Advice on poorly bun please

Hi everybody,:wave:
First time poster here.

One of my bunnies, Tweek, has a problem with her eye. She's seen a vet but the problem is the vet says he's never seen anything like this before, he says there's a definate growth and that the root of the growth is in her pupil but couldn't diagnose further.

She's been given some antibiotics to see if it helps to stop it getting bigger but the vet's not convinced there going to do anything for her and tells me that if there's no improvement or it gets any bigger in the next week or so he'll either have to refer her to a specialist over 100miles away or look at the possibility of removing her eye, providing there is nothing growing at the back of the eye.

I've attached a couple of pictures and would be really grateful if anyone has any advice to offer.





Sorry about the length, really worried.

It does look like a tumour and you can see it being 'fed' by blood vessels :?
But a photo is not the same as seeing it 'for real'. I would definately go with the referal to the Opthalmic Specialist if you can.

Has your Bunny been given any anti-inflammatories aswell as the antibiotics?
I suspect the mass may cause Bun some discomfort.

Janex

Thanks for the advice Jane. He's not given her any anti- inflammatories, do you think they might help? She doesn't seen to be in any pain but i'm not really sure what the signs would be, i got Tweek and Daffy my lop dwarft about 4 months ago so i'm still learning.

Has your rabbit suffered from anything like this?

Poor Tweek, she'd only 7 months old.

Tweek_&_Daffy said:

Thanks for the advice Jane. He's not given her any anti- inflammatories, do you think they might help? She doesn't seen to be in any pain but i'm not really sure what the signs would be, i got Tweek and Daffy my lop dwarft about 4 months ago so i'm still learning.

Has your rabbit suffered from anything like this?

Poor Tweek, she'd only 7 months old.

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aww poor little thing...janes rabbit you will quickly learn is hundreds lol she has a lot of her own and generally specialises in all things rabbit she knows more than a lot of the vets do about rabbits and is about the best person on here to give you medical advice on your bun! she also helps a lot of sick buns from rescues too,

personally i think you should get bun to either a rabbit specialist vet who may be closer or the rabbit eye specialist who would help for sure. anti inflammatrys sound good idea tho and antibiotics may or may not help its hard to see on a small picture quite whats going on good luck i hope that bunny gets better xxx

I dont have any advice but want to send lots of healing vibes to Tweek. Im sure the specialist will help her

Tweek_&_Daffy said:

Thanks for the advice Jane. He's not given her any anti- inflammatories, do you think they might help? She doesn't seen to be in any pain but i'm not really sure what the signs would be, i got Tweek and Daffy my lop dwarft about 4 months ago so i'm still learning.

Has your rabbit suffered from anything like this?

Poor Tweek, she'd only 7 months old.

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I am wondering if a systemic anti-inflammatory ( Metacam ) may help reduce the inflammation around the growth :?
Or maybe a steroidal eye drop ( Maxitrol ) :?

I'd ask your Vet if he/she thinks either of these meds would help with any possible discomfort. Buns dont readily show signs of pain, being prey animals its not in their interests to do so. They are more likely to exhibit reduced gut motility in response to discomfort. This would present as Bun producing smaller/less poo and probably not eating with the normal enthusiasm.

Janex

sorry I've no advice either but sending lots of vibes to Tweek, I hope you can get it sorted one way or another x x

Jack's-Jane said:

I am wondering if a systemic anti-inflammatory ( Metacam ) may help reduce the inflammation around the growth :?
Or maybe a steroidal eye drop ( Maxitrol ) :?

I'd ask your Vet if he/she thinks either of these meds would help with any possible discomfort. Buns dont readily show signs of pain, being prey animals its not in their interests to do so. They are more likely to exhibit reduced gut motility in response to discomfort. This would present as Bun producing smaller/less poo and probably not eating with the normal enthusiasm.

Janex

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The vets already ruled out Maxitrol, he explained why it wouldn't help but to be honest i was lost with the techincal terms he used (something about the eye not producing any puss) and a bit upset with the outcome of our visit to take it all in.

I think it's best i try and find a more local specialist; in the meantime i'll be sure to keep a close eye on her bearing in mind what you've said and i'll give the vets a call tomorrow to enquire about the Metacam.

Thanks again for the advice x

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, i just hope she gets better soon

:wave: dont know much about eyes...sorry...but having had a blind rabbit i know that if bun has to lose the eye (really hope bun doesnt though) its not the end of the world...
i really hope that you find a vet that can get it sorted asap and that its something simple..
all the best to your precious bun

Tweek_&_Daffy said:

The vets already ruled out Maxitrol, he explained why it wouldn't help but to be honest i was lost with the techincal terms he used (something about the eye not producing any puss) and a bit upset with the outcome of our visit to take it all in.

I think it's best i try and find a more local specialist; in the meantime i'll be sure to keep a close eye on her bearing in mind what you've said and i'll give the vets a call tomorrow to enquire about the Metacam.

Thanks again for the advice x

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, i just hope she gets better soon

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Yes, Maxitrol is contraindicated in eye conditions producing pus. I did not realise that your Bun's eye was pusy, I could only see the growth from the piccies.
Good luck with the Vet you consult

Janex

This looks like a Pterygium. Its not a tumour and aside from some irritation (gritty feeling in eye) is quite painless. It wont affect the vision as much as you may think. Its when the conjunctiva encroaches onto the surface of the cornea. In humans this is easily removed, I am not sure about rabbits but its pretty benign and I probably would leave well alone unless you have a very good ophthalmic vet. Don't let the vet remove the eye. This is not an infection and there is no pus. What you are probably seeing is excess tearing due to irritation of the cornea. Lubricating eye drops such as celluvisc work with humans as well as topical steroids to reduce inflammation when it gets irritated. Celluvisc is available over the counter.

Heres more info of the condition in humans:

http://www.stlukeseye.com/Conditions/Pterygium.asp

Jack's-Jane said:

Yes, Maxitrol is contraindicated in eye conditions producing pus. I did not realise that your Bun's eye was pusy, I could only see the growth from the piccies.
Good luck with the Vet you consult

Janex

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Tweek is now eating a bit more which is good news, i think i confused you, her eye isn't producing any puss that's why the vet ruled out drops. We've got to give her until the end of the week to see if the antibiotics help and then we'll be going back to the vets to see what we can do for her from there.

catatonic said:

This looks like a Pterygium. Its not a tumour and aside from some irritation (gritty feeling in eye) is quite painless. It wont affect the vision as much as you may think. Its when the conjunctiva encroaches onto the surface of the cornea. In humans this is easily removed, I am not sure about rabbits but its pretty benign and I probably would leave well alone unless you have a very good ophthalmic vet. Don't let the vet remove the eye. This is not an infection and there is no pus. What you are probably seeing is excess tearing due to irritation of the cornea. Lubricating eye drops such as celluvisc work with humans as well as topical steroids to reduce inflammation when it gets irritated. Celluvisc is available over the counter.

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Thanks for the info, this is something i'll definatley be mentioning to the vet, having looked at the pictures on the website you suggested the condition does look very like Tweeks.