If you have noticed that your guinea pig has cloudy eyes you will naturally be worried, and wonder Why is My Guinea Pig’s Eye Cloudy? what it could mean.
A healthy guinea pig’s eyes should be clear and brightly coloured.
If they look cloudy, or there is any unusual discharge, this could be a sign of several things.
Why Is My Guinea Pig’s Eye Cloudy?
A Guinea pigs eye will turn cloudy if there is something stuck in it like hay or if an ulcer has formed. If something is stuck in your guinea pigs eye then they will probably scratch the eye to try to remove it.
Eye issues are serious, and you should see a vet immediately if your guinea pig has cloudy eyes, or excessive discharge from the eyes that isn’t just natural secretions.
Guinea pigs secrete a milky fluid from their eyes, which they use as a cleaning agent when they groom themselves.
This is natural. There is nothing to worry about. Any discharges of an unusual colour, or discharges that occur even when your guinea pig is not grooming itself, should be investigated.
What Is Wrong With My Guinea Pig’s Eye?
To know the answer to that question for certain you will need to take your guinea pig to a vet, who will diagnose the issue.
It could be something as simple as a poke in the eye, or it could be an infection, or an ulcer. Eye problems are best addressed as soon as possible.
A vet can not only diagnose the problem, but can prescribe medication to treat the effected eye.
How Do You Know If Your Guinea Pig Has An Eye Infection?
There a several signs that might indicate that your guinea pig has an eye infection. One or all of them could be present.
As already mentioned, cloudy eyes, and excessive, unusual discharges are one major sign of infection. You should also look out for redness and inflammation of the eye.
This will cause your guinea pig to scratch or rub its eyes with its paws. Bulges and swelling around the eye are another sign. If any or all of these signs present, you need to see a vet as soon as possible.
How To Treat An Eye Infection
Your vet can prescribe special eye ointments which treat infections. Most eye infections are caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, or by an injury to the eye, such as from a poke with a piece of hay or straw.
Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ointments will treat the infection.
Continue to give your guinea pig lots of water and green leafy vegetables. Make sure they have a balanced diet and lots of bed rest. Doing all of this will aid in their recovery, helping their eye to heal more quickly.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Have One Eye Closed?
If your guinea has one eye closed, for an extended period, such as most of the day, you should take them to a vet. Monitor them, looking out for other signs, such as excess and unexplained discharge, swelling and redness.
A closed eye could mean that your guinea pig has been poked in the eye, and is just resting its eye for a few minutes. It could have dirt in its eye.
Watch your guinea pig throughout the day. If they do not open their eye after a few hours, there might be something stuck in it. Try to have a look for yourself.
Be gentle. If your guinea pig won’t let you touch their eyelids, you will need to go see a vet. There could be something under their eyelids, such as a bit of dirt or a piece of hay or straw that has got into their eye.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Have White Stuff In His Eyes?
As already mentioned, guinea pigs secrete a white discharge from their eyes when grooming themselves. This white, milky fluid is a cleaning agent, that they use to clean their fur.
White discharge, or discharge of any colour is only a concern if it is excess and constant.
Look for any unusual, coloured discharge. If you think there is a problem, you can do no harm by visiting a vet.
Do Guinea Pigs Get Crusty Eyes?
Guinea pigs can and do get crusty eyes. It could be the sign of a respiratory infection, an allergy, or some other infection of the eyes. A vet is the best person to diagnose any eye issues.
They will prescribe the right treatment for your guinea pig.
Your guinea pig might need its eyes cleaned. A vet is the best person do this.
Can Guinea Pigs Use Human Eye Drops?
No. Human eye drops are prescribed for humans only. You should never use human eye drops on a guinea pig unless specifically instructed to by a vet.
Your vet will prescribe particular eye drops for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs have different eyes to humans, and they need special eyedrops just for guinea pigs.
You should never give your guinea pig any medications or treatments that haven’t been prescribed by a vet. Never assume that you know what is causing your guinea pigs eye problems.
It could just be that they have had a poke in the eye, which means they do not need eye drops.
If something more serious is causing their eye problems, such as an allergic reaction or an infection, your vet will need to diagnose this so they can give your guinea pig the right treatment and prescribe the correct dosage.
We hope we have answered all your questions on guinea pig eye problems. If there is something we have left out, or if you have any more questions, don’t be afraid to ask your vet.
They are there to help, and to make sure that your guinea pig is happy and healthy. If you take care of your guinea pig they will live a full and happy life.
Why Does My Guinea Pig Have Eye Discharge?
Sometimes it’s quite fine to witness some discharge expelling from the eyes of your guinea pig. It’s a normal part of a guinea pig’s life to get rid of debris that could have gotten in there.
Eye discharge also helps guinea pigs clean their faces. If you notice the discharge to be a white or creamy texture, it’s absolutely fine. Pretend it’s an automatic soap dispenser they have built into their eyes to use for quick cleanings.
This is a self-grooming animal that uses the discharge for grooming and regular hygienic practices. We love seeing our cute cavies rubbing their faces with the discharge a few times a day as an act of face washing. It’s adorable for us to watch and useful for them to do so.
We also have a helpful article on guinea pigs crying that you should check out in relation to eye discharge. Take a look here.
What Eye Drops to Give Guinea Pigs?
What is the reason why you wish to give eye drops to your guinea pig? Do you see some sort of inflammation, infection or just a creamy discharge? If it’s the latter, you do not need to use eye drops because white or creamy discharges are normal.
They use this discharge to wipe their faces as part of the grooming process. If you see something red, swelling or an infection developing, you will receive the correct form of eye cream or eye drops from the vet.
They may also decide to perform an injection to the back of the guinea pig’s neck instead of using eye drops.
Optrex eye drops have been used by some guinea pig caregivers, but without knowing what’s wrong or whether it’s just normal discharge, acting on it with our own eye drops is not advised.
How to Treat a Guinea Pig Eye Ulcer?
Guinea pigs can develop corneal ulcers that are bothersome for them and worrisome for us. Your guinea pig’s vet is going to have to be consulted when this issue becomes present. There are prescription eye ointments.
Ulcers heal sometimes with the use of antibiotics. The ulcer could last 3-7 days and with proper treatment, relief is around the corner. Something may have come into contact with your guinea pig’s eye in other forms of trauma.
A stick in the eye or a sharp piece of hay could have caused it. Dry eyes could also be the culprit. In any case, this is a condition that needs prescription mediation and a diagnosis first and foremost.
Once you are told that it is in fact corneal ulcers in your guinea pig’s eye, you can apply the correct treatment prescribed from the vet.
Thank you for visiting PocketPetCentral.com for the best information to help you enjoy the life of your pocket pet companion in a fun, safe & healthy way.
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