Table of Contents
- 1 What causes eye infections in guinea pigs?
- 2 What can make a guinea pig go blind?
- 3 Is it normal for a guinea pig to have crusty eyes?
- 4 How do you get hay out of a guinea pig’s eye?
- 5 How can you tell if a guinea pig is going blind?
- 6 Can guinea pigs go blind from hay poke?
- 7 How do I know if my guinea pig has an eye infection?
What causes eye infections in guinea pigs?
The most common types of conjunctivitis are infectious or allergic conjunctivitis. Infections caused by bacteria or viruses can lead to conjunctivitis in guinea pigs. The symptoms seen can include a sore red-looking eye and ocular discharge (ranging from white to yellow/green).
What can make a guinea pig go blind?
Other pigs develop blindness later in life. This can happen as a result of health conditions like diabetes or cataracts. Pigs can also go blind due to eye injuries such as getting poked in the eye with a piece of hay or a cage mate’s toenail.
Can hay poke get better by itself?
Unless you have lots of gunk or hay stuck in the eye, I would not even use saline solution personally. Please see a vet as soon as you can during regular hours. The good news is that with prompt appropriate treatment, they also heal off again pretty quickly unless they are very severe.
Is it normal for a guinea pig to have crusty eyes?
While guinea pigs can certainly have respiratory infections that can cause eye drainage and crusting, other problems could also cause her symptoms. A corneal ulcer or scratch from hay or something in her pen is also common and can be quite severe if not treated.
How do you get hay out of a guinea pig’s eye?
If there is any resistance when you pull the hay, don’t force it – a piece of hay/seed that is truly stuck needs a vet to anesthetise the eye surface and remove it steadily with blunt-ended tweezers. If it’s just floating on the surface of the eye, flushing it with plain water should do the job!
How can you tell if your guinea pig has an eye infection?
Symptoms of Eye Problems in Guinea Pigs
- Cloudiness or redness in the eye.
- Frequent pawing or scratching at the eye.
- Keeping an eye closed.
- Inflammation or discharge from the eye2.
- Constant tearing.
- Large bulges or masses.
How can you tell if a guinea pig is going blind?
Observing your pig’s behavior in an unfamiliar environment can help determine if your guinea pig is blind. A blind pig will often startle more easily. A light shown into the eye of a blind pig may reflect white rather than the typical red reflected by a normal eye.
Can guinea pigs go blind from hay poke?
Trauma caused by sharp ends of hay and straw can poke a guinea pig in the eye as they like to burrow into their bedding. Hay seeds can also make their way into the eye and get trapped behind the eye or in the conjunctiva. This can affect one or both eyes and causes progressive blindness.
How do I get hay out of my guinea pig’s eye?
Senior Guinea Pig If there is any resistance when you pull the hay, don’t force it – a piece of hay/seed that is truly stuck needs a vet to anesthetise the eye surface and remove it steadily with blunt-ended tweezers. If it’s just floating on the surface of the eye, flushing it with plain water should do the job!