Eyes/Non-crusty Theodore's Thread

[a happy chick]

Hello,
I have noticed that my boar Theodore has developed some sort of growth in the corner of his eye. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for what it is? It's not causing him any discomfort as far as I'm aware, but still a bit worried!

 

[Guinea_Pigs_Are_A_lifest]

Hello,
I have noticed that my boar Theodore has developed some sort of growth in the corner of his eye. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for what it is? It's not causing him any discomfort as far as I'm aware, but still a bit worried!

View attachment 110600

Hello! It looks like it’s just some irritation, possibly caused from a piece of hay that poke his eye, if it gets worse, or doesn’t go away within 2-4 days then I would recommend contacting a vet.

 

[bpatters]

That is NOT a hay poke. It's abnormal tissue that has grown there, and he needs to see a vet. Eye problems are very painful, and a growth can cause damage to the surface of the eye.

You need to see an exotic vet. While eyes are eyes are eyes, and any small animal vet can treat many eye conditions in guinea pigs, this growth may need to be removed, and you need someone with experience with anesthesia in guinea pigs to do that.

 

[a happy chick]

Thank you both for your responses!

I'm going to contact a vet to check over his eye - hopefully, it all goes well. The vet I'm going to contact has been recommended by other guinea pig owners so I think they will be able to do anaesthesia if needed. Theodore is still his happy popcorning self thankfully but I don't want it to get any worse. There are also a few hairs from the growth that sometimes stick to his eye potentially irritating it. I will ask them to get rid of them ASAP!

 

[Guinea_Pigs_Are_A_lifest]

Thank you both for your responses!

I'm going to contact a vet to check over his eye - hopefully, it all goes well. The vet I'm going to contact has been recommended by other guinea pig owners so I think they will be able to do anaesthesia if needed. Theodore is still his happy popcorning self thankfully but I don't want it to get any worse. There are also a few hairs from the growth that sometimes stick to his eye potentially irritating it. I will ask them to get rid of them ASAP!

How is Theodore?

 

[Guinea_Pigs_Are_A_lifest]

Thank you both for your responses!

I'm going to contact a vet to check over his eye - hopefully, it all goes well. The vet I'm going to contact has been recommended by other guinea pig owners so I think they will be able to do anaesthesia if needed. Theodore is still his happy popcorning self thankfully but I don't want it to get any worse. There are also a few hairs from the growth that sometimes stick to his eye potentially irritating it. I will ask them to get rid of them ASAP!

How is Theodore?

 

[PiggisMom]

any update on his condition?

 

[a happy chick]

Hello,
Sorry for the lack of updates.
Theodore's eye 'growth' hasn't gotten any worse and he's still acting fine, eating, popcorning and wheeking for his veggies each evening. I know guinea pigs' eyes can rapidly get worse and I shouldn't have waited so long but I'm calling the vets tomorrow; hopefully the specialist vet will be able to help him. I've attached a photo of Theodore's eye - I'm not sure if you can see because of the poor lighting but there sometimes is a hair that sticks to his eye. I will give you updates to how the vet appointment goes.

 

[a happy chick]

Unfortunately not a good update...

Theodore has lost quite a bit of weight recently. I noticed that he wasn't eating the new type of orchard hay we had gotten for the pigs, and his poops were small and misshapen.

After getting a different type he is eating hay and his veggies now - but I don't know if the different hay was the sole reason for his weight loss. Even if it was I'm worried that he hasn't eaten hay for a little while - maybe gut problems .

In any case we are going to the vets on Monday. I weighed him today and he is 700g - he is 6 months old so not too bad but I can still tell he has lost a lot of weight. I'm also going to give him mushed up pellets to keep him going (- the only critical care I have is expired).

I'm really quite concerned for him and have gone through a bit of an emotional rollercoaster today. Really hoping the vets can help with whatever is going on but that's in a whole day's time!

 

[a happy chick]

Any tips in the meantime would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ItsaZoo]

How old is the Critical Care and how was it stored? If it was refrigerated and still smells fresh, I would use it.

Another option might be a hay and veggie smoothie. I was able to get one of my pigs to keep eating by using a smoothie blender with hay, water, carrots, and pellets. Any favorite foods. Whip it up in a mush and see if he’ll eat it off a plate or spoon.

It’s messy cleaning the blender, but if he eats, it’s worth it. Good luck.

 

[a happy chick]

I thought I had some of the critical care stuff in a random cupboard but I think I've thrown it out by now.

Thanks for your advice with the blending. Theodore isn't a big fan of the pellets on a good day - in mush-form he simply detests it. I'll try to whizz it up with a few yummy veggies in it; he might fancy it then.

I've taken him out a few times for some exclusive hay and veg munching to make sure he is eating. There's a huge pile of hay in their cage too - fortunately I've seen him eating it with seemingly no problem.

How much do you think I should supplement his hay eating? He's been eating a sizeable amount.

 

[ItsaZoo]

They don’t really overeat when it comes to hay, so as much as he wants. Veggies are usually limited to about a cup per day. I’m glad to hear he’s eating, that’s so important to keep his weight up.

 

[a happy chick]

Okay. He's straight up refusing his pellet mix, so I've just been taking him out of the cage and giving him some hay to munch on. He's going to the vet in a couple hours - hopefully it all goes well.

 

[a happy chick]

He went to the vet on Monday 20/11 and they couldn't tell what's wrong. Teeth, eyes, everything fine. But he keeps on decreasing in weight. He was exactly 1kg then and now he's only 880g. I put it to a different type of hay and whilst it did initially put his weight up it's gone down again. I don't know what to do. I've been giving him a mix of recovery pellets and syringe feed until he stops eating it. He eats hay and drinks water fine. I don't know what to do.

 

[a happy chick]

I weighed him again and he was 950. Potentially he wasn't losing as much weight as I thought he was, and my scales are broken? Going to weigh him tomorrow. I think it's time to invest in new scales.

Also on a side note, how much should 7.5month old guinea pigs weigh? Theodore is the skinniest of his two brothers. The other two weigh over 1kg each. Is that okay?

 

[ItsaZoo]

I always weigh my guinea pig just before a vet visit. Then I can compare my scale to the weight at the vet clinic, so I know if mine is accurate. Did your vet weigh him during his checkup?

Is there any chance that the other pigs are keeping him from the food? Maybe try taking him out a few times a day in a nice quiet spot and let him eat all he wants. Then you can see how much he eats. If he starts gaining, maybe he’s being bullied and he’s afraid to stay out at the hay pile to eat.