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Eyes/Non-crusty Little Bear's ouchie eye

4boipigs

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This is a thread about Little Bear's ulcerated eye. I first noticed he had a red eye on 2.10.21. We went to the vet 2.11.21. I received the exceptionally vague visit notes from when we went to the vet yesterday. The notes state he has a large central eye ulcer, and his eyelids appear to be paralyzed or he is unable to blink. As the vet was doing curbside service, I was unable to see what went on w/ the eye stain. He is taking 2 eye drops and a lubricating eye ointment, and I've been giving metacam for pain.

I'm upset about it because it looks worse and worse. I think I'm having an easier time giving him the eye ointment to keep it lubricated. The weather the next few days will be 'bad', and for a state that doesn't see snow/cold like Texas, I don't know what I will do if we need to get to the vet or ER between now and Tuesday. (I'm from Missouri so this is typical winter for me.)

He doesn't appear to be in pain. He is eating and acting 'normal', but small animals know how to hide pain. He just doesn't deserve this after how I found him abandoned in a box and losing his brother. I'm also mildly concerned about eye removal, as the vet sounded unsure about eye surgery on a 6 yr old pig. Cost right now means nothing. He has cataracts in that eye anyway, so it isn't like he'll be losing any sight.


20210211_181037.jpg
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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I believe [MENTION=13820]bpatters[/MENTION] stated that the surgery to remove the eye isn't all that bad, compared to other invasive surgeries.

I know there is another pig here who recently had an eye removed named Chippy. It may be a good idea to touch base with Chippy's parents and get an idea of what's involved. I think Little Bear is a tough nut and I believe he'll do ok.
 

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4boipigs

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20210212_160441.jpg

Idk why this is still upside down...sorry!

I feel like it is getting worse. He is acting normal and but the eye is gnarly and I know he is hurting. I've been giving him the eye lube religiously every few hours but I am not sure if it is even getting in his eye. It is definitely all over the fur around his eye from him moving his head.

The weather is supposed to be bad and people are being advised not to travel Sunday and Monday, and I'm getting anxious because if something happens to him, what do I do?
 

4boipigs

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Little Bear's eye doesn't look so bad this morning. In fact it looks a lot less red! Hopefully he is on the mend. I feel so bad for him.

As for Amigo who had the UTI/blood in his urine, he is also doing well. He HATES medication time. He doesn't like being picked up, and many times (even before this occurrence), he will tremble in fear while being held. He won't even accept snacks when held. He has to have meds twice a day.
 

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Such good news about Little Bear. Hopefully it was a rough patch right at the start and he'll be good as new in no time.

I feel bad for Amigo. No pig ever deserves to be treated the way your guys have in their lives. Happy that they now have you.
 

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149685170_130708318851391_861063609737276788_n.jpg

Here is a full body shot of him! Don't think I ever posted a good one here. He still seems all right. He is moving the eye and I can see it is moist. I don't see any discharge but it does still hurt of course.
 

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He really is adorable. I love his perpetual "Just crawled out of bed" look.

Have you noticed if he's blinking that eye yet?
 

4boipigs

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Honestly I rarely see ANY of the boys blink. I caught my newest boy blinking a time or two, and that's it. Little Bear sleeps in the houses so I don't know if he is shutting the eye at all. He does sleep with his eyes closed most of the time. He doesn't blink when he gets eye drops, just jerks his head away.
 

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I would just like to see him happy, healthy and doing well. He deserves that, at the very least.
 

ItsaZoo

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Glad to hear Amigo is doing better. I hope Little Bear’s eye starts to clear up.

As for the upside down pictures, you might be taking the picture that way on your phone or tablet. The app on the phone or tablet will turn the picture right side up when you view it. The Forum software doesn’t know which way is up. �� So to correct it, edit the picture on your phone or table and flip it right side up. Save the picture and then upload to the Forum.
 

4boipigs

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Little Bear is making some loud respiratory sounds. Not the clicky stuff Bruin did, but occassionally I can hear him from across the room. I thought maybe it was water dripping or my dog (sounded like a muted dog cough) but its Little Bear. Idk when we can get to the vet again at this point with the weather. I'm just letting him rest for now since its like 60 in here and we don't know how long power will last.
 

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The weather in your neck of the woods is supposed to improve dramatically by weeks end. Has he been eating normally? Maybe veggies? Is it possible that he's gotten something caught in his throat? I had a boar who had an issue with that for quite some time. Usually one good loud cough would clear whatever it was.
 

4boipigs

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Despite all this weather and being unable to give L Bear his meds, his eye seems to be getting better. I can see the ulcer but it isn't nasty and red. He has been loudly crying for food. I can hear him breathing sometimes as well. The vet wanted a follow up on Friday/tomorrow but with how Texas is, idk how possible that is. I definitely want to take him to the vet.
 

TheGuineaPigGal

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I wish I could send some snowplows...
 

Guinea Pig Papa

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Despite all this weather and being unable to give L Bear his meds, his eye seems to be getting better. I can see the ulcer but it isn't nasty and red. He has been loudly crying for food. I can hear him breathing sometimes as well. The vet wanted a follow up on Friday/tomorrow but with how Texas is, idk how possible that is. I definitely want to take him to the vet.


If it's appearing better, keep doing what you can do until you can get him in. Your weather is going to rapidly improve starting tomorrow. I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. It must be improving so keep giving him whatever meds you do have to keep him from getting worse. We're all here with you!
 

4boipigs

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If it's appearing better, keep doing what you can do until you can get him in. Your weather is going to rapidly improve starting tomorrow. I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. It must be improving so keep giving him whatever meds you do have to keep him from getting worse. We're all here with you!

I haven't actually been able to give him meds at all! I think the last time was on Monday, when the power when out. I have no idea. The eye is looking better, aside from that pupil being very dilated. Little Bear is acting great. He is a little sneezy but otherwise he is definitely no emergency case.
 

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I encourage you to keep using the prescribed drops and eye lubricant consistently and have patience.

I had a pig with an ulcerated cornea and a prolapsed iris due to a bad hay poke injury.

Out vet referred us to an eye specialist because she thought there was still something in the eye, which was actually the iris prolapse.

Jasmine's eye took over two months to heal with 2 different medicated drops and lubricant 6-8 times a day. But she didn't lose the eye and it actually healed up nicely. After 6+ months the eye looks as good as the other eye.

The eye specialist says she probably lost some vision, but she kept some and most importantly no further complications developed due to consistent treatment.

I wish you and your pig luck!
 

4boipigs

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153750427_3749189635167243_7744611532117861668_o.jpg
Little Bear's eye is very runny with white stuff, and he has a ton of discharge under his eye. I also saw stuff on his nose in the pic, and upon looking at him, he actually has a ton of nasal discharge. Of course I noticed his breathing before, and he does sneeze a little but nothing that brought alarm. He can move the bad eye itself, but I can't tell if he's having issues blinking still. Again, behavior is normal and he "doesn't act sick".

Looks like he'll be getting eye drops again and baytril. He is much much easier to give medication to. My other boys fight me and have to be picked up, but Little Bear will bite the syringe while still in the cage and let me squirt it into his mouth.

I really hope it resolves and we don't need another follow up visit. :(
 
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