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Bulging eye

Rigby82

Rigby82

New Kit
Hi all,

Just looking for some advice please. Florence, my 6 year old lion head has been acting a little dit dot recently. I couldn't quite put my finger on it- she was just acting a little strange and then the other day she ran straight into the door of her cage face first. After giggling a little, i thought it was a little strange, she hadn't done that before and she's not usually clumsy.

I also noticed her eyes were looking a little red and her third eyelid was up. She was still eating, drinking and pooping but i thought i best take her to the vet and get her checked out.

The vet ( Rabbit specialist) said she had protruding eyes - which she showed me got worse when we lifted her back legs up and kept her front doors on the ground ( like a bunny handstand) The vet grew concerned and has booked her in for a CT scan on Friday. The prognosis seemed pretty damning - either and abscess or a tumour behind the eye. She didn't want to go into detail until they new for sure.

Has anyone else had this with their bun? I can't even comprehend the severity of this right now and I would really like it not to be as severe as the vet is telling me? She means the absolute world to me and I love her so much.

Any advise is greatly appreciated

Ellie
 
Rigby82 said:
Hi all,

Just looking for some advice please. Florence, my 6 year old lion head has been acting a little dit dot recently. I couldn't quite put my finger on it- she was just acting a little strange and then the other day she ran straight into the door of her cage face first. After giggling a little, i thought it was a little strange, she hadn't done that before and she's not usually clumsy.

I also noticed her eyes were looking a little red and her third eyelid was up. She was still eating, drinking and pooping but i thought i best take her to the vet and get her checked out.

The vet ( Rabbit specialist) said she had protruding eyes - which she showed me got worse when we lifted her back legs up and kept her front doors on the ground ( like a bunny handstand) The vet grew concerned and has booked her in for a CT scan on Friday. The prognosis seemed pretty damning - either and abscess or a tumour behind the eye. She didn't want to go into detail until they new for sure.

Has anyone else had this with their bun? I can't even comprehend the severity of this right now and I would really like it not to be as severe as the vet is telling me? She means the absolute world to me and I love her so much.

Any advise is greatly appreciated

Ellie
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry to hear that Florence has this issue, Ellie :(

I am glad you have a very good vet. That makes all the difference. You mention both eyes, are both eyes affected, or mainly one?

So the vet told you it could be tumour or abscess but wasn't saying any more - what further results were they waiting on?

A rabbit having an eye out is major surgery for sure, but the rabbit can manage quite well with one eye. I have had a rabbit who had an abscess behind her eye, and the eye was taken out. The alternative was to PTS, but I was willing to go ahead with the surgery and do all the nursing care and she managed just fine.

I should wait until the vet gives you a clear indication of all the options. A good vet will certainly do this :)
 
My Rosie has bulging eyes which worsens when her head is lowered. In Rosie's case this is due to an enlarged heart.

If one eye is bulging then it is likely to be a problem behind the eye. If both eyes are bulging then there are potentially other causes - for example a problem with the heart, or a mass within the chest.

There will be options for treatment once the CT has been carried out. My Rosie is a lionhead - she is 9 and a half now.

I hope all goes as well as possible for Florence x
 
Rigby82 said:
Hi all,

Just looking for some advice please. Florence, my 6 year old lion head has been acting a little dit dot recently. I couldn't quite put my finger on it- she was just acting a little strange and then the other day she ran straight into the door of her cage face first. After giggling a little, i thought it was a little strange, she hadn't done that before and she's not usually clumsy.

I also noticed her eyes were looking a little red and her third eyelid was up. She was still eating, drinking and pooping but i thought i best take her to the vet and get her checked out.

The vet ( Rabbit specialist) said she had protruding eyes - which she showed me got worse when we lifted her back legs up and kept her front doors on the ground ( like a bunny handstand) The vet grew concerned and has booked her in for a CT scan on Friday. The prognosis seemed pretty damning - either and abscess or a tumour behind the eye. She didn't want to go into detail until they new for sure.

Has anyone else had this with their bun? I can't even comprehend the severity of this right now and I would really like it not to be as severe as the vet is telling me? She means the absolute world to me and I love her so much.

Any advise is greatly appreciated

Ellie
Click to expand...

Hello
I am sorry to hear that Florence is poorly. The 'wheelbarrow' test you mention (Bunny hand-stand) is used as part of the work up for diagnosing a Thymoma

The eyes bulge as the thymoma (tumour of the thymus in the chest) compresses large blood vessels returning from the head to the heart causing increased pressure in the veins of the head, hence the bulging of the eyes


A CT scan will hopefully provide the Vet with a lot more information and exactly where the problem is located.

I have had two Rabbits who were diagnosed with a Thymoma. Neither had surgery/Radiotherapy as they were both elderly. But their condition was managed with medication. Both Rabbits were able to continue to enjoy a very good quality of life for many months. They were never in pain, they continued to eat well and to interact with their companions.

I wont say 'dont worry' as of course you are bound to do so. But you obviously have a good Vet and I am sure they will do everything possible for Florence.
 
The vet said it's one eye - but I think it's both. My vet is amazing and I wished i had known sooner there were rabbit specialists out there. about 3 years ago Florence had an abscess the size of a tennis ball remove from around her stomach- ( she became a celebrity at the local practice) So i'm worried that she is prone to them. Thank you for the reply and it's good to hear that Rabbits can cope with one eye, it would be certainly something i would consider if i have to.

MightyMax said:
I'm so sorry to hear that Florence has this issue, Ellie :(

I am glad you have a very good vet. That makes all the difference. You mention both eyes, are both eyes affected, or mainly one?

So the vet told you it could be tumour or abscess but wasn't saying any more - what further results were they waiting on?

A rabbit having an eye out is major surgery for sure, but the rabbit can manage quite well with one eye. I have had a rabbit who had an abscess behind her eye, and the eye was taken out. The alternative was to PTS, but I was willing to go ahead with the surgery and do all the nursing care and she managed just fine.

I should wait until the vet gives you a clear indication of all the options. A good vet will certainly do this :)
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for your reply. It's really good to hear that Rabbits can go on living happy lives even with health concerns. Rosie is such a lovely name for a rabbit!
Vanessa.B said:
My Rosie has bulging eyes which worsens when her head is lowered. In Rosie's case this is due to an enlarged heart.

If one eye is bulging then it is likely to be a problem behind the eye. If both eyes are bulging then there are potentially other causes - for example a problem with the heart, or a mass within the chest.

There will be options for treatment once the CT has been carried out. My Rosie is a lionhead - she is 9 and a half now.

I hope all goes as well as possible for Florence x
Click to expand...
 
Sending loads of vibes for Florence. I really hope that the result from the CT scan indicates a condition that is treatable.
 
Thank you for this - i knew the vet said another option it could be, but my head was spinning when she said tumour. If I know what I'm up against then i can deal with it, I just have to try not to worry too much until I know what it is. Thank you so much for your reply

Jack's-Jane said:
Hello
I am sorry to hear that Florence is poorly. The 'wheelbarrow' test you mention (Bunny hand-stand) is used as part of the work up for diagnosing a Thymoma

The eyes bulge as the thymoma (tumour of the thymus in the chest) compresses large blood vessels returning from the head to the heart causing increased pressure in the veins of the head, hence the bulging of the eyes


A CT scan will hopefully provide the Vet with a lot more information and exactly where the problem is located.

I have had two Rabbits who were diagnosed with a Thymoma. Neither had surgery/Radiotherapy as they were both elderly. But their condition was managed with medication. Both Rabbits were able to continue to enjoy a very good quality of life for many months. They were never in pain, they continued to eat well and to interact with their companions.

I wont say 'dont worry' as of course you are bound to do so. But you obviously have a good Vet and I am sure they will do everything possible for Florence.
Click to expand...
 
Hiro had a bulging eye from an inner ear infection. The CT should help you figure it out.
Lots of love to you and Florence. Xx
 
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