When Do I Need To Go To The Vet?

[Christina123]

I have two little piggies both under one year, male and named Gerald(10 months) and Harold(4 months). They usually get along but today they got into a really bad fight and I noticed Harold's eye started bleeding. I cleaned it and it stopped bleeding quickly. He also stopped crying and wincing once I had finished cleaning it. I checked it while it was clean and noticed that his eye is completely untouched and the issue is just above it.(I can see the scratches but couldn't get a good picture because they're small) I want to know if it's necessary for me to take him to the vet because I don't have a lot of money to spend so I only want to go if it's absolutely necessary.

Note: It didn't affecting his eating or anything of those sorts. Once I cleaned it he started running around again like normal and then went straight to eat again like normal.

 

[rome_italy]

Hi Christina,
someone more expert than me will tell you to go the the vet, because an infection on a eye can be really dangerous and expensive to treat; a simple ointment or another medicine prescribed now by the vet will cost less and will prevent future troubles. Anyway I understand what you mean... a simple scratch has a lot of possibilities to heal by itself and the money for the vet could be saved, considering also that today there is the eye and next week you might need the vet again for an URI or something else.
Try to call the vet, be honest and explain him the situation; maybe he will suggest you only a medicine (I don't think so, but you can try).
Another good possibility is going to the vet with both the piggies, not only thinking of Harold's eye, but asking for a whole check up for both; the cost will be the same, I am sure that the vet will check both and will not ask you for two bills (you are a new customer; here vets make some discount when they meet a new customer with two pets) and you might discover for example some enlongated premolars or other little problems which can be treated following special rules at home.
Another possibility is the "wait and see" method. There are good possibilities that Harold's eye has nothing to be worried, you might run to the vet if you notice something worse... but at that stage the cost might be higher...
The plantain leaves boiled with water have strong antibiotics properties: you can use that boiled water for cleaning the eye and can also use the mashed boiled leaves. I used this method last year for an inflamed eye of my piggie and it worked.

 

[Betsy]

I would recommend seeing a vet. The eye may look OK to you but it may be scratched. A vet will be able to see this by putting a special dye into the eye. Also you need to worry about infection in the scratches above even though you have cleaned them out well. Never use the 'wait an see' option with eyes. They can quickly deteriorate making the cost of vet treatment more expensive.

 

[Betsy]

PS Have you thought of putting a little bit of money into a 'guinea pig fund' so that you have the money there for vets bills. It doesn't have to be much just what you can afford. Vets bills always come along at an inconvenient time! A lot of people on this forum do just that as do I.

 

[Hoppity.K]

I do that too @Betsy into a piggy bank, it’s definitely a good idea. I took my 2 piggies for a health check last week (neither of them were poorly). I was cheeky & asked the vet if she’d do a two for one deal with them. And she did... so I only paid really for one piggy’s check up. Sometimes it’s worth asking. I would recommend getting the eye checked out by a vet. x

 

[Wiebke]

I have two little piggies both under one year, male and named Gerald(10 months) and Harold(4 months). They usually get along but today they got into a really bad fight and I noticed Harold's eye started bleeding. I cleaned it and it stopped bleeding quickly. He also stopped crying and wincing once I had finished cleaning it. I checked it while it was clean and noticed that his eye is completely untouched and the issue is just above it.(I can see the scratches but couldn't get a good picture because they're small) I want to know if it's necessary for me to take him to the vet because I don't have a lot of money to spend so I only want to go if it's absolutely necessary.

Note: It didn't affecting his eating or anything of those sorts. Once I cleaned it he started running around again like normal and then went straight to eat again like normal.

Please carefully disinfect the wound with dabbing saline on it. You can get sterile saline in any pharmacy. As the eyeball is not affected and unless the cut is very deep, it is up to you whether you want it checked. There is always the risk that it can get infected, so you need to keep an eye on it.

You always need to see a vet promptly if there is an injury to the eye itself, as they can deteriorate very quickly and can end with the loss/removal op of an eye if you wait too long. When seen and treated promptly, most minor and medium injuries heal off pretty quickly and without complications - and major cost!
List Of Life And Death Out-of-hours Emergencies
How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide

I would strongly recommend to save up for a vet fund on a weekly basis so you can afford emergency vet care in case of severe illness or an injury at any time. Things NEVER happen conveniently!

Your little boy has reached the onset of the teenage months. He is currently experiencing a large testosterone spike that is characteristic for his testicles starting to descend.
Here is more information on the teenage months, including dos and don'ts to help stabilise the bond and how to judge whether it is still working or not. Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

A misjudged swipe with a claw does not count as a full-on fight with intentional deep bites to the face and rump.