Undiagnosed eye growth

Hi All

My bunny Squiffy has had an eye problem since Nov 09 - I have paid over £300 so far in numerous vets appointments and unsuccesful treatments. You name it they've tried it including baytril, Ceporex inj, Gentcin, Tiacil, Fucithalmic drops, Cyclosporin, crystapen, ...some did help a bit intially but this eye thing just kept coming back, morphing and won't go - it has presented itself differently over time but currently looks like this:

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o251/SquiffyDisco/Squiffyseye.jpg

At a couple of points, she's had what I can only describe as a white 'stalk' growing from the surface of her eye and as you can see in the pics there is necrotic tissue in her socket also.

It's only her right eye affected - the other has always been fine. She's a bit runny nosed now and again (but has had ducts flushed before). Also her teeth are fine.

Understandably Squiffy is becoming a very grumpy and bad tempered bun, first the onslaught of twice daily drops and eye cleans for a over a year, and now just the ongoing discomfort of what must be horrible for her. I really don't know what to do next.

Please if anyone has ever seen or heard of such a perculiar problem, do let me know and perhaps I can help my vet identify how on earth to treat it.

Thanks all, much love,
Hazel x

Corneal Ulceration/Keratitis ?

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformatio...abbit_eye_plasmalymphocytic_kerititis3929.htm

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/CornealUlcerationRabbit.html

Jack's-Jane said:

Corneal Ulceration/Keratitis ?

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformatio...abbit_eye_plasmalymphocytic_kerititis3929.htm

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/CornealUlcerationRabbit.html

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Ooo it certainly looks like it could be, though the name sounds familiar and may have been mentioned / treated for such already? I don't really understand much of the medical/veterinary terminology used on the page, but I will forward that link to my vet to see if it's been considered - or worth trying to treat as such again??

Thanks Jane - you are brilliant I will keep you updated on progress xx

I also wondered whether EC could be a factor- EC induced lens rupture/ uveitis

:?

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformatio...halitozoonosis/SC5-5a_PhacoclasticUveitis.htm

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Encephalitozoonosis.htm

Jack's-Jane said:

I also wondered whether EC could be a factor- EC induced lens rupture/ uveitis

:?

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformatio...halitozoonosis/SC5-5a_PhacoclasticUveitis.htm

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Encephalitozoonosis.htm

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Wow, that's really helpful thank you!

If it were EC would it or should it have responded to Panacur? I haven't Panacur'd or Myxo'd Squiffy for a while since she's been on other meds and they said until she's well this may compromise her health or its effect (can't remember which, possibly both?).

They did once think Squiffy's eye was possibly congenital 'bunny syphallis' - is that the same as this EC type? They treated for that, but no real effect.

I'll send the links to my vet, see if this has been considered. I wish I'd have posted on here much much sooner! Thanks again for your insights Jane x

Jack's-Jane said:

I also wondered whether EC could be a factor- EC induced lens rupture/ uveitis

:?

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformatio...halitozoonosis/SC5-5a_PhacoclasticUveitis.htm

http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Encephalitozoonosis.htm

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I have two buns with severe EC and associated corneal changes and neither of them look like the picture of the eye shown by the OP. Thats not to say t couldn't be but it doesn't look like my ones.

OP: Do you know that the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket has a specialist Opthamologist who I know and who was looking for more rabbit patients as her students have to have more for their training>? Just thinking that you might be able to get a a referral and poss get it cheap? Can give you name if interested.

parsnipbun said:

I have two buns with severe EC and associated corneal changes and neither of them look like the picture of the eye shown by the OP. Thats not to say t couldn't be but it doesn't look like my ones.

OP: Do you know that the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket has a specialist Opthamologist who I know and who was looking for more rabbit patients as her students have to have more for their training>? Just thinking that you might be able to get a a referral and poss get it cheap? Can give you name if interested.

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Thanks Parsnipbun - have sent you a PM

Has she got any Dutch in her breeding?

marie_kubiak said:

Has she got any Dutch in her breeding?

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Lipid Keratopathy ?

Jack's-Jane said:

Lipid Keratopathy ?

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Not so much lipid related but focal corneal dystrophy. I've seen a few Dutch bunnies with it but not so opaque as Squiffy's. I did ask an exotic ophthalmologist what the underlying problem/process was and the answer I got was 'no-one knows!' but they agreed that Dutch seemed predisposed.

I honestly have no clue if she has any dutch in her I'm afriad. She's pretty big for a dwarf lop I think, but no other clues to her heritage :/

Certainly the surface of Squiffy's eye at the moment and most other times has looked most like Jane's first post http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformatio...abbit_eye_plasmalymphocytic_kerititis3929.htm - At one time she had a 4-5mm long 'stalk shape' growing out of this kind of white stuff in centre of eye. That retracted and the problem moved to another part of the eye in a different guise for a while.

Not sure about the inner eyelid issues though - I assume all is interrelated as at other times the surface of her eye was kind of OK but around the tear duct has been inflamed or there have been more 'mouth ulcer' looking white patches on the inside of eyelids etc. As I said it seems to change and morph and move around. However the pic of Squiffy's eye now has been like it for a while now, just getting slowly worse I think.

Due to the odd things growing on her eyeball, I assume there is some scarring going on too? The surface at the centre eye is not smooth, it's all bumpy now.

Basically, I desperately need to get her seen and treated with something that will work, but my vets ran out of options I think - so what to do??

Thanks for the continued discussion on this, it's really helpful and interesting. x

It may be worth suggesting a referral to an ophthalmology specialist - they will be the best person to advise on what it could be and what diagnostic and treatment options are. As they are completely eye-medicine focussed they are often more clued up than usual vets, even on rabbits.

I have PMd with name of veterinary opthamologist locally who may be able to help (specialises in small mammals and works alongside two rabbit vets) so hopefully this will now happen

parsnipbun said:

I have PMd with name of veterinary opthamologist locally who may be able to help (specialises in small mammals and works alongside two rabbit vets) so hopefully this will now happen

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Thank you Parsnipbun, I'll go check my mail Will keep you posted xxx