My guinea pig has a painful eye. Should I risk surgery or euthanasia?

Thank you for your question about Rosie. From your description, there are a few possibilities for what this may be. Guinea pigs can develop cataracts as they age, and this makes the lenses of their eyes look white. The lens is in the center of the eye, where the pupil is. These can be irritating and can also be painful if the pressure in the eye increases as a result of the cataracts being present. Another condition that can occur in guinea pigs is osseous metaplasia. This occurs on the rim of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. What occurs with this process is that bone is put down around the eye, making it look white. This process isn't typically painful unless it gets severe. I would recommend having Rosie evaluated by a veterinarian who is familiar with guinea pigs (and some veterinary ophthalmologists are as well, depending on your area). They can help to determine what portion of the eye is looking weird/white, and if the condition is painful or not. Depending on what they find, they may have medications that they prescribe to Rosie, including pain relievers. Please do not give Rosie any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our furry friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Rosie the best!

I am so sorry that you are having problems with both of your guinea pigs. Because your other guinea pig had signs of a respiratory (nose, windpipe, and lungs) issue, I would recommend having Peaches evaluated by a veterinarian. Many times, respiratory diseases can be contagious, and may present with abnormalities of the eyes (the eyes and nose are connected, so bacteria and other organisms can spread between them!). From the pictures, the changes appear to be mild right now, which is great as you have caught it early! Other things that can cause both watering of the eyes and respiratory problems is bedding in the cage. Shavings made of pine or cedar can be irritating to both the eyes and the respiratory system, and can result in sneezing and watering of the eyes. Excessively dusty bedding can do the same things. If these are present, I would recommend changing those out and looking for improvement. Your veterinarian will be able to look closely at Peaches' eyes, and take a close listen to her lungs to make sure she is not also having respiratory signs.

Sorry to see this has happened to poor Ellie. She requires immediate veterinary attention as this eye is badly infected and will be very painful. I suspect she has developed a bad corneal ulcer or there has been trauma to the eye. She needs to assessed by a veterinarian and appropriate treatment given. They may be unable to save the eye.

I suggest you get this eye ointment to put in the eye 2-3 times per day. If after about 4 days of treatment there is no improvement or if the eye looks worse at any time then you will need to take Chauncey to the vet for an exam. I would continue to flush the eye out once a day with saline solution as well. http://www.allivet.com/p-1292-terramycin-ophthalmic-ointment.aspx http://www.allivet.com/p-1294-eye-wash-solution-4-oz.aspx Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for reaching out about Cookie and including photos. The cloudy eye could be a trauma, infection or other disease. Also concerned about the swelling of both lower eye lids/conjunctiva. This could be that she is overweight but also possible lymphoma. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Weight loss can be caused by overgrown teeth, and thus difficulty eating/chewing. However, other, nonspecific signs such as pain, can also cause reluctance to eat. Bandit may have an eye infection or corneal ulcer, which is causing him some discomfort. I recommend having him seen by a vet, who can file his teeth if necessary, and determine exactly what is going on with his eye. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Try using a warm, moist cloth to remove any discharge and/or crusts from the eye so she can try and open her eye. You may also want to try and flush the eye with some saline/artificial tears. You may also need to hand feed her if she is not able to see what/where her food is. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.