What Age Is 'young' For Cataracts?

[Freela]

Hadley is just turning 3 around now, so she is not terribly elderly, but I believe she is developing cataracts, as I notice some issues with her depth perception and bumping into objects that I also noticed when Sundae was developing cataracts (which were later confirmed by the vet.) However, I think Sundae was at least 4 when hers started developing. Three seems young. I've always heard that early cataract formation is a potential sign of diabetes... is three an age where I should book a vet visit for a urinalysis to check for diabetes? I know there's not much to do about the cataracts themselves, but Sundae adjusted well and I'm sure Hadley will too over time, but I'm concerned about potentially underlying causes in a 3-year-old pig.

 

[Hannah P.]

My pig is 3 years old and she developed a cataract in her right eye very quickly, over the course of a few days. I brought her to the vet, but there were no apparent reasons for this to happen, so I think that it was hereditary. Now I just give her eye drops once a day to every other day just to keep any inflammation down, so it does't become infected as it did when it first developed.

Diabetes is not as common as you might think, and it also comes with other symptoms. I personally think that 3 is a young age for cataracts, so it may be hereditary. The cataract will affect sight, but sight isn't the strongest sense that guinea pigs have, so once your pig adjusts, it shouldn't be an issue. My pig isn't bothered at all.