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a completely blind bunny

bunnyrun

Mama Doe
can a bunny who has no sight at all, lead a good quality of life :cry::cry: mimi has cataracts in both eyes so cannot see at all :cry: my vet says it may be kinder to let her go :cry::cry: opinions please
 
It depends on how well she has adapted. Many rabbit manage fine with limited or no sight with a little thought on our part.

How long has she been like this?
 
she arrived last week, she had one cataract but within a couple of days the other one appeared, when i go near her she freaks out even tho im talking to her :cry::cry:
 
I'm sure you've thought of this but has the bunny been checked for EC? I didn't think a cateract could appear in a week which would be big enough to completely blind the rabbit.

If it has just happened so quickly it probably will be jumpy.
 
I think you need to give her a chance, if its only been a few days she will no doubt be jumpy.

Always talk softly to her and approch her from the side, not the front, so if she can see any shadows she knows you are moving towards her. Rabbits have a blind spot at the frnt of the face. Never pick her up from above, let her see your hands.

Dont use a hutch with a ramp initially and always keep her bowl, tray and bottle in the same place. Make sure there are no sharp objects she can bump into or fall over.

Certainly get her onto a 6 week Panacur course and if at all possible considerig time and quarantine she would probably respond well to some one on one foster care.
 
although you've only got her it's best to give her a chance. spent loads of time with her and be patient. she'll be fine
 
I agree to give her a chance to see whether or not she does adapt, its quite likely that she will do. Also if she has just come into rescue she will be scared by that in itself, loosing her sight will terrify her. Im sure she'll come round in time hun. If she doesnt though, (and I know this will sound so drastic & awful to those who havent been through it), it might be kinder to let her go. Watching Jens whole life crash when she went blind absolutely broke my heart, I think hand on heart, even if she hadnt been poorly otherwise, I'd have let her go when we realised that she just couldnt adjust & it had ruined her life. Its awful, Big Hugs to you & Mimi X
 
Aaaaahhh I jus wrote a massive post and it disappeared!!!!!!!!!!!

Hun if you need me give me a call. Flossy is totally blind in one eye due to her EC problem last year. I find she copes well - I keep everything the same but she goes in her run everyday and she loves it! I pick her up with her good eye facing me and she is totally calm! The only problem we have is when flossy bashes her blind side on one of her boxes, but I can clear that up with eye drops in a few days - and she only does it cos shes such a nut case!:lol:

I could always foster her and run her on a course of Panacur too? Dora could come back if you like? All I'm thinking is its worth a go....its very quiet here, not many visitors etc. And I'm used to the barmy blind Floss monster...

Just thinking aloud really...

Hope she is ok x
 
Quick question. Could a rabbit have cataracts removed as a human does? Obviously I am aware of the problems with any small animals under an anaesthetic, but is it a possibility?
 
I have three blind rabbits and they are fine :) I have one who is with a sighted partner and the other two are single buns as they have other bad disabilities - but they all lead lovely lives and are happy :)

I have had a lot of partially sighted rabbits, blind rabbits and blind/deaf rabbits - she will be fine - she just needs time and patience:D

Rabbits can try to have the cataracts removed - I know that FHB's husband is a specialist with this, but there own rabbit is blind and he hasn't done him - but I *think* he has removed cataracts on some buns. I personally wouldn't have it done but there are some who would:D
 
Rabbit cataracts can be removed but I dont know of a vet prsonally who would try it, and it would be VERY expensive too.

Also if its EC there is no guarantee they wouldn't come back again.
 
Munchie has cataracts in both eyes too (she is only 2 and a half years old) and is completly blind, her husbun is fully sighted, she spends a lot of time following him about. She does however cope so well that you wouldn't even know she was blind unless some one told you. As soon as I found out she had cataracts I gave her a six week course of Panacur just incase it was caused by E.C.
 
Hiya I think she will adapt fine :) I have one bunny who is only partially sighted and you really wouldn't know. My sisters rabbit suddenly had a cateract in one eye and it turned out to be EC so best to get it checked.
 
:wave: hiya, I took on Rusty a 7 year old bun who the previous owners didn't even realise she was blind :( . (I can dig out some pics which clearly show the cataracts in her eyes). I did all the sensible things like leaving everything in the same place and she adapted so well, you wouldn't know she was blind (Sue of Sue & Sooty can confirm that as she witnessed her following me roudn the garden and was smitten). . She would follow me round the garden with me clicking my fingers calling her name. She went in the garden pond twice (covered with mesh after the first incident) but I genuinely felt she loved the free life rather than being caged and I think Sue would agree that was the case.

So I feel that they can still have quality of life, cataracts and all.
 
:wave: hiya, I took on Rusty a 7 year old bun who the previous owners didn't even realise she was blind :( . (I can dig out some pics which clearly show the cataracts in her eyes). I did all the sensible things like leaving everything in the same place and she adapted so well, you wouldn't know she was blind (Sue of Sue & Sooty can confirm that as she witnessed her following me roudn the garden and was smitten). . She would follow me round the garden with me clicking my fingers calling her name. She went in the garden pond twice (covered with mesh after the first incident) but I genuinely felt she loved the free life rather than being caged and I think Sue would agree that was the case.

So I feel that they can still have quality of life, cataracts and all.


Ah the beautiful Rusty :love:

I agree, Rusty didn't seem fazed by her blindness at all... in fact if I hadn't been told I would never have guessed she had an eysight problem.

I think it would be worth giving the bun sometime and see how it adapts.
 
Here's a vid of the adorable Rusty as proof that blind bunnies can have a good quality of life



p.s. :wave: Hiya Sue.. I'm all tearful as it's just over a year since this beautiful girlie went to the Bridge :(
 
Love does wonders!

Hi, A few years ago we received a rabbit that the owner was going to put down. His name was Floppsy and he had a host of health problems, a few of them being missing most teeth, head tilt, blindness, and a few others. The original owner said that Floppsy was the runt of the litter and due to his health conditions, he could not take care of him (also his brothers and sisters were very aggresive towards him) On his first visit to the vet, she told me that he would be dead in a couple of months at most, and tried to talk me out of costly treatments and medications. I insisted that she do it anyways. To make a long story short, Floppsy lived almost two more happy and healthy years with a lot of love (and a ton of grapes!) I think that as Floppsy was my first rabbit, I proved that regardless of health conditions, the right care and an infinite amount of love and patience, any rabbit can have a great quality of life. Hope this helps a little...

Mark
 
I currently have an almost totally blind rabbit (EC attack at 10 weeks) - he just has some fuzzy sight in one eye - possiby just light/dark definition. He is very very happy and content and you really would not know he was blind. He has two sighted companions. Incidentally he is also at least partially deaf - but really does love life and rns round and binkies.
I also had another (now at the bridge) who developed EC cataracts and went blind. She adapted incredibly well - we did book in at the Animal Health Trust for a cataract removal but they did not go ahead when the liver condition took a turn for the worse (this was prior to knowledge of Panacur etc). She lived another year after that, happy until the end.
 
I currently have an almost totally blind rabbit (EC attack at 10 weeks) - he just has some fuzzy sight in one eye - possiby just light/dark definition. He is very very happy and content and you really would not know he was blind. He has two sighted companions. Incidentally he is also at least partially deaf - but really does love life and rns round and binkies.
I also had another (now at the bridge) who developed EC cataracts and went blind. She adapted incredibly well - we did book in at the Animal Health Trust for a cataract removal but they did not go ahead when the kidneycondition took a turn for the worse (this was prior to knowledge of Panacur etc). She lived another year after that, happy until the end.
 
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