[Gpdd] re: HEALTH: milky eye

[Patricia Simon]

Different things are meant by "milky eye".  If you're talking about a
constant cloudy appearance to the eye, it could be cataracts or it could be
caused by injury such as a poke with a piece of hay.

Our "boss" pig, Hazel, has cataracts.  You can see a picture at:
http://members.shaw.ca/patriciasimon/pigpics/hazel.htm

If you're talking about a milky fluid in the eye, it could be natural
cleaning or it could be infection.

Piggies secrete a white milky fluid from their tear ducts to cleanse their
eyes.  They'll just sit there and their eyes will fill for a few moments,
then they suck the fluid back in through their tear ducts.  This is
"normal". [...and yes, it's very creepy to see. You'll be convinced that
they're alien creatures, if you aren't already.]

If the secretion is thicker than milk, is yellowish or looks puss-y, is
sticky, isn't reabsorbed (stays on the rims of the eyes and *has* to be
wiped away) -- then you probably have an eye infection or injury and need to
see a vet.

Patricia