Seeking Advice for Bunny's Sticky Eye and Fur Issue

[edwardsjethro]

My bunny developed sticky eye . I've been bathing it with cooled boiled water and a pinch of salt which he loves having done but his fur on his cheek has gone hard and il hurt him if I rub it harder and he goes mardy. Is there anything else I could use to loosen the fur and make him more comfortable? (I am also going to get an appointment at vets when they open).

Thank you!

 

[InspectorMorse]

I would leave the eye alone now until a Vet has examined him. It’s important to ascertain the cause of the weepy eye. The problem can be associated with Dental disease involving elongated tooth roots. Brachycephalic breeds can have deformed tear ducts, making them much more prone to weepy eye problems and elongated tooth roots.

The skin around the eyes is very delicate. It will be causing pain when you try to removed the gooey fur, hence why your Rabbit gets ‘mardy’, it’s his only way of telling you that what you are doing is hurting him. So pain relief should be given prior to any attempt to clean up the fur around the eye. Pain relief can only be prescribed by a Vet.

If there is active bacterial infection involved then antibiotic eye drops will be needed. Your Vet should also check that the nasolacrimol duct is not blocked and that there are no signs of a corneal abrasion/ukcer.

I would advise you to get your Rabbit examined by a Vet today.