• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Bulging eyes

floptastic

Warren Scout
Hi,
I'm hoping someone has come across this.
My rabbit Harlie's eyes are bulging. It seems to happen when she gets anxious or excited.
We went to our local vet the other day and he could find nothing wrong with her. He couldn't explain it and said he would try and find out more.
Here's a link to some pictures on webshots
http://community.webshots.com/user/floptastic
Her breathing sometimes worries me as well but the vet said that was fine too.
Apart from her eyes she seems her usual self.
Also I need a rabbit savvy vet so if anyone can recommend a really good vet or exotics specialist in Northumberland (but I am willing to travel further afield).
Many thanks
Anthony
 
Hi there.

Apart from the normal glaucoma and retrobulbar abscess, which can cause bulging, did your vet do any scans or similar?

One of our fosters was rushed to the vets on Monday as she became quite floppy, but her eyes were bulging.

She was due to be scanned to rule out the first two causes, but sadly she passed away before it could happen. It transpires that she had heart failure causing higher than normal blood pressure.

I think it might be worth checking that out if possible.

I do hope that in your case it isn't serious, and hope someone can help you with a bunny savvy vet in your direction.

Helen
 
is his diet normal, both in eating and drinking? Has there been any kind of changes in his living environment?

Is he neuter?
 
is his diet normal, both in eating and drinking? Has there been any kind of changes in his living environment?

Is he neuter?

Absolutely no change. She's eating, pooping, drinking and behaving normally. Yes she is spayed. I've had her over 5 years now.
 
The vet found nothing wrong - what did they do, just look and feel her over? :roll:

Judith Brown at First Vets in Forest Hall (just north of Longbenton in Newcastle) seems to be a rabbit specialist/enthusiast:
http://www.rabbitwelfarefund.co.uk/?section=committee.html
http://www.cvsukltd.co.uk/firstvets.htm

I'm afraid so :(. I'm in rural Northumberland and these are big animal vets :(. Thank you so much for that name I'll try and contact her.
Thank you everyone for your replies and your help.
Anthony & Max & Harlie
 
You need to get an xray of the head and chest done. this rabbit may have a thymoma (tumour of the thymus in the chest) compressing large blood vessels returning from the head to the heart causing increased pressure in the veins of the head and bulging of the eyes. An xray is the only way to diagnose this (or an ultrasound exam if your vet is ok doing this)
Goodluck
 
You need to get an xray of the head and chest done. this rabbit may have a thymoma (tumour of the thymus in the chest) compressing large blood vessels returning from the head to the heart causing increased pressure in the veins of the head and bulging of the eyes. An xray is the only way to diagnose this (or an ultrasound exam if your vet is ok doing this)
Goodluck

Thanks I'll mention this to the next vet we see. Not wanting to get ahead of myself here - but if this is confirmed what are Harlie's chances? It doesn't sound promising :(
I tried Judith's practice this morning it doesn't look as if they do a saturday, unless anyone has another suggestion for a rabbit savvy vet, looks as if we'll have to wait t'ill monday.
 
Thanks I'll mention this to the next vet we see. Not wanting to get ahead of myself here - but if this is confirmed what are Harlie's chances? It doesn't sound promising :(
I tried Judith's practice this morning it doesn't look as if they do a saturday, unless anyone has another suggestion for a rabbit savvy vet, looks as if we'll have to wait t'ill monday.

if a thymoma is confirmed there are 2 choices
1) do nothing apart from give paliative relief (pain relief) though the physical presence of these tumours is unlikley to be painful, the increased blood pressure in the head would cause mild headache like symptoms
2) surgery. I treat these cases by thoracotomy. You must make sure your vet is comfortable with this. If the rabbit can be got through the surgery, this is probably curative.

A third choice will depend on the thymoma. Some take the form of large cystic structures. Ultrasound guided needle aspiration of the fluid contents will reduce the size of the thymoma and therefore the symptoms for an unspecified period.

Goodluck
 
if a thymoma is confirmed there are 2 choices
1) do nothing apart from give paliative relief (pain relief) though the physical presence of these tumours is unlikley to be painful, the increased blood pressure in the head would cause mild headache like symptoms
2) surgery. I treat these cases by thoracotomy. You must make sure your vet is comfortable with this. If the rabbit can be got through the surgery, this is probably curative.

A third choice will depend on the thymoma. Some take the form of large cystic structures. Ultrasound guided needle aspiration of the fluid contents will reduce the size of the thymoma and therefore the symptoms for an unspecified period.

Goodluck

A few years ago I lost a 2 year old Rabbit to a Thymoma as my then Vet told me that PTS was the only option. I wish I knew back then what I know now and I would have looked elsewhere for a Vet prepared to give my Rabbit a chance.

floptastic I would try to get to see Judith on Monday. Good luck and please keep us updated as to how you get on :)
 
if a thymoma is confirmed there are 2 choices
1) do nothing apart from give paliative relief (pain relief) though the physical presence of these tumours is unlikley to be painful, the increased blood pressure in the head would cause mild headache like symptoms
2) surgery. I treat these cases by thoracotomy. You must make sure your vet is comfortable with this. If the rabbit can be got through the surgery, this is probably curative.

A third choice will depend on the thymoma. Some take the form of large cystic structures. Ultrasound guided needle aspiration of the fluid contents will reduce the size of the thymoma and therefore the symptoms for an unspecified period.

Goodluck

Thanks rodneyvet I really appreciate the help and the info. Hopefully this will be useful to others too. Many thanks again.
 
A few years ago I lost a 2 year old Rabbit to a Thymoma as my then Vet told me that PTS was the only option. I wish I knew back then what I know now and I would have looked elsewhere for a Vet prepared to give my Rabbit a chance.

floptastic I would try to get to see Judith on Monday. Good luck and please keep us updated as to how you get on :)

Oh definitely! I'll keep you all informed.
Thanks again everyone!
 
I am reading the "5 min. vet consult: ferrets and rabbits" on this problem. This is a tough one, all it talks about under drug of choice is prednisone. But it mention a few times on Chemotherapy.

Now, Chemo on rabbits are too stressful and the stress itself can kill the bun, which means with conventional treatment, there is very little chance.

Fortunately, I came across a scenario like this w/ my bridge bun Goofball, in which she had bone cancer. For a 11 mth. of treatment using blackberry, acaiberry juice, I made the cancer cell dormant or gone. I think it is well worth a try with your rabbit. Here's the detail, the thread is very long, but do read it as it's very useful. In the end, there is no fruther sign of bone cancer.

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=91411
 
I am reading the "5 min. vet consult: ferrets and rabbits" on this problem. This is a tough one, all it talks about under drug of choice is prednisone. But it mention a few times on Chemotherapy.

Now, Chemo on rabbits are too stressful and the stress itself can kill the bun, which means with conventional treatment, there is very little chance.

Fortunately, I came across a scenario like this w/ my bridge bun Goofball, in which she had bone cancer. For a 11 mth. of treatment using blackberry, acaiberry juice, I made the cancer cell dormant or gone. I think it is well worth a try with your rabbit. Here's the detail, the thread is very long, but do read it as it's very useful. In the end, there is no fruther sign of bone cancer.

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=91411

Prednisolone is not indicated in these cases. The main reason is the potent immunosupressive effects in a steroid sensitive species. Although it forms part of a chemotherapy protocol, is not antineoplastic in itself
 
Update 16/2/09

Hi everyone,
Just to update you we did see Judith today and she confirmed that apart from her bulging eyes Harlie seems fine and healthy. She suggested it may either be heart related or a tumour as rodneyvet suggested. So the next step is to get some x-rays done. I'll keep you updated.

Judith BTW is excellent and I have no hesitation in recommending her (thanks again neeshkabeesh!)
 
Update 18/2/09

Harlie had her x-rays today and Judith says the problem is down to an enlarged heart. She showed me the x-rays and explained her line of reasoning and why she didn't think it was a tumour. She was also able to listen more closely to Harlie's chest when Harlie was under and she could hear a heart murmur. We were given Fortekor and Frusol. Hopefully this is the solution and will help ease Harlie's problem.
Anthony & Max & Harlie
 
heart problem can easily be mis-diagnosed. 1 of my "former" less experience rabbit savvy specialist mis-diagnosed my bridge bun Monty w/ a heart problem. I then took Monty to an expert, and he confirmed there is no heart murmur problem

Here's the catch: From Ch. 10 of the BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Assoc.) Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery, "The most common clinical abnormality in a rabbit w/ cardiac disease is a murmur or gallop rhythm. Abnormal heart sounds are commonly most intense along the sternum or immediately to either side.

Rabbits normally have a relatively rapid respiratory rate, and lower airway sounds overlying heart sounds can mimic a murmur. The clinician should auscultate the thorax until he is able to separate breathing from valvular sounds."
 
I have no reason to doubt Judith (and I hope I'm not misguided here). The evidence seems compelling. She showed me the x-ray of the side view of Harlie, pointed to where the heart should be, the area to the rear of the heart was a little cloudy instead of dark (perhaps liquid in the lungs?). In the front of the heart it was a little fuzzy but no defined separation to suggest a tumor (she said she maybe wrong). On the vertical plane she indicated why she thought the heart was enlarged. She adjust the exposure on another x-ray but it was essentially the same. She showed me an overview shot of Harlie, and indicated along the horizontal plane why she thought the heart was enlarged and again why she didn't think there was a tumour. Obviously she explained the dynamics of Harlie's condition - heart defect (possible leaky valve), over time heart becomes larger to compensate, increased pressure in blood vessels behind the eyes hence when Harlie gets excited her eyes bulge.
 
i would also contact hugos there liz. she runs a rescue for rabbits with special needs and i believe she has had a few rabbits with bulging eyes in the past. i think that if its one eye you may need it removed but if its 2 eyes (and turns out to be a tumour) that life long pain relief is needed. bt definatly talk to your vet or a rabbit specialist. x

edit just read your post about the x ray. that seems to make sense so i gues syou have to stop her getting too excited? poor thing still send her nose rubs from me x
 
Back
Top