Happy Hopping
Wise Old Thumper
so this is my little rabbit friend Leo. What can be done about these once in a while tear coming out of his eyes?
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an 8 yr. old rabbit has tears coming out of his eyes
- Thread starter Happy Hopping
- Start date
so this is my little rabbit friend Leo. What can be done about these once in a while tear coming out of his eyes?
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Hello Jason
The Rabbit may well have elongated tooth roots which are pressing on the nasolacrimal ducts (tear ducts). This would cause chronic runny eyes. The only way to accurately diagnose tooth root elongation is from skull radiographs. It is a common problem in older Rabbits, especially lops.
If it is tooth root related then the problem cannot be cured but it can be managed. This usually involves regular Dental treatment under GA to insure the crowns of the molars are burred right down. If the crowns are too long this increases the rate of progression of tooth root elongation.
The eyes usually need bathing daily and a small amount of a barrier cream applied to the bare skin below the eyes to try to prevent further soft tissue damage. If there are signs of infection in the discharge then a topical antibiotic eye treatment would be needed. Systemic antibiotic treatment may also be necessary in some cases. Sometimes the nasolacrimal ducts can be flushed out (by a Vet), but sometimes this is impossible if there is a lot of thickened scar tissue in the ducts.
So basically it is a case of first identifying the primary cause of the watery eyes and then treating accordingly. These links may be helpful to read
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/DacrocystitisRabbit.htm
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...iquesRabbit/nasolacrimal_duct_cannulation.htm
http://www.ivis.org/journals/exoticdvm/9-1/venold.pdf
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...wBg#v=onepage&q=rabbit dacryocystitis&f=false
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19883464
http://veterinarymedicinejournal.us.../382-management-of-dacryocystitis-in-a-rabbit
The Rabbit may well have elongated tooth roots which are pressing on the nasolacrimal ducts (tear ducts). This would cause chronic runny eyes. The only way to accurately diagnose tooth root elongation is from skull radiographs. It is a common problem in older Rabbits, especially lops.
If it is tooth root related then the problem cannot be cured but it can be managed. This usually involves regular Dental treatment under GA to insure the crowns of the molars are burred right down. If the crowns are too long this increases the rate of progression of tooth root elongation.
The eyes usually need bathing daily and a small amount of a barrier cream applied to the bare skin below the eyes to try to prevent further soft tissue damage. If there are signs of infection in the discharge then a topical antibiotic eye treatment would be needed. Systemic antibiotic treatment may also be necessary in some cases. Sometimes the nasolacrimal ducts can be flushed out (by a Vet), but sometimes this is impossible if there is a lot of thickened scar tissue in the ducts.
So basically it is a case of first identifying the primary cause of the watery eyes and then treating accordingly. These links may be helpful to read
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/DacrocystitisRabbit.htm
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...iquesRabbit/nasolacrimal_duct_cannulation.htm
http://www.ivis.org/journals/exoticdvm/9-1/venold.pdf
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...wBg#v=onepage&q=rabbit dacryocystitis&f=false
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19883464
http://veterinarymedicinejournal.us.../382-management-of-dacryocystitis-in-a-rabbit
Happy Hopping
Wise Old Thumper
Thanks Jane. Her vet is a rabbit specialist in Paris, France. She did say if this persists, a skull x-ray is needed. But what I can't understand is, if it's the root of the teeth moving upwards, what's the trimming of the teeth to do with it?
Shouldn't we pull the teeth out instead?
And why is this an old lop rabbit problem?
and Leo has this on both eyes. So what's the odd that both side of his teeth are moving upwards at the same time?
Shouldn't we pull the teeth out instead?
And why is this an old lop rabbit problem?
and Leo has this on both eyes. So what's the odd that both side of his teeth are moving upwards at the same time?
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Extracting molar teeth is a major surgical procedure and not one to be undertaken unless absolutely essential. If the teeth involved are not already lose then extraction may have to be done from the outside, through the face. It is not unheard of for jaw fractures to occur, especially if there is a significant demineralisation of bone and/or diseased bone (osteomyelitis)
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...Indiv_TechniquesRabbit/MolarExtractRabbit.htm
The problem can develop more readily in lops due to the shape of their skull in comparison to that of the wild Rabbit. Bone demineralisation that can occur with age is another contributory factor. Basically Rabbits were not made to live for 8-10 years. In the wild they would be lucky to get to the age of 3. So the age related health problems we see in Rabbits are almost always involving Pet Rabbits, not Wildies.
It is not unusual for both nasolacrimal ducts to be effected by tooth root elongation. The same mechanics are involved which lead to the symptoms (runny eyes)
Anti-inflammatory analgesia is another important medication in the management of chronic dacryocystitis.
Happy Hopping
Wise Old Thumper
I have just finished off reading a section on Epiphora under "The 5 min. vet consult: rabbit", and dr. hancourt brown's book on the section of Dacrocystitis. I have a few follow up questions:
About 2 mth. ago, when I first chat w/ Leo's owner, that was my diagnosis too and that's what I told the owner. Then I dismissed my own diagnosis because I thought the chance that both teeth growing upwards at the same time, is very rare. So I was wrong then.
1) why is these teeth growing now? WHy not a few yr. ago?
2) how does tooth root elongation relates to bone demineralisation?
3) the tooth Root is elongating towards his jaw (on the inside), so how does trimming the other side of that teeth help?
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On an unrelated rabbit, my own bun Bobby, he's a mini Rex, also have "white creamy" stuff on his left eye. He has that since I adopted him a few years ago. But it is quite rare, in the summer, a no. of times a month, in the winter, hardly any. I just notice it again the other day, but we are now in spring. Would you say it's also tooth root elongation, or just some blockage at his nasolacrimal duct? Because he has some loose fur quite often, and I notice from time to time, a piece of fur here and there ends up on his eye balls. I couldn't help but wonder if those fur will accumulate and block the nasolacrimal duct.
About 2 mth. ago, when I first chat w/ Leo's owner, that was my diagnosis too and that's what I told the owner. Then I dismissed my own diagnosis because I thought the chance that both teeth growing upwards at the same time, is very rare. So I was wrong then.
1) why is these teeth growing now? WHy not a few yr. ago?
2) how does tooth root elongation relates to bone demineralisation?
3) the tooth Root is elongating towards his jaw (on the inside), so how does trimming the other side of that teeth help?
=======================
On an unrelated rabbit, my own bun Bobby, he's a mini Rex, also have "white creamy" stuff on his left eye. He has that since I adopted him a few years ago. But it is quite rare, in the summer, a no. of times a month, in the winter, hardly any. I just notice it again the other day, but we are now in spring. Would you say it's also tooth root elongation, or just some blockage at his nasolacrimal duct? Because he has some loose fur quite often, and I notice from time to time, a piece of fur here and there ends up on his eye balls. I couldn't help but wonder if those fur will accumulate and block the nasolacrimal duct.
