The most common foreign object that can get stuck in the eye of a guinea pig is a hay seed. Sharp at one end and commonly found in the bundles of hay you give to your pet, guinea pigs can easily get these stuck in their eyes while grazing.
Hay seeds will become stuck between the lower eyelid or the upper eyelid and the eyeball and cause a corneal abrasion (see above) where the eyeball will turn cloudy and/or become bloodshot. The upper eyelid or lower eyelid will usually become red and swollen and the eye may weep.
Removing a hay seed from the eye can be difficult. If the seed is not embedded deep in the upper or lower eyelid or the eyeball you may attempt to remove it with a pair of blunt ended tweezers. If you have never attempted this before or if you think it looks like it needs professional attention, you should seek assistance from your vet.
The removal of the foreign object should be done carefully and quickly to minimise the discomfort to your pet and they may squeal when the object is removed. It is not uncommon for a guinea pig to close their eye for a period of time after the removal.
Flush the eyeball using a blunt ended plastic 1ml syringe and water (use your kettle to boil the water and let it cool before use) to clean the wound, and then apply a couple of drops of Optrex daily until healed.
