I wrap a tissue round the finger I am going to use - to keep it clean while I catch the Guinea Pig) . I then catch the pig and put it on my lap facing away from me . I then give him/her a piece of treat veg while I get the drops on my finger . Approaching from behind, I gently place my finger next to the corner of the pig's eye and let the drop slip in.

 

[Critter]

With mine I sat her on my knee with a bunch of veggies, and whilst she was absorbed in eating I dropped a drop in her eye. Some times I missed and had to do it more than once, but it generally worked. It's harder of you have one that won't sit still for a second..... x

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I had to use my horse's old leg bandage to swaddle my piggy (5 months old, tiny and not very tame!) my OH held her in her swaddle and I administered the drops, holding her eye open gently. She did do a very good tortoise impression after the first couple of times so we had to make sure there wasn't any spare bandage for her to shrink in to!

 

[Jojessgaz]

I had to use my horse's old leg bandage to swaddle my piggy (5 months old, tiny and not very tame!) my OH held her in her swaddle and I administered the drops, holding her eye open gently. She did do a very good tortoise impression after the first couple of times so we had to make sure there wasn't any spare bandage for her to shrink in to!

I can just visualise it now! So cute but a pain when your trying to get them better. She's not too bad... just how do you open a gps eye when she shuts it!? The other sides wide open so she's got the hang of winking good! Will try and go from behind and surprise her. A week of this isn't going to be fun for her but needs must

 

[Jojessgaz]

I wouldn't ever be able to get an eye drop in a Guinea Pig's eye from a dropper, bottle OR syringe !

I have found the best system for me is to put a drop onto my clean finger - put the drop in from my finger.

I use a similar method to how Wiebke described in post no 2 .

I wash my hands. ( I wrap a tissue round the finger I am going to use - to keep it clean while I catch the Guinea Pig) . I then catch the pig and put it on my lap facing away from me . I then give him/her a piece of treat veg while I get the drops on my finger . Approaching from behind, I gently place my finger next to the corner of the pig's eye and let the drop slip in.

If trying with the tube keeps failing I will have a go with my finger... to be honest maybe easier as by time I've got her ready and get the tube ..hover over her eye ..squeeze..and a bubble comes out! And she realises something going in and winks at me! !

 

[Guineapigfeet]

This is my burrito pig. I came in with my left hand on the pig; thumb under the eye and first finger above it and held it open gently whilst drop'ing with my right hand. Didn't always work!

 

[Jojessgaz]

Can anyone re assure me tilly is OK. As above went to vets and she's been on meta am and isathul. .. since tue pm. .. she's never seemed to be unwell... she's always been herself running about being nosey and eating for England. Today she's in her hidey all morning. Just sitting there. The drops have been going in about 5 times a day.. it's hard as she shuts her eye but i would say they have been going in. The metacam has been hard too as she keeps trying to chew the syringe but I think she's getting it.... it's been 4 days and I don't go back til next wed. Is it just the medication and her feeling a bit down ? Just she seems worse now than she was at the start

 

[Deleted member 114675]

I would see if you can bring her check up appointment forward.

I think she's getting her Metacam . My boar Reuben chews on the syringe when he takes his Metacam . He likes the taste of it so, I know he is getting it.

However , I would have hoped you'd be seeing some improvement from the eye drops by now.

 

[Jojessgaz]

I would see if you can bring her check up appointment forward.

I think she's getting her Metacam . My boar Reuben chews on the syringe when he takes his Metacam . He likes the taste of it so, I know he is getting it.

However , I would have hoped you'd be seeing some improvement from the eye drops by now.

Going to have to anyway. ... ran out of drops today. Think because i have been trying to put on 5 to 6 each day like the vet said

 

[VickiA]

Good luck at the vets tomorrow.