Why are my old guinea pig's eyes white and does she close them often?

Question

Hi i know this is weird but i have a guinea pig named rosie. I got her from a friend 2 years ago. I don't know her age but i know she's pretty old. But her eyes look a bit weird now. Like her eyes are white but i can see under her eyelids and it makes em look weird...she also closes her eyes a lot now. And I'm not sure if its because she's sleepy or her eyes are irritated. She acts normal though. Eating , drinking squeaking for food. She doesn't move as much as she use to though Maybe age? Pet's info: Small Animal | Guinea Pig | Female | unspayed

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your question about Rosie. From your description, there are a few possibilities for what this may be. Guinea pigs can develop cataracts as they age, and this makes the lenses of their eyes look white. The lens is in the center of the eye, where the pupil is. These can be irritating and can also be painful if the pressure in the eye increases as a result of the cataracts being present. Another condition that can occur in guinea pigs is osseous metaplasia. This occurs on the rim of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. What occurs with this process is that bone is put down around the eye, making it look white. This process isn't typically painful unless it gets severe. I would recommend having Rosie evaluated by a veterinarian who is familiar with guinea pigs (and some veterinary ophthalmologists are as well, depending on your area). They can help to determine what portion of the eye is looking weird/white, and if the condition is painful or not. Depending on what they find, they may have medications that they prescribe to Rosie, including pain relievers. Please do not give Rosie any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our furry friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Rosie the best!

Why are my old guinea pig's eyes white and does she close them often?

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