Eyesight/cataracts

[Orenoko]

Rupert has developed a cataract in one eye over recent months and now his other eye is starting to look cloudy. He's been seen by the vet who doesn't think he's in any pain, and he's a happy little sausage overall. But I worry about him as he's starting to bump into things e.g. furniture and he's also run straight into me a few times. He also seems quite needy and wanting attention.

Just wondering how people have helped their partially sighted/blind buns to adjust? He's an indoor bun so I don't have to worry about him getting lost, and he has Lilac for company, but just wondered if there's anything I can do to help him?

He's about 5 or 6 so in theory we have a good few years ahead of us so I'm expecting him to lose his eyesight completely at some point.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Did the Vet mention EC being involved in the development of Cataracts ?

https://www.unusualpetvets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cataracts-in-Rabbits.pdf

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Disorder/Cat/Cat_en.htm

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/blindness.html

 

[Orenoko]

She didn't mention it, do you think it's worth a course of panacur just to be on the safe side? She only said she could refer for a specialist to discuss surgery but I thought that as long as he's happy and not in pain I wouldn't want to put him through surgery.

Also I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the accident we had a few months back where I sat on his head and whether that might have accelerated any pre-existing eyesight issues.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I would discuss giving him a 28 day course of Panacur with the Vet. Personally I would opt for an Ophthalmic referral if he is insured or you can afford it.

 

[Orenoko]

I would discuss giving him a 28 day course of Panacur with the Vet. Personally I would opt for an Ophthalmic referral if he is insured or you can afford it.

Thank you, he is insured so I'll check his policy and give the vet a call and see what they say.

 

[bunny momma]

I am glad Rupert has recovered from his accident, and I do not think it would have impacted his cataract.

 

[Omi]

Tethra developed cataracts in both eyes around the age of 7. My vet thought it was connected to EC. They never seemed to bother him and so we didn't get an Opthalmic opinion. I don't think that they deteriorated very much over his remaining years (died aged almost 10).

I also don't think that you sitting on his head had any impact on the cataract.

 

[joey&boo]

Boo adjusted pretty well to going completely blind - probably helps that she had a mental map already of her environment. I don't do much different, just these few things

* Tied fabric (or put woolly socks) on furniture legs as she does bump into stuff
* I don't leave their plastic toys around unsupervised so she can run freely without unmapped obstacles. I also clear up the stash of twigs regularly for this reason & avoid really thorny forage
* I don't encourage jumping. For years and years Boo (& her bunny friends) always had midnight nuggets on are bed but when her eyes went she'd approach say the corner then over shoot the bed so nuggets on the floor these days.

I'm glad he has Lilac, a bunny friend is the best thing I think

When Boobly started with her cataracts she was put on panacur & some eye ointment. We were offered a referral to look at cataract removal but I'd only consider that if bunny wasn't coping. I have read somewhere (or dreamt) that EC related blindness is normally passed on by mum & that as its in the lens treatment unlikely to change their seeing status, like its difficult for it to penetrate the eye or something

 

[Orenoko]

Boo adjusted pretty well to going completely blind - probably helps that she had a mental map already of her environment. I don't do much different, just these few things

* Tied fabric (or put woolly socks) on furniture legs as she does bump into stuff
* I don't leave their plastic toys around unsupervised so she can run freely without unmapped obstacles. I also clear up the stash of twigs regularly for this reason & avoid really thorny forage
* I don't encourage jumping. For years and years Boo (& her bunny friends) always had midnight nuggets on are bed but when her eyes went she'd approach say the corner then over shoot the bed so nuggets on the floor these days.

I'm glad he has Lilac, a bunny friend is the best thing I think

When Boobly started with her cataracts she was put on panacur & some eye ointment. We were offered a referral to look at cataract removal but I'd only consider that if bunny wasn't coping. I have read somewhere (or dreamt) that EC related blindness is normally passed on by mum & that as its in the lens treatment unlikely to change their seeing status, like its difficult for it to penetrate the eye or something

That's a good idea re putting something soft on chair legs etc. So far it's just this one stool that he bumps into, I moved it to the bedroom recently to put a fan on when it was hot, I think I'll just put it away. Mine aren't fans of plastic toys, they mainly like boxes so I don't need to worry too much about him tripping over things. I've also noticed he's stopped jumping on the sofa, he was never a massive jumper but in recent months I haven't seen him up there once so perhaps he's self-limiting, which is probably a good thing if his eyesight is poor!