Pink eye is a condition caused by bacteria infecting the conjunctiva, which is the tissue that lines the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Pink eye will not resolve on its own and when left untreated, the bacteria could spread into the surrounding tissue. There's often no identifiable cause when a guinea pig develops pink eye, but if a guinea pig's living environment isn't kept clean, it can increase their chance of developing bacterial infections. Additionally, if they get scratched in the eye or experience trauma to the eye, they are susceptible to developing pink eye.
Symptoms Of Pink Eye
Pink eye causes significant redness around the edge of the eye and your guinea pig's eye will be swollen. It's also common for watery discharge to drip from the eye, and your guinea pig may also develop pus-filled discharge that causes their eyelids to stick together. Additionally, guinea pigs tend to become withdrawn when they are sick and you'll likely notice your guinea pig loses interest in food and social contact. A reduction of food and water intake can lead to dehydration pretty quickly, which can put pressure on their organs.
Treating Pink Eye
Pink eye is pretty straightforward to diagnose. The affected eye will be swabbed and the swab will be analysed to determine the strain of bacteria causing the infection. Your vet needs to know the strain that is present in order to treat the infection effectively. Depending on the severity of the infection, your vet will prescribe oral antibiotics, antibiotic eye drops or a combination of both. If you need to administer eye drops, your vet will show you how to clean your guinea pig's eye with a gentle eyewash solution before administering the drops. Guinea pigs don't tend to love having eye drops administered, so securely wrapping them in a towel can help keep them calm and allow you to give them their medicine without being scratched.
It's best to keep your guinea pig separate from other pets in your home while they are recovering from their eye infection. Guinea pigs are known to be quite sensitive to stress and will benefit from a quiet environment during treatment and recovery. Your vet will check your guinea pig over once their course of treatment is complete to ensure they have recovered well and there are no remaining signs of pink eye.
Pink eye should be treated as soon as symptoms are observed, so if you notice your guinea pink has a red or swollen eye, have them examined as quickly as possible. Take them to a local veterinary service for more information.