Eye Socket Swelling
-
- And got the T-shirt
I don't know either whether you can safely flush an eye socket or not. With a regular cyst somewhere else in the body you can, because you're flushing into a mostly closed sac. But with the eye socket, there's that opening to the brain along the optic nerve. I sure wouldn't want to do it without instructions from the vet.
- Catie Cavy
- Supporter 2011-2020
This reminded me of Erin's Pistachio, so I checked her thread to see if she ever flushed his eye. She did not but apparently Pistachio seeped pus for the rest of his life after his surgery. After trying several rounds of antibiotics, they just left it alone. I remember he had one cagemate who would clean him off. Pistachio lived a full, happy life despite his eye issues.
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... tachio+eye
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... tachio+eye
Ok, vet update.
Vet confirmed that it was not pus, it was some type of non-pussy discharge instead. A vet tech who had seen Chainsaw on both visits told me that last time the socket was definitely gross and pus filled, this time not. They cleaned the socket out again (it was indeed Betadine) and closed it back up. I still have a follow up scheduled for Wednesday.
Unfortunately, the vet there today was not one of the exotics specialists. She knows enough about guinea pigs I trusted her to be able to tell whether it was/was not pus and clean out the area, but I did not discuss much else with her. I will talk more with one of the exotics vets on Wednesday.
Looking at the thread on Pistachio, and the fact that the recent discharge was not nasty pus, it seems possible to me that that eye socket is periodically seeping discharge. Since the eye socket healed shut, it had no way of leaving the eye cavity and stayed there, getting gross and pussy and causing the swelling. If space can be left for the discharge to leave her body naturally, that may help the issue. She could also, potentially, have vet visits periodically to drain the space. I'll have to talk to the vet about her options.
Vet confirmed that it was not pus, it was some type of non-pussy discharge instead. A vet tech who had seen Chainsaw on both visits told me that last time the socket was definitely gross and pus filled, this time not. They cleaned the socket out again (it was indeed Betadine) and closed it back up. I still have a follow up scheduled for Wednesday.
Unfortunately, the vet there today was not one of the exotics specialists. She knows enough about guinea pigs I trusted her to be able to tell whether it was/was not pus and clean out the area, but I did not discuss much else with her. I will talk more with one of the exotics vets on Wednesday.
Looking at the thread on Pistachio, and the fact that the recent discharge was not nasty pus, it seems possible to me that that eye socket is periodically seeping discharge. Since the eye socket healed shut, it had no way of leaving the eye cavity and stayed there, getting gross and pussy and causing the swelling. If space can be left for the discharge to leave her body naturally, that may help the issue. She could also, potentially, have vet visits periodically to drain the space. I'll have to talk to the vet about her options.
Belated update, travel meant my internet was limited.
Chainsaw saw the vet again on Wednesday. It looks like her eyesocket is filling itself in/healing closed. It was recommended that we leave the hole in her skin open and let the area heal on its own. She was taken off Baytril, and I was given a wash to clean the area with daily, and some silver sulfa anti bacterial/anti fungal cream to put on it as well. The opening is definitely shallower than it used to be, and pus/discharge is less frequent. I made sure to get some more Metacam just in case, but she hasn't needed it. She no longer seems to be in pain, and as of today her weight has returned to normal.
Fingers crossed that once it heals up the eyesocket will pose no further issues, but I'm going to be monitoring her obsessively for a while, I think.
I will post pictures later if anybody would like to see them.
Chainsaw saw the vet again on Wednesday. It looks like her eyesocket is filling itself in/healing closed. It was recommended that we leave the hole in her skin open and let the area heal on its own. She was taken off Baytril, and I was given a wash to clean the area with daily, and some silver sulfa anti bacterial/anti fungal cream to put on it as well. The opening is definitely shallower than it used to be, and pus/discharge is less frequent. I made sure to get some more Metacam just in case, but she hasn't needed it. She no longer seems to be in pain, and as of today her weight has returned to normal.
Fingers crossed that once it heals up the eyesocket will pose no further issues, but I'm going to be monitoring her obsessively for a while, I think.
I will post pictures later if anybody would like to see them.
Quick update:
Eye socket is still 'weeping' pus almost constantly, we are seeing the vet again on Friday. Over winter holidays I took Chainsaw to another vet I trust near where my parents live (holiday travel with guinea pigs is Fun), who gave roughly the same assessment. Chainsaw's weight has remained pretty stable in the 'good' zone during this time, other than a few days a bit light during travel (which all the pigs experienced, unfortunately).
Eye socket is still 'weeping' pus almost constantly, we are seeing the vet again on Friday. Over winter holidays I took Chainsaw to another vet I trust near where my parents live (holiday travel with guinea pigs is Fun), who gave roughly the same assessment. Chainsaw's weight has remained pretty stable in the 'good' zone during this time, other than a few days a bit light during travel (which all the pigs experienced, unfortunately).