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Bunny weepy eyes

Sammy&Patch

Sammy&Patch

Warren Scout
Hi, I'm looking for advise. I have had Sammy for about 5/6 years. Last December she had a bit of a weepy eye, I kept an 'eye' on it and it seemed to clear up. But it came back so just after Christmas I took her to the vets. The weeping didn't seem sticky, no gunk, here eye didn't look inflamed. The other eye was slightly weepy too. She runs around and eats as usual. The vet checked her teeth, no issue. She put drops in the eyes and said one had scratches fairly bad the other some, just like she would expect to see from a dog that has gone through bushes. The eyes looked healthy and white surround not inflamed or red. She gave me lubricant and something in case it was an infection but she didn't think it was. I did the course and seemed to improve a bit. She continued to have the same problem on and off over the next couple of months so I continued doing the lubricant now and then. I took her back to the vets beginning march and a different vet checked her. He acted a bit like I was just making a fuss. He checked her teeth, no problem, said the eyes looked healthy. He said it could be just like a human getting irritated eyes. He didn't give me anything for her, just said give her the lubricant now and then if I thought it helped! Now we're in May and it still hasn't cleared up. The last few days in particular she has had it bad, the fur has been very sticky round her eyes but not like conjunctivitis or anything. The whites look fine. She is happy eating etc. She seems to like it when I clean her fur up and lets me put the lubricant in, bearing in mind she normally doesn't like me messing here around other than stroking her!!!! Which suggests it's maybe annoying her being sticky like that around her eyes. Should I just keep going with the lubricant or take her back for a 3rd opinion. Her eyes don't seem dry but I have heard they can get dry eyes which can cause this kind of problem and it can just continue for ever so would need lubricant every day. I am happy to do that just wanted to get opinions please :)
 
Sammy&Patch said:
Hi, I'm looking for advise. I have had Sammy for about 5/6 years. Last December she had a bit of a weepy eye, I kept an 'eye' on it and it seemed to clear up. But it came back so just after Christmas I took her to the vets. The weeping didn't seem sticky, no gunk, here eye didn't look inflamed. The other eye was slightly weepy too. She runs around and eats as usual. The vet checked her teeth, no issue. She put drops in the eyes and said one had scratches fairly bad the other some, just like she would expect to see from a dog that has gone through bushes. The eyes looked healthy and white surround not inflamed or red. She gave me lubricant and something in case it was an infection but she didn't think it was. I did the course and seemed to improve a bit. She continued to have the same problem on and off over the next couple of months so I continued doing the lubricant now and then. I took her back to the vets beginning march and a different vet checked her. He acted a bit like I was just making a fuss. He checked her teeth, no problem, said the eyes looked healthy. He said it could be just like a human getting irritated eyes. He didn't give me anything for her, just said give her the lubricant now and then if I thought it helped! Now we're in May and it still hasn't cleared up. The last few days in particular she has had it bad, the fur has been very sticky round her eyes but not like conjunctivitis or anything. The whites look fine. She is happy eating etc. She seems to like it when I clean her fur up and lets me put the lubricant in, bearing in mind she normally doesn't like me messing here around other than stroking her!!!! Which suggests it's maybe annoying her being sticky like that around her eyes. Should I just keep going with the lubricant or take her back for a 3rd opinion. Her eyes don't seem dry but I have heard they can get dry eyes which can cause this kind of problem and it can just continue for ever so would need lubricant every day. I am happy to do that just wanted to get opinions please :)
Click to expand...

Personally I would seek another opinion from a Rabbit Savvy Vet.

http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

'Runny eyes' can be caused by numerous issues.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Differential/Runny_eyes.htm

http://rabbit.org/chronic-runny-eyes-in-rabbits/

Sometimes the condition is chronic and has to be managed longterm. But runny some appropriate diagnostics may give a Rabbit Savvy Vet more information and thus some possible treatment options.
 
Last edited:
Sammy&Patch said:
Hi, I'm looking for advise. I have had Sammy for about 5/6 years. Last December she had a bit of a weepy eye, I kept an 'eye' on it and it seemed to clear up. But it came back so just after Christmas I took her to the vets. The weeping didn't seem sticky, no gunk, here eye didn't look inflamed. The other eye was slightly weepy too. She runs around and eats as usual. The vet checked her teeth, no issue. She put drops in the eyes and said one had scratches fairly bad the other some, just like she would expect to see from a dog that has gone through bushes. The eyes looked healthy and white surround not inflamed or red. She gave me lubricant and something in case it was an infection but she didn't think it was. I did the course and seemed to improve a bit. She continued to have the same problem on and off over the next couple of months so I continued doing the lubricant now and then. I took her back to the vets beginning march and a different vet checked her. He acted a bit like I was just making a fuss. He checked her teeth, no problem, said the eyes looked healthy. He said it could be just like a human getting irritated eyes. He didn't give me anything for her, just said give her the lubricant now and then if I thought it helped! Now we're in May and it still hasn't cleared up. The last few days in particular she has had it bad, the fur has been very sticky round her eyes but not like conjunctivitis or anything. The whites look fine. She is happy eating etc. She seems to like it when I clean her fur up and lets me put the lubricant in, bearing in mind she normally doesn't like me messing here around other than stroking her!!!! Which suggests it's maybe annoying her being sticky like that around her eyes. Should I just keep going with the lubricant or take her back for a 3rd opinion. Her eyes don't seem dry but I have heard they can get dry eyes which can cause this kind of problem and it can just continue for ever so would need lubricant every day. I am happy to do that just wanted to get opinions please :)
Click to expand...


Hi there Sammy :wave:

A weepy eye can have lots of causes.

Your vets have looked in his mouth and seen the teeth look OK. This is good news, but a vet can only see around 50% inside the mouth unless they are a specialist in doing 'conscious dentals'. I won't go into this, as it tends to cause havoc with those who disagree, but it's a good way of looking at the back teeth without anaesthetic.

It could well be that tooth roots are pressing on the tear duct, and causing a kink, which in turn leads to a weepy eye. Even if you got head X-rays, there is nothing to be done in this case, other than manage the weepy eye.

Has your vet/s never suggested flushing the tear duct? It's something a lot of vets will do first off, to see whether an improvement occurs, and usually whilst the rabbit is awake.

Weepy eyes are sometimes long term and non life threatening - sometimes it's useful for a partner to 'clean up' the weepy eye. If there's no partner then you have to do it. I would suggest a compress of a cotton pad soaked in boiled water that's cooled a bit.

The condition is called Dacryocystitis:

http://veterinarymedicinejournal.usamv.ro/pdf/vol.LVIII_4/Art16.pdf

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Differential/Runny_eyes.htm


If you feel you'd like to consult another vet, and would like recommendations, post another thread in Rabbit Chat with the title:

Rabbit Savvy Vet needed in (your location) ... and members will give you their recommendations

Alternatively you can search here for a recommended vet:

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/vetfinder/vets-owners-recommendations

And the RWAF have their own suggestions for finding a good vet:

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
 
Jack's-Jane said:
Personally I would seek another opinion from a Rabbit Savvy Vet.

http://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

'Runny eyes' can be caused by numerous issues.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Differential/Runny_eyes.htm

http://rabbit.org/chronic-runny-eyes-in-rabbits/

Sometimes the condition is chronic and has to be managed longterm. But runny some appropriate diagnostics may give a Rabbit Savvy Vet more information and thus some possible treatment options.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I think I will book her in again at the vets, unfortunately I'm in the Highlands of Scotland so don't have much choice of vets. Fingers crossed xxx
 
they haven't suggested the tear ducts no. My white bunny, Patch, died a long time ago now :-( I have a new bunny, Gingerbread, rescued from the SSPCA, and I've had him a while now. Unfortunately they don't get on with each other and have had fights when trying to bond :-( Which means Sammy doesn't have a bunny friend to clean her eye for her so I will do it for her :-( I have had some success recently smooching them so we've had plenty of cuddles the 3 of us, I just can't leave them alone together!!!
 
Sammy&Patch said:
Thanks, I think I will book her in again at the vets, unfortunately I'm in the Highlands of Scotland so don't have much choice of vets. Fingers crossed xxx
Click to expand...

I hope that the next Vet you see will be able to offer some more help to try to establish the cause of your Bunny's eye problems x
 
Sammy&Patch said:
they haven't suggested the tear ducts no. My white bunny, Patch, died a long time ago now :-( I have a new bunny, Gingerbread, rescued from the SSPCA, and I've had him a while now. Unfortunately they don't get on with each other and have had fights when trying to bond :-( Which means Sammy doesn't have a bunny friend to clean her eye for her so I will do it for her :-( I have had some success recently smooching them so we've had plenty of cuddles the 3 of us, I just can't leave them alone together!!!
Click to expand...


Hopefully you can get someone who will flush out the tear ducts, as sometimes that will clear the problem up.

I'm sorry your two rabbits don't get on together - that's a real shame :(
 
MightyMax said:
Hopefully you can get someone who will flush out the tear ducts, as sometimes that will clear the problem up.

I'm sorry your two rabbits don't get on together - that's a real shame :(
Click to expand...


Thankyou, hopefully one day I will be safe to leave them, they have made big improvements from when I first got Gingerbread, I think the main problem is they both wanted to be 'the boss', my old bunny was very submissive but Gingerbread is just as bossy as Sammy so they just ended up fighting. They have a room each and share the hallway, half the day each and take turns at night. I have baby gates on their doors with mesh. They are now used to each other but every single day Gingerbread rubs his chin all over her gate and went to the toilet a few times at her gate. Sammy had never done that before but now she goes to his gate and does the same when she is out. I think they are constantly trying to make the hallway part of their boundary. Oh well, not a big problem to clear up and when they have their smooching they are both happy so that's what matters :) Sammy often flops beside her gate when Gingerbread is in the hallway, he just disappears off in his room when she is out. I get the impression that Sammy is far more interested in him than she is with her, unless he is getting stroked, licked etc. She seems to enjoy the company whereas he just goes off when you stop stroking him, usually after nudging me in annoyance!
 
Sammy&Patch said:
Thankyou, hopefully one day I will be safe to leave them, they have made big improvements from when I first got Gingerbread, I think the main problem is they both wanted to be 'the boss', my old bunny was very submissive but Gingerbread is just as bossy as Sammy so they just ended up fighting. They have a room each and share the hallway, half the day each and take turns at night. I have baby gates on their doors with mesh. They are now used to each other but every single day Gingerbread rubs his chin all over her gate and went to the toilet a few times at her gate. Sammy had never done that before but now she goes to his gate and does the same when she is out. I think they are constantly trying to make the hallway part of their boundary. Oh well, not a big problem to clear up and when they have their smooching they are both happy so that's what matters :) Sammy often flops beside her gate when Gingerbread is in the hallway, he just disappears off in his room when she is out. I get the impression that Sammy is far more interested in him than she is with her, unless he is getting stroked, licked etc. She seems to enjoy the company whereas he just goes off when you stop stroking him, usually after nudging me in annoyance!
Click to expand...



You have tried/are trying your best to keep them happy. It's no mean feat doing that for rabbits! So well done you.

Hopefully one day when they have mellowed they will accept one another x
 
One of my bunny's had one weepy eye a few weeks ago. A course of isathal didn't clear it up so she went back and had her tear duct flushed and a course of Maxitrol and so far fingers crossed it seems to have cleared up :)
She was exactly the same...when her eye was weeping she was happy for me to clean her and give her the drops but as it started to improve she would run away and kick her back legs at me in disgust :lol
 
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