Entropion
Entropion is an eye disorder that commonly affects potbellied pigs. It is far more common when a pig is overweight, but not all pigs who have this condition are overweight and not all overweight pigs get this eye disorder. There is a surgery that can correct the eyelashes from curling into the eye. Repeated exposure to the eyelashes can cause ulceration to the eyeball and eventually blindness.
Some pigs have excessive drainage from the eyes, but this does not mean your pig has this disorder. Several things can be the cause of drainage. Debris can cause irritation and also drainage, mouth abscesses can also cause drainage from the eyes. Check your pigs eyes before assuming this is the issue. Pigs like to dig, they tend to fling the dirt around and sometimes this can become lodged in the eye and cause some discomfort. Hay and straw often have microscopic and even bigger pieces that float around in smaller spaces, pieces of this can also get into the eyes causing irritation.
Entropion interferes with eyesight, so your pig is probably both uncomfortable and unable to see well. This makes him jumpy and uneasy about having his eyes touched. This can lead to a pig acting "surprised" and even sometimes protective (which can be misunderstood for aggressive) when you approach a pig whose vision is compromised by this disorder.
Start by working with him during his usual nap time or just after bed time. Sleepy pigs are easier to work with. Tell him you're going to touch him before you do it. Start with a belly rub, and slowly work your hands towards his face.
Start with just your fingers, or soft cloth, dry or moistened with plain warm water. Don't try to use room temperature or cold water, pigs generally don't like cold, wet things. When you get your hands up to his face, open his eye and take a look. Very gently, pull the eyelid away from the eye and towards you, just enough to make sure his lashes are out and away from his eyeball. It may take several days of working with him to get to this point, but that's ok. Go slow, take your time, but keep at it. Do NOT cut the eyelashes. The hair grows at a steady rate, the eyelashes do too. When they are cut, this typically leaves a sharp point which can actually make things worse and cause additional complications with the vision.
If piggy is on the plump side, loosing weight will help. As the fat pads in the face shrink, there will be less pressure on the eyeball and lash. Some vets will elect to do an eye lift and remove the excess fat above the eye after a pig loses the weight. When there are excessive skin folds on the body, that is more opportunity for yeast infections to brew.
Entropion can be treated with surgery, but only if the pig is at a healthy weight. If his eyeballs are sunken into fat pads, surgery will be difficult or impossible, and the risk of serious infection is very high, because the incisions will not be able to drain correctly and typically if there is a lot of adipose tissue, the circulation isn't the greatest in those areas, so wounds tend to have a difficult time healing.
Again, understand that because of their poor eyesight you should never stick your fingers out quickly toward a pig, especially a "stranger" pig. This could potentially cause you to lose a digit. Pigs have a tendency to snap at things that come at their faces quickly, for understandable reasons. For this reason you should warn children never ever to put their hand out for a pig to sniff. Always move slowly and gently with a pig so that they know what you are doing and where you are. It is recommended that you use verbal commands for pigs whose vision is compromised such as "touch" before you touch them, or "pet" before you place your hands on your pig. This helps you pig understand that you will be giving a belly rub or that you will be placing your hands on your pig without scaring your pig.
Sources: http://www.potbellypigs.com/pet_pig_care_&_training.htm and Diseases of Swine, 10th edition, Large Animal Clinical Procedures, 2nd edition
Some pigs have excessive drainage from the eyes, but this does not mean your pig has this disorder. Several things can be the cause of drainage. Debris can cause irritation and also drainage, mouth abscesses can also cause drainage from the eyes. Check your pigs eyes before assuming this is the issue. Pigs like to dig, they tend to fling the dirt around and sometimes this can become lodged in the eye and cause some discomfort. Hay and straw often have microscopic and even bigger pieces that float around in smaller spaces, pieces of this can also get into the eyes causing irritation.
Entropion interferes with eyesight, so your pig is probably both uncomfortable and unable to see well. This makes him jumpy and uneasy about having his eyes touched. This can lead to a pig acting "surprised" and even sometimes protective (which can be misunderstood for aggressive) when you approach a pig whose vision is compromised by this disorder.
Start by working with him during his usual nap time or just after bed time. Sleepy pigs are easier to work with. Tell him you're going to touch him before you do it. Start with a belly rub, and slowly work your hands towards his face.
Start with just your fingers, or soft cloth, dry or moistened with plain warm water. Don't try to use room temperature or cold water, pigs generally don't like cold, wet things. When you get your hands up to his face, open his eye and take a look. Very gently, pull the eyelid away from the eye and towards you, just enough to make sure his lashes are out and away from his eyeball. It may take several days of working with him to get to this point, but that's ok. Go slow, take your time, but keep at it. Do NOT cut the eyelashes. The hair grows at a steady rate, the eyelashes do too. When they are cut, this typically leaves a sharp point which can actually make things worse and cause additional complications with the vision.
If piggy is on the plump side, loosing weight will help. As the fat pads in the face shrink, there will be less pressure on the eyeball and lash. Some vets will elect to do an eye lift and remove the excess fat above the eye after a pig loses the weight. When there are excessive skin folds on the body, that is more opportunity for yeast infections to brew.
Entropion can be treated with surgery, but only if the pig is at a healthy weight. If his eyeballs are sunken into fat pads, surgery will be difficult or impossible, and the risk of serious infection is very high, because the incisions will not be able to drain correctly and typically if there is a lot of adipose tissue, the circulation isn't the greatest in those areas, so wounds tend to have a difficult time healing.
Again, understand that because of their poor eyesight you should never stick your fingers out quickly toward a pig, especially a "stranger" pig. This could potentially cause you to lose a digit. Pigs have a tendency to snap at things that come at their faces quickly, for understandable reasons. For this reason you should warn children never ever to put their hand out for a pig to sniff. Always move slowly and gently with a pig so that they know what you are doing and where you are. It is recommended that you use verbal commands for pigs whose vision is compromised such as "touch" before you touch them, or "pet" before you place your hands on your pig. This helps you pig understand that you will be giving a belly rub or that you will be placing your hands on your pig without scaring your pig.
Sources: http://www.potbellypigs.com/pet_pig_care_&_training.htm and Diseases of Swine, 10th edition, Large Animal Clinical Procedures, 2nd edition
This is Oliver, he was diagnosed with Entropion and his mama, Rhonda Pace Hardy elected to have the procedure done to help him with the discomfort. Oliver did well with the procedure and did well afterwards too. Once recovered, his vision was the same as his pig siblings.