Guinea Pig - eye dry, wrinkled - raisin like growth

Question
QUESTION: My daughter's guinea pig's eye looks like a raisin. Dark, dry, wrinkled, protruding..it looks like there is a raisin-like growth on her eye... what do we do to help her? We don't think she is very old as per the folks who gave her to us a few months ago for free and we don't know her history. Please help. Per what we have been reading, we don't think she is any pain as she is moving about, eating and drinking. We also have other pets (dogs) and want to make sure that whatever she has is not contagious to either the pets or us.  Thank you for your help. MOM

ANSWER: Hi Jerri,

Any unusual scab, discharge or growth found on a guinea pig is a cause for concern- and a vet trip.

Honestly, I'm not completely sure what is wrong with your guinea pig but I do know that she needs to be examined by a veterinarian who has experience with guinea pigs. I doubt that it's contagious to the dogs, most infections and diseases that guinea pigs get only affect cavies(guinea pigs), exept parasite infections.

If you need help finding a veterinarian that will be able to diagnose and safely treat your guinea pig this link should help you, go to www.cavyvets.com . If you still aren't able to find a veterinarian to help you, then contact me and I'll see what I can do.

Sorry I couldn't offer you more answers, but only a veterinarian will be able to cure your guinea pig from this. If you don't mind, I'd be interested in knowing what you find out at the veterinarian's office.

If you have any other questions, just ask!

         A.Jones

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you - I will contact our local Veterinary Clinic and see if they are knowledgeable about Cavys otherwise I'm sure they can refer me to someone in the area.  Let me know how I am to reach you as this may take more than the 3 days that this message will be valid and I am able to reply.

Answer
Since you asked a follow-up you will now be able to reach me for another three days in this same section, if after three days you don't have any other information than you can either write me another follow-up or send me another e-mail the way that you sent me your first question. If you give me your name and a brief sentence or two about the situation and that you're giving me and update about your guinea pig that had an eye problem, I'll remember who you are.

Thanks for keeping me updated! I hope the clinic contacts you soon so your guinea pig can be examined as quickly as possible.

         A.Jones