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Cataract Removal

honey61

Mama Doe
Does anyone know if this is possible/has been done for a bun?

Also, if anyone could reccommend an eye specialist, that would be great :)
 
I don't think its something that is done due for a number of reasons: Rabbits don't generally live very long, GA is more dangerous for a rabbit than some other animals, blind rabbits cope very well, etc.

The only reason I'd consider it would be if it was causing pain, in which case removing the entire eyeball might be a better bet (given that cataract surgery doesn't have a proven history in rabbits AFAIK)
 
I have not heard of a rabbit having such an operation so cannot give any advice.

There is a bunny that I know of who has had a cataract for about two years.
She copes remarkably well and considering her age, which I think is about 6/7 years old she is in very good health.

Her owners were once quoted around £1500.00 for such an operation. I don't know who were their vets at that time. Obviously there are risks involved as with any op.

Their vet advised them that so long as the bunny is managing in every aspect of her little life, it is best to leave her be.

One day things will change but, so far things are fine.
 
Many thanks for your replies. I had Googled, but not found anything.

Teddi is just 6 months old & lives in a dark, silent world :cry:
He has cataracts in both eyes & is completely deaf. We think there is some light recognition, but only reaction from extreme brightness to dark, this though has dimished (we think) in the last few weeks.

Obviously all the risks & possible benefits would have to be very carefully weighed up & thought about, before any decision is made.... if indeed it is even possible.
 
aw poor teddy but blind bunnies can live very happy lives too, does teddi have a guide bunny? iv found that blind buns if introduced gently and with the right termperment bun enjoy having a guide bunny as it soothes them greatly. x
 
I have two catarract bunnies here and our vet Ivan has offered this as a treatment if that is a road I wanted to go down.
 
aw poor teddy but blind bunnies can live very happy lives too, does teddi have a guide bunny? iv found that blind buns if introduced gently and with the right termperment bun enjoy having a guide bunny as it soothes them greatly. x

I agree with this. Candyfloss is nearly completely blind (if not completely blind) and since being bonded with Dusk I've never seen her happier and more relaxed. The bond was tough and has been difficult to maintain at times. We went for a slow and steady approach and it took three months before they could be comfortable left together, but it was worth every minute.
 
aw poor teddy but blind bunnies can live very happy lives too, does teddi have a guide bunny? iv found that blind buns if introduced gently and with the right termperment bun enjoy having a guide bunny as it soothes them greatly. x


As yet he doesn't as he has yet to be vacinated. The delay in his jabs was due to a further month of treatment to ensure he had no remains of EC or infection lingering, which he has now completed, so first jab next week :)

We didn't know he was deaf until a couple of weeks ago either, so this has put a different light on things for the time being. We wanted to ensure he was clear of all infection, vaccinated & confident in his surroundings before attempting to pair him up. He is coping very well though all things considered. We're just taking things slowly for him, allowing him enough time to adjust.
 
The Eye Clinic in Leominster does cataract surgery in exotics. Certainly worth a call/referral as few other practices have the specific equipment to do cataract surgery.
Marie
 
I have never heard of it being done on a bunny. I know it costs well over £2000 on a dog...

costs over £3000 for a rabbit each eye, when i questioned about it when mowgli developed them, but it was decided for best to leave him as he managed perfectly fine for a year with his cateracts
 
costs over £3000 for a rabbit each eye, when i questioned about it when mowgli developed them, but it was decided for best to leave him as he managed perfectly fine for a year with his cateracts

I think if Teddi were older, I probably wouldn't consider the procedure, but in view of his age & that he is deaf too, even the possibility of restoring the sight in one eye would make a huge difference for him.
A lot to research first though... but thanks for the info on what we could be looking at cost wise.
 
I think if Teddi were older, I probably wouldn't consider the procedure, but in view of his age & that he is deaf too, even the possibility of restoring the sight in one eye would make a huge difference for him.
A lot to research first though... but thanks for the info on what we could be looking at cost wise.

it might be worth contacting the rwaf and see what their views are also, although im sure i read in a magazine that many rabbits adapt vey well to being left as long as no other problems occur within the eyes
 
I considered this for one of my buns several years ago. We are close to the Animal Health Trust near Newmarket and they have an eye specialist who has an interest in buns - however we decided against it in the end due to the trauma for the bun. the cataract was part of EC and it was very likely that it would come back again - meaning the bun had gone through the op for nothing.

I now have another EC at birth rabbit (not related - came to me like it) who is blind and deaf - some residual distinction between light and dark and very small amount of hearing of the higher range. We have bonded him with a guide bun' and this works very well.

However I should add that the damage done by the EC means that he has fits (these started when he was 2). he had been in a trio of buns until then and was outside with more stimuli (scent, winds etc). he was very happy with this but the bonds broke when he started having fits and it has taken a long while to find another bun that will be ok with him despite these.

I do feel sorry that he no longer has the trio or the outside world and we are working on getting him back outside.

If you want advice on the cataract I can recommend (via PM ) the eye specialist.
 
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