Question:
I just went to check on Buddy and one of his eyes was half closed. He does seem to be able to open it, but he is keeping it closed most of the time. I tried to look in the closed eye and it looks like he might have gotten dust (or something) in the it. Should I be worried? It doesn't seem to bother him - he's bouncing all around, chewing on Robert's shirt, and eating a piece of pumice.


Answer:
Interesting...Robert noticed that Buddy was rubbing his face in old dust and pieces of cuttlebone that were on his shelf, so he gave him a bath to roll in instead. He is now out of the bath and his eye seems to be looking better. I don't think that it is open all the way, but it is open a lot more than it was before...hopefully he was able to clean out whatever was in it.


Answer:
Just keep an eye on it Danielle (no pun intended. ha ha) and see how it goes. If it doesn't get better within a day or two you might want to bring buddy to the vet for a closer exam.


Answer:
Thanks Sophie. Robert just found some information on another forum and it said the same thing. The forum also said that you could try to wipe the eye with warm, distilled water or cooled tea.
I just woke up and went to check on Buddy and the eye was closed again. When I open the door, he opened the eye some and ran over to play with me. Then, after I left, he went to eat and he had the eye open while he was eating. There is definitely something wrong with it though. Here are a couple pictures of the eye:
I'm really hoping that it takes care of itself...


Answer:
I should also mention that he seems to be scratching at it quite a bit...


Answer:
Well, two people on CnQ suggested that I administer drops of saline solution into his eye, so I am going to pick up some saline solution for irrigation and I will administer them as soon as I get home from school (I need to go and work on an assignment).


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Does anyone have any hints on how to administer the eye drops? Buddy does not like to be held and I've never held him for more than a few seconds (when it was absolutely necessary).


Answer:
When I have to hold Pablo (she hates to be held too).. I wrap her in a towel..
I hope the saline works..


Answer:
That eye definitely looks irritated Saline might work but I wouldn't muck with it for too long before seeing a vet. If he's got something lodged in there it could damage his cornea.
The towel trick seems to work for everyone...although if Buddy is anything like Jiggy he'll find a way out...hopefully the saline will be in by then though


Answer:
No animal has escaped my wrapping technique! I used to wrap feral cats in towels and if they couldn't get away no chinnie ever will!