Wilber and Grady

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Sep 11, 2021 10:10 pm


Looks like he's dragging his tail!

Bookfan
For the Love of Pigs

Post   » Mon Sep 13, 2021 1:15 pm


Yeah I just noticed that tail. I found out last night that Neely has the same kind of tail.

I love that coloring - makes him look sort of like a squirrel, but a little browner.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:35 am


Grady has that runny eye which comes and goes. It'll run for a day and then it's ok for a week or longer. It doesn't seem to be any kind of infection. It doesn't cause him any discomfort either. He eats, drinks and plays normally so we're going with it and keeping watch on it. I clean it for him when it dries and gets crusted on his cheek. Well today was one of his runny eye days and before I could get him and clean it, Wilber did it for me. He went over and licked it clean and Grady didn't seem to mind. I've never seen paired guinea pigs take care of each other like that.

Sure, they comfort each other and play together, but cleaning each other on a personal level like that is something I never thought I'd see. I'm not sure if Grady's eye fluid is bad for Wilber to be licking, but it was actually cute to see him taking care of his brother like that.

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pigjes
Cavy Comic

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 5:08 am


Oh, that's so heartwarming!!

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 12:09 pm


I am sure it is not harmful to Wilber.

Interestingly, I recall reading somewhere that licking wounds helps them heal. I don't think this is the case here (an injury) but more likely a temporarily blocked tear duct.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:06 pm


I have antibiotic eye drops for him. It clears up after a day whether I use the drops or not. It comes back anywhere between a week or as long as 3 weeks and it's gone by the next day. There's really no pattern so I think it's probably a tear duct. It's also not puss and it dries a very light yellow, almost clear crust that you can barely see. None of the signs are present as far as decreased appetite, activity levels or fecal production.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 1:39 pm


Ah. Then the only potential issue I see is if you have put in antibiotic eye drops and they are licked off.

Take a look to see what antibiotics are used. I think some antibiotics safe for eyes are not safe to ingest.

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:28 pm


If you think the problem is a tear duct, you can very very very gently massage just under his eye, moving from the outside corner toward the nose, and then down the nose. That may open it up and allow the fluid to drain.

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Renonvsparky

Post   » Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:23 pm


I should probably clarify that I haven't put the drops in Grady's eye for quite some time and I'm positive that Wilber hasn't ingested any of it. If Wilber is going to keep it clean for him, maybe he will clear up the tear duct in the process. Wouldn't that be something?

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:19 am


That would be great!

I bet those little tongues can do at least a little massaging!


[NOTE: Sorry for the below but I wanted to add it to the forum in so it might be searchable for eye information - I might move it later.]

I was looking around to see if I could find any kind of illustration of the nasolacrimal duct. At the moment, all I can find is one for a dog in the Merck manual (see illustrations, first one):
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/eye-diseas ... -apparatus
The tear production and drainage system is vital for health of the outer eye. Tear glands within the orbit (lacrimal and in some species Harder gland) as well as the superficial tear gland of the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) produce the collective preocular or precorneal tear film. This film consists of three layers: outer lipid (from the Meibomian glands), middle aqueous layer (from lacrimal and third eyelid glands), and deep layer (mucus) from the goblet cells within the conjunctiva.

The tear drainage system consists of two lacrimal puncta (except in the rabbit and pig, which have only one punctum), two canaliculi, the lacrimal sac (within the bony lacrimal fossa), and the long and often tortuous lacrimal duct (to empty tears within the forward nasal cavity).
And an article on how important lacrimal fluid is to the health of the eye. This gets very technical but the summary is informative.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652637/

And a very accessible article on the lacrimal system in a human:
https://teachmeanatomy.info/head/organs ... mal-gland/

Perhaps not helpful for locating the duct but interesting nonetheless is this article, which touches on several species and regrets the lack of information on guinea pigs:
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseas ... rabbit.pdf

This 2009 post on a UK forum notes that, "There is a test the vet can do to determine if the tear ducts are actually blocked - it involves putting fluorescene dye in the eye and monitoring it's appearance down the nostrils and in the throat"
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/thr ... st-1329809

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:14 am


That's great info, Lynx. Could we add that to the eyes page, and/or the records forum?

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Nov 08, 2021 12:42 pm


Sure! Actually a better place. I'll go for the Records forum since it should be easier.
[Edit] Here you go:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/view ... f=22&t=308

Renonvsparky, if you'd like me to remove this from your topic, I'd be happy to do so. I get sidetracked sometimes when medical issues show up.

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