Hay Pokes
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Eye injuries, more commonly referred to as hay pokes are quite common in guineas.
Their constant need for hay, their need to forage and low set eyes mean occasionally they will get an injury. An eye that has gone blue, cloudy or closed is a sign.
The majority of eyes heal incredibly well as long as prompt treatment is given and it's quite normal for eyes to look worse in the initial stages.
Eye injuries should always be treated as an emergency, if any hay is visible in the eye it can be carefully removed and flushed using saline. Sometimes hay can get trapped behind the eye and an urgent vet visit is needed to remove it as the vet can use a topical anaesthetic drop to make it pain free to remove it.
Antibiotic eye drops are needed for hay pokes and we find recovery is quicker if an eye lubricant like Remend is also used. In the UK there has been a shortage of Isathal for a long time which is the most common one prescribed for guinea eyes and chloramphenicol drops are being prescribed instead. Pain relief should also be prescribed in severe hay pokes.
Salt and Boris recently had hay pokes, after a few days of antibiotic drops and Remend you couldn't tell which eye was the injured one.
Hay pokes can't really be prevented and hay should never be restricted to a tiny tray or bag but using good quality hay and fluffing it up outside to get rid of excess dust and bits can help.
These pictures show the moment hay pokes were spotted, the hay removed and progress after treatment. The guineas have made full recoveries but if left with no treatment an eye injury can lead to surgical removal needing to be done or blindness.
