Rabbit with white eye.

I do hope someone on here knows of my rabbits condition and can help advise.

I rescued Oscar at aprox nine months old. He is a French Lop with a fluffy coat (I am sorry but I am not overly rabbit literate, I expect I will learn more on here!)

He has his own timber 8ft x 6ft shed with a huge run attached to this and all is erected within a barn so he has masses of room, is clean dry warm and comfy. I have had him for three years and until a few months ago he has been a happy chappy always running round my feet when I spend time with him and sometimes jumping and twisting in the air just for fun.

Over this summer I noticed he has been a little 'down' in himself. Never that much to be a major worry, just somedays not as bright as usual then back to normal. Then about four weeks ago his eyes started being very wet and when I bathed and dried them I noticed a large lump under his chin.

I took him straight to the vets. They drained the lump, which was full of liquid, with a syringe and they gave him a four day course of antibiotics and a tube of cream for his eyes. They diagnosed him with an overactive salivary gland (I was not happy with this, instinct told me is was something more). He did seem better for a few days but soon became depress and even worse than before. The lump had returned almost within an hour of bringing him home and his eyes remained very wet.

Then about five days after this course I noticed pus coming from one eye and to my horror it had gone completely white. Obviously straight back to the vets and thankfully he saw a different one at the same practice. They anaesthetised him so they could check him thoroughly and said there was a 'mass' in his eye and he was back on antibiotics, oral painkiller, steroid eye drops as well as the tube of cream for his eyes.

Needless to say the antibiotics helped while he was on these and for a few days after, but he is now on the decline again.

I have phoned the vets and they say it might mean taking his eye out but there are risks involved with the time under anesthetic so is putting him back on the pain killers for now to see what happens over a week.

I wonder if there is anyone on here with some experience of what is going on with Oscar and could put me more in the picture. Please feel free to ask anything that may be relevant, I will do my best to answer.

I'm really sorry to hear about Oscar

Several members on here have experience of bunnies with eyes removed, and they continue to live almost normally

Has the vet done any diagnostics at all, such as xrays for example to check that his teeth aren't the problem? Rabbits unfortunately are prone to dental issues, and one of the most severe is the tooth roots pushing up into the jaw, causing abcessation (such as the lump you found) and immense pain and discomfort for the bun. Runny eyes is a sign of this, or could be as simple as a blocked tear duct, so these are all things that may be worth exploring. Several members, including myself, have a bun or more with teeth issues, so you should get a fair few ideas if thats what it is.

I wonder if it could be that as an issue, but obviously, only a rabbit savvy vet could confirm that.

It may help, if you are looking for a second opinion, to put a thread up in 'Rabbit Chat' with the subject of "Rabbit Savvy vet needed urgently in <your area here>" and others will respond if they can.

Sending buckets of vibes for Oscar!

Hopefully others should see this soon also.

Thank you for your helpful comments GrahamL. I must admit that I had wondered about teeth at the onset of Oscars problems. However the vets did check his teeth when he was anaesthetised, they also cleared his eye ducts the best they could, they were indeed fairly blocked.
I'm no expert but the eye turning white (and obviously loosing sight ) happened literally overnight so I wonder if that means it is an eye problem rather than something affecting the eye.
As said, I really don't know but do need to learn everything I possibly can about it so I can understand any possible treatment that is suggested.

LynX said:

Thank you for your helpful comments GrahamL. I must admit that I had wondered about teeth at the onset of Oscars problems. However the vets did check his teeth when he was anaesthetised, they also cleared his eye ducts the best they could, they were indeed fairly blocked.
I'm no expert but the eye turning white (and obviously loosing sight ) happened literally overnight so I wonder if that means it is an eye problem rather than something affecting the eye.
As said, I really don't know but do need to learn everything I possibly can about it so I can understand any possible treatment that is suggested.

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I can't remember the name of the issue, but Jacks-Jane a member on here is brilliant with eye issues - she's around most of the time, so im hoping this bump will mean she will see it soon and can suggest the issue.

As it was overnight, yes, i guess it could be the eye. Uve something or other for some reason is coming to mind!

Unfortunately, if it is tooth roots - there's no way for a vet to check it without performing a full skull xray, so just something to keep in mind perhaps?

Sorry to hear about the problems that Oscar is having. Are you able to take a picture of his eye, so we can get a better idea of the problem?

What antibiotics was he on, and for how long? If they seemed to help, and now he is deteriorating again, I wonder if he should go back on them for longer?

Hi Weedug. I have just taken a pic of his poor eye, it's shocking isn't it.

He has been on two separate courses of antibiotics which are BAYTRIL 2.5% olal 100ML (30.00) MLs Give 4ml once daily by mouth.
The first course was for four days and the second (about a week and a half later was a seven day course.

I spoke to the vet on the phone today and because there is no pus from the eye she wants him on painkillers for a few days to see if they help. If he cheers up she will know that it's his eye hurting that is depressing him and then they will remove it.

I do hope this is good advise. Not knowing what has made the eye go white I have no way of studying the reasons, treatment, prognosis etc myself. I have not always had what I consider the best treatment from vets in the past which has made me into a bit of an 'old cynic' I'm afraid.!! I really want the best possible treatment possible for Oscar and by knowing exactly what we are dealing with with help no end.

Unfortunately, if it is tooth roots - there's no way for a vet to check it without performing a full skull xray, so just something to keep in mind perhaps?

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It certainly is GrahamL and thank you for the suggestion. I will bring it up with the vet next time I speak to her.

Such a sad story - sending Vibes that you can get this sorted for you and the little man.....

From what ive read/seen i would deffo say there is something else to it - for me it all points to a more serious dental issue.....Whereabouts are you based.

Someone local might be able to reccommend a vet (not saying yours isnt savvy - but there is savvy and rabbiy savvy)

MikePalmer88


Such a sad story - sending Vibes that you can get this sorted for you and the little man.....

From what ive read/seen i would deffo say there is something else to it - for me it all points to a more serious dental issue.....Whereabouts are you based.

Someone local might be able to reccommend a vet (not saying yours isnt savvy - but there is savvy and rabbiy savvy)

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MIke I live in North Devon. Only three miles from the Cornish border so North Cornwall would serve as well.
I fully appreciate what you are saying about vets and quite honestly I do not have total faith in the ones that are seeing to Oscar. The trouble with being a bit remote there isn't a great deal of choice in the area.
If anyone does know of a Rabbit Savy vet in the area I would be very grateful.

Poor Oscar , that looks awful.

I don't have much experience of eye problems, other than the chronic ulcers which one of my buns, Timmy, has.

I personally would be a bit loath to have a bun's eye out just because it is in pain, IF pain relief is helping. THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION, and it would depend obviously on what was wrong with the eye. Timmy is on a high dose of Metacam twice daily for the pain, and will be for however long he needs it.

Is it just the one eye which is still weeping? Which could possibly be due to pain?

Also wondered, has Oscar been tested or treated for Encephalitozoan cuniculi? This can cause problems with the eyes.

I don't know what has caused. The problem so can't help there.
But I had Dexters eye removed about a month ago as he had an abcess in it and his surgery only lasted 30 mins and he is absolutely fine, coped so well post surgery. My best advice would to be to search for an exotics vet in your area who are rabbit savvy and see what they say.
Good luck with it all and if you want to know anymore about Dexters surgery just ask

I think I would ask for an xray too, so you can see exactly what is going on. With bunnies, particularly lops, everything is so close together, the tooth roots, tear ducts, salva glands etc. I had a rabbit with a tooth abscess in his cheek that drained through one nostril and his tear duct!

Yvette is in Devon, I've pointed her in the direction of this thread as I know she has a very good vet.

I would also ask for an x ray to see exactly what's going on.

Have pmed you!!
Ian Sayers is a top bunny vet.Opened and worked at the bunny only referral centre Bristol for 6 years and now has his own practice.
I cannot reccommend this guy enough. Near Newton Abbot.
01626 367972.

Mention my name....xx

Yvette thank you for the info I will follow up on that and see what he says. I will keep you all updated on here as well.

Many, many thanks for all of you who have so kindly responded to my 'cry for help'. I have taken it all on board and all your remarks and advise will help me get the right treatment for my boy.

If I am looking for a silver lining from a very dark cloud indeed I have certainly found it here. What a brilliant forum this is.

LynX said:

Yvette thank you for the info I will follow up on that and see what he says. I will keep you all updated on here as well.

Many, many thanks for all of you who have so kindly responded to my 'cry for help'. I have taken it all on board and all your remarks and advise will help me get the right treatment for my boy.

If I am looking for a silver lining from a very dark cloud indeed I have certainly found it here. What a brilliant forum this is.

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Awww...shucks!!

Youll also find a silver lining in the very talented Ian.
xxx

yvette said:

Awww...shucks!!

Youll also find a silver lining in the very talented Ian.
xxx

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I cannot praise this man enough - he is the most kind and gentle soul.

He's the only referalls vet in the south west and has seen my Ginger. He's a rabbit specialist and is BRILLIANT. He'll explain everything to you, ask you questions, and will happily take in ideas and suggestions.

The vet yvette mentions has their own website; http://www.abbotsvets.co.uk/ if you need to keep it on record

I was just going to phone Ian when I noticed on his web site that he is a referral vet if you are out of the area.
I have contacted my own vet and am waiting for her to ring me back and I will suggest they refer me to Ian. Tempting as it is to not to do this through my own vets it may be for the best in the long run as the after care will be cheaper whith our vets hopefully instructed by Ian's experteese.
If my vets don't 'play ball' I will then 'bypass' them.

I can't thank you enough for your help. At least I know there is a good vet I can trust Oscar with by hook or by crook in the very near future.

Yeah, but you can have Ian as your regular vet!! His practice is a normal vets to me.Im lucky I dont have to pay the referral fee to see him.I pay normal vet bills and cos Im a regular visitor, I get the odd money off.
Is he close enough to be your regular vet cos then you can just jump in and not have to wait to be referred??

It's best to go through your vets the first time as he'll want copies of your notes Vets generally won't take a patient midway through treatment without a referral as a professional conduct thing. Plus its good to keep your closest vet sweet for emergencies

sending huge vibes xxxx