Crusty Eyes Baby pig with crusty eyes

mimipig · Oct 14, 2014

I'm brand new to the forum here so first of all, hello to everyone!
I am also a new guinea pig owner, and just got my first baby last week. She's young and was bought at the pet store by my mom as a surprise present for me, she knew I had been wanting to get a new pet and was thinking about guinea pigs. I am not sure exactly how old she is, maybe 6-8 weeks but I can find out if its needed. She has curly, fluffy hair and I'm not sure if she's an alpaca, or a texel, or something else, I really am new to these types but those are the ones she most closely resembles to give you an idea, I'll put up some pictures tomorrow.

My mom had her for about 3 days before I came home and saw her. The first night I noticed her one eye had crust under it. I was worried and wiped it with a cotton pad and boiled/cooled water, but the crust and some white mucus (normal cleaning fluid?) came back in the morning. She was squinting the eye as well though the other looked fine. Also, she was barely eating or drinking, ignoring all the fresh vegetables and pellets and hay. She maybe ate one piece of cucumber and a few pellets when nobody saw, and drank only a centimeter of water in a couple days. Her poops were normal, no sneezing or anything. So I called the pet store, they had me bring her in and they started giving her medicated eye drops and watching her. They told me she was eating and drinking well there. They took her to the vet yesterday and all they told me was that the vet said her eye may have been irritated by bedding, she is in Carefresh and was at the store too but I will be switching to fleece as soon as I can, I have already started getting materials. The girl at the store called it an eye cold, but she was just speculating. There was nothing conclusive about the diagnosis, and they just said to continue with eye drops for 5 days and see if she's improved. I want to trust the vet that nothing is seriously wrong with her, but I am still very worried. So I picked her up with the eyedrops today, and I noticed that now both eyes have the crusts. The eye crusties continue coming back, I just gave her eye drops and she squeaked the whole time but I was able to wipe most of them off, there were just a few small ones under each eye, and she sits very still for this. Also, I noticed a small raised darker patch on one foot, that could perhaps be a scab. I will keep an eye on it, I didn't want to bother her much with inspecting her close up and her skin but I don't think there were any other problems with her hair or skin.

Some strange behavior I have noticed, but am not sure about if it is strange or not: when I put her in the cage at my house, at first she seemed very happy, jumped around I think popcorning, and started eating hay. I thought she was feeling better and I was so glad, but then after a couple minutes she hid in her new fleece house I made her and hasn't come out to eat or drink since. I think she will be just staying in there not eating for the next few days. It seems that she is not active. She hides in the hut all the time that she has been at my house, the first 4 days and now today since I have brought her back home. When I took her out to hold her on the 3rd day and today, she squeaks quietly and somewhat constantly but sits very still, doesn't struggle at all. She will just sit in the fleece in my lap although I don't think she's happy, she is either silent or makes very quiet squeaks. Are these behaviors anything to be worried about? I haven't had her long at all so this all may be normal for new pigs? Is not eating/drinking probably because she is in the new home and not yet comfortable? Because she was apparently eating fine at the pet store when she returned over the weekend.

Anyway, I would really appreciate any thoughts or experiences anyone can share with me, I'm very worried about her and I will continue with the eye drops 3 times a day as they told me. I just want her to be healthy and happy. Thanks so much to anyone who read all this, hopefully someone will know more than me!

*Also I'd like to say now that I know more about guinea pigs, I hope to get her a friend to live with, once she is feeling better and I'm able to. I am also aware pet stores are not the best places to get pets, my mom gave her to me as a complete surprise and I would adopt any further pigs from a breeder or rescue. The store she came from is a local pet store that gets the pigs from a local breeder one city away.

bpatters · Oct 14, 2014

I'd find a good exotic vet and take her there for treatment. There's no such thing as an "eye cold" as far as I know. Guinea pigs hide symptoms very well, and may be quite ill by the time you figure out something is wrong with. She may have a respiratory infection, and the quicker you treat her, the more likely she is to recover. She's too young for the best antibiotic for respiratory infections, so it's important to get her started on something ASAP if she needs it.

Additionally, pet store vets have no training in care of exotics, and under no circumstances would I take a pig to a pet store vet. Small animal vets (dog and cat) also get little to no training in the care of exotic pets, so you need to locate one for when you will need one.

mimipig · Oct 14, 2014

Thanks so much for your help. So you do think it was a misdiagnosis or at least a good possibility? I was curious the behavioral things about guinea pigs in general - is not eating or drinking much for a new pig very unusual/a sign of bad health? I was confused because they said she was eating and drinking very well when she was back at the store being monitored/waiting to get taken to the vet. It's been about 5 days so she's very new to me still and I'm learning a lot about all this so I'd like to know these things in case I do end up getting another pig to bond with her as well. I guess the other thing was also, is it very unusual for her/any new pig to not be very active and hide pretty much all the time? Thanks again for your time and advice!

Oh one more thing - should I stop giving her the medicated eye drops from the vet, or continue? I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to find the appropriate vet/be able to pay for it, hopefully quite soon but I will have to start searching tomorrow.

bpatters · Oct 14, 2014

Yes, it's common for them to hide when they're in new conditions. Just put her food, water and hay somewhere close to where she's hiding, and she should begin to come around shortly.

BUT, that shouldn't last but a very days at the most. Since she had crusty eyes, it's possible that she has a respiratory infection, and that she's hiding and not eating because she's sick. That's why I was encouraging you to see a vet. If it's an eye problem, the drops will treat it. But if it's a URI and she has runny crusty eyes, she needs an oral antibiotic pretty quickly.

You've got the eye drops, you might as well continue with them. Are they doing any good?

mimipig · Oct 14, 2014

Thank you for all the information! I'll try putting the food right by her house, I don't want her to go hungry and its making me feel bad. I am scared that it might be a respiratory infection and as soon as I can I'll get her into the vet, I have to search my area for one like you described. I'll continue the drops then, I only got her back tonight but when I got her the eyes looked better than when I dropped her off ALTHOUGH it is now both eyes instead of just one, it could have just been starting when I noticed her one eye. So they could be helping, or not, I'll know for sure in the morning if the eyes are more crusty like before or seem to be getting less. They were looking alright today but we'll see in the morning. I'll update then, and hopefully she'll come around to eating something. Thank you so much again, hope you have a lovely night

bpatters · Oct 14, 2014

Post the name of the city/state you're closest to, and someone may be able to help you find a vet. There's a database of vets at www.guineapigzone.com, and another over at http:/www.guinealynx.info.

mimipig · Oct 14, 2014

That would be Madison, WI. I'll check those websites too, thank you

I also thought of one more question for tonight...With all of this moving around that's happened (home from the pet store for 3 days, back to the pet store for 2 days, to the pet store owners house, to the vet, back to the pet store, back to my house tonight) aggravating her condition/making it worse? I'm sure it can't be helping. Do you think it would be best to go to another vet right away or let her rest a little bit? I don't want to wait and have her get worse where she can't be helped as well, but I don't want to traumatize her either, what do you suggest?

bpatters · Oct 15, 2014

Is it actually getting worse? Has she stopped eating? Then take her to an exotic vet. She won't be fatally traumatized by another vet visit, particularly if you cut out the pet stores visits.

mimipig · Oct 15, 2014

Thank you so much for the suggestion of putting her food near her hidey hut! I did that with some fresh veggies and her pellets and almost all of the veggies are gone, and some of the pellets are too! She must have been too scared to cross the cage to get them, poor thing. I'll continue putting them right next to her house, but for the water bottle it is attached to the side of the cage and cannot be moved, that will be changed in 5 days when I get my Midwest Cage. Until then, I may put her house next to this bottle if she doesn't go over there on her own to drink. I'm so relieved she has at least started eating.
As for her eyes, this morning I peeked in her hut and I saw one eye and it was open and looked like an improvement. The other one I did not see as she was turned and I didn't want to dig her out, I will get some fresh veggies and put them in, if she comes out or peeks her head out I'll see and if not I'll have to dig her out to check and give her her eye drops anyway. If she seems alright and not too scared I'll take a picture of her eyes and her.
Thanks so much again, I'm so happy she has eaten, I'll post back soon when I've been able to see both eyes close up.

bpatters · Oct 15, 2014

Do move her hidey next to the water bottle. She'll get braver as time goes on.

But do check her eyes, even if you have to catch her to do it.

mimipig · Oct 15, 2014

I took her out to put the drops in. She was squeaking quietly the whole time again. Her crusties were not bad though! There were a few small ones under each eye, I was able to wipe away most of them. Here's a picture of her, still not sure what type she is but she has very fluffy curly hair, no rosettes though. I know with long haired guinea pigs hair cuts are in order, I'm sure I'll be here for that when the time comes. This pic was taken right before the drops, both eyes were about the same. She was/is holding her eyes much more open than before, hopefully these drops are helping.

Edit: just saw your post, I will move her hidey hut by the water bottle then

koalamissy · Oct 15, 2014

Poor little thing. She is soooo cute!!! Hope she continues to improve!!

mimipig · Oct 15, 2014

Thanks so much, I hope so as well! I'll be watching her closely and getting her to the vet quickly if she doesn't seem to be constantly improving. I'm very glad because I just went in the room and she was out of the hut and by the water bottle, she hid when I came closer though. She also started eating the new veggies and hay I put in, she seems to be doing so much better with eating since I got her back.
I've been looking around these forums and I see some people who use wood pellets with a layer of fleece on top as their bedding. That idea sounds appealing to me, as there would be a lot less to wash than what I was planning on, which was a fleece liner with layers of towels, pee pads and puppy/bed pads underneath. Would this be a good bedding system for a young guinea pig, or no? I will make a post in the bedding forum if I shouldn't ask in here

mimipig · Oct 16, 2014

Update;
This morning her eyes look alright, her right eye had almost no crusties but I'm not sure if its open all the way. Her left eye had one larger crust stuck on the inside corner that I couldn't really wipe off, I didn't want to hurt her but I don't think they are getting any worse. I noticed her sneeze 2 times yesterday, and I got really worried. I looked through the website of vets and the closest ones recommend on the website were a 2 hour drive away. There was one in my town that I found through google, I called and asked about them seeing a guinea pig it was 80 dollars per visit. The ones that are 2 hours away were only about 40. She is still eating and pooping normally, still hiding most of the day but she's been a little more active.
I called the pet store to ask about the vet he saw, the owner of the store is really nice and wants to be kept up to date with her health. I told him she had sneezed a couple times. He said the vet was a specialist in exotics and said just to do the eye drops, I know he drove a ways to go there which is why he had kept her at his house for the night when he took her to the vet. He said to keep watching her closely and if anything gets worse call right away, but if its not getting worse then to call back on Saturday with an update. I don't know if I should listen to him and just keep watching her and doing the eye drops this week, or go on my own to one of these other vets.

foggycreekcavy · Oct 17, 2014

Her eye should have no crust at all. If there's still crust, and now she's sneezing, I'd definitely take her to the exotic veterinarian.

The pet store owner is most likely concerned because he sold you a sick animal. Perhaps you can get him to foot part of the vet bill.

mimipig · Oct 17, 2014

This morning her eyes have almost completely cleared up they are definitely getting better, but I heard her sneeze. Just because the eyes are getting better though, doesn't necessarily mean she's recovering, I assume? I think what I will do is call the pet store owner and let him know she needs to see a vet and ask him if I would be able to take her in his place under the pet store bill. I found the vet he uses and it is this one, which seems good for exotics;
(broken link removed)
I would like it to be the store's responsibility to pay for her vet bill and he told me to call back if she gets worse and I think he planned on taking her back himself, but it would be a lot less stressful on her I think if she didn't have to go back to the pet store and with him perhaps to his house or whatever he would need to do. I'm not sure if he will agree to me taking her there but I'm going to try.

pigger123 · Oct 17, 2014

I would take her to a vet, but not back to the store. Pet stores have next to zero knowledge of how to take care of animals, let alone giving them medical care. You can probably get the store to help with the vet bill, but you should go to a good exotic vet on your own.

The wood pellets with fleece on top is a fine bedding for any age of pigs. If/when you do get her a friend, please adopt from a rescue or shelter and don't buy from a pet store or breeder! Breeders are almost as bad as pet shops, but rescues are great.

bpatters · Oct 17, 2014

@mimipig, there is no exotics certified vet at that hospital. What you have is a vet with an "interest" in exotics. That may be fine -- my own vet is one of those. It may not be fine -- there's a vet a mile from me with an "interest" in exotics who knows next to nothing about them, which is why I drive 30 miles each way to the other one.

I'd look to see if I could find a certified vet. That way you'll know that they've had the training and experience to treat your pig. But if you can't, and you have to go back to that one, cut the pet store out. It's not in their best interest to pay for the best care -- they want the pig treated as cheaply as possibly, and to get you off their backs. You go deal with the vet and make sure your pig gets good care.

mimipig · Oct 17, 2014

You guys are right, I don't trust the pet store to care for her so I will avoid letting her be held there at all costs. I didn't know about the difference between certified or interest vets bpatters, thank you for the information. Hopefully I can find a certified vet, if the pet store will help pay I have a feeling it will only be at this one since it's the one they use but I will ask anyway.

Thank you as well, pigger! I actually switched her to the wood pellets and fleece last night because I was afraid if the paper bedding was adding to the irritation. She seems to really like it. Today she was so happy and jumping around. I had her out on my lap for a pretty long time and she was stretched out taking naps and eating hay off my lap, she seemed like she really liked being petted. Her eyes are all clean since I got the last tiny crusts off this morning like I said it has cleared up for now.
I'll post any more updates if they come up and when I go to the vet

mimipig · Oct 18, 2014

I made an appointment with a vet that I am almost certain has the certification, the vet is a member of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, and I read reviews online from other guinea pig owners that had gone there. Here's the website.
(broken link removed)
The soonest appointment they had available was Monday morning.
I called the petstore as well to tell him about the situation, he said he would be able to get her into the vet today to get antibiotics and then he would keep her until Monday, OR he would reimburse me for the cost of the guinea pig and I could go on my own to any vet. That would cover about half the cost of the vet so I decided to do that.
Do you think this was the best decision? I have to wait until Monday now to get her into the vet instead of him taking her today, but there won't be any travel to his house or the petstore.
This morning one eye is all clear still and the other had a few small crusts, she was sneezing a little more than before. Is Monday too far away? My other option is having him take her to his vet today and holding her at his house/the store til Monday.

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