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Can rabbits cope with only one eye? U/D: New pic 6 months on

Lisa F

Mama Doe
My poor bun, Ernie, is having a rough week. :( He had some issues with a weeping eye, which improved briefly but then suddenly turned almost black in colour and started bulging (being a REW, his eyes are usually a very pale pink). We took him to the vet (Iain Cope's practice in Newmarket) and she had no idea what was wrong but discovered the pressure on both is eyes was really high. She prescribed some drops and decided to send him on a referral to a specialist clinic, so we went there today. After two further vets looking at him, they still aren't sure what's wrong, although they suspect glucoma (I'm not even sure what that entails) but also mentioned a possible tumour or something contagious. I take that to mean they really don't have a clue. He has to go back again tomorrow for an eye ultrasound and possibly some blood tests.

The one thing the vet DID say, is that it is likely he will have to have his eye removed. Has anyone got experience with rabbits losing sight in one eye? How do they cope? The vet was a little worried that his other eye is also slightly inflammed too, although she said he can still see out of it. I can imagine a bun maybe learning to manage with one eye but if the worst happened and he lost sight in the other one . . . I don't know what I'd do. I'm a big believer in not putting animals through difficult situations for "human" reasons but that doesn't make the choices any easier. :(
 
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Hi, no own experience, but over time I've read about some completly blind pet rabbits that cope pretty well - not so surprising for animals that normally spend a lot of time in burrows, so, good luck, and even if he loses one eye I think he'll cope with that.
 
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My poor bun, Ernie, is having a rough week. :( He had some issues with a weeping eye, which improved briefly but then suddenly turned almost black in colour and started bulging (being a REW, his eyes are usually a very pale pink). We took him to the vet (Iain Cope's practice in Newmarket) and she had no idea what was wrong but discovered the pressure on both is eyes was really high. She prescribed some drops and decided to send him on a referral to a specialist clinic, so we went there today. After two further vets looking at him, they still aren't sure what's wrong, although they suspect glucoma (I'm not even sure what that entails) but also mentioned a possible tumour or something contagious. I take that to mean they really don't have a clue. He has to go back again tomorrow for an eye ultrasound and possibly some blood tests.

The one thing the vet DID say, is that it is likely he will have to have his eye removed. Has anyone got experience with rabbits losing sight in one eye? How do they cope? The vet was a little worried that his other eye is also slightly inflammed too, although she said he can still see out of it. I can imagine a bun maybe learning to manage with one eye but if the worst happened and he lost sight in the other one . . . I don't know what I'd do. I'm a big believer in not putting animals through difficult situations for "human" reasons but that doesn't make the choices any easier. :(

Hello, long time no see.

I am sorry to hear about Ernie's eye problems. Rabbits certainly can cope well with just one eye. I had a REW (Mr Bean) who developed cataracts and glaucoma secondary to EC. In the end topical treatment did not keep his intra-occular pressure under control so he had to have the eye removed. He came through the op' really well (despite being elderly and having a chronic respiratory tract problem and kidney damage from EC). He made a rapid recovery and immediately he was so much happier. He had not been able to see out of his eye at all for months, in the end all the eye did for him was give him constant pain. He was a different, much happier, Bunny afterwards.

So in short, yes, a Rabbit can manage perfectly well with just one eye. Initially the surgery can look pretty gruesome. But IME healing is rapid and I do not for one second regret putting him through the op'.

I have had some elderly Rabbits who eventually lost their eyesight. Although none had an eye removed, they were totally blind and yet they coped with their disability well.

I think any decision on how far to push things with a Rabbit and invasive treatment/surgery has to be made on an individual case basis. What one Rabbit could cope with on a psychological level, may be too much for another Rabbit. The decision needs to be a 'holistic' one, not just a clinical one. Having a Vet that you trust to give you advice based on this premise is always a huge benefit.

A few links to take a look at:

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/GlaucomaRabbit.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Eye_diseases_main.htm

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ar.../n-2015-glaucoma-with-pigmentation-in-the-eye

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...Indiv_TechniquesRabbit/Enucleation_Rabbit.htm

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

Very best wishes for little Ernie xx
 
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My poor bun, Ernie, is having a rough week. :( He had some issues with a weeping eye, which improved briefly but then suddenly turned almost black in colour and started bulging (being a REW, his eyes are usually a very pale pink). We took him to the vet (Iain Cope's practice in Newmarket) and she had no idea what was wrong but discovered the pressure on both is eyes was really high. She prescribed some drops and decided to send him on a referral to a specialist clinic, so we went there today. After two further vets looking at him, they still aren't sure what's wrong, although they suspect glucoma (I'm not even sure what that entails) but also mentioned a possible tumour or something contagious. I take that to mean they really don't have a clue. He has to go back again tomorrow for an eye ultrasound and possibly some blood tests.

The one thing the vet DID say, is that it is likely he will have to have his eye removed. Has anyone got experience with rabbits losing sight in one eye? How do they cope? The vet was a little worried that his other eye is also slightly inflammed too, although she said he can still see out of it. I can imagine a bun maybe learning to manage with one eye but if the worst happened and he lost sight in the other one . . . I don't know what I'd do. I'm a big believer in not putting animals through difficult situations for "human" reasons but that doesn't make the choices any easier. :(


Hi Lisa, and sorry I didn't see your post last night :wave:

Sorry to hear about Ernie. I'm reassured though that you have some good vets on his case :)

As for glaucoma, there's a couple of members here who have lots of experience of that, and it might be worth you contacting them.

There's Nickybunny1 (who just lost her beautiful Oliver) and also Fillygal. Fillygal hasn't posted in a while (I don't think) so you may wish to contact her by PM.

There's some info that I always find useful here:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Eye_diseases_main.htm


I have also had a rabbit who had en eye removed - due to an abscess, and also several blind rabbits. To be fair, I find rabbits cope extremely well with whatever disability life throws at them. Probably far better than we do, and they are an inspiration to me!

I do understand your reasoning for putting animals through, or not, difficult situations. However, so long as I had an expert vet on my side, and a reasonable hope of a good recovery, I would go for it.

Thinking of you xx
 
Hi guys, thanks for support and very helpful links! :)

Ernie had his ultrasound this morning and the vets think there is a tumour in his eye now. They are still not 100% sure as his eye is so dark that they literally cannot see anything in it. He's booked in for surgery in the morning to have the eye removed, as it has to go regardless of cause, and they hope to know the definite cause after that. Currently they think his right eye is fine though, which will be a huge relief.

Poor boy has been so brave. The vets keep telling me how good he is, putting up with all the poking and prodding with no fuss at all. Think both boys are throughly sick of all the vet trips now though. Poor Eric has been going along for moral support and has ended up being poked and prodded himself a bit as the vets have used his eyes for comparison. :roll:

We've told Ernie that after tomorrow he can tell people he's a one-eyed pirate bunny! :love:
 
Hi guys, thanks for support and very helpful links! :)

Ernie had his ultrasound this morning and the vets think there is a tumour in his eye now. They are still not 100% sure as his eye is so dark that they literally cannot see anything in it. He's booked in for surgery in the morning to have the eye removed, as it has to go regardless of cause, and they hope to know the definite cause after that. Currently they think his right eye is fine though, which will be a huge relief.

Poor boy has been so brave. The vets keep telling me how good he is, putting up with all the poking and prodding with no fuss at all. Think both boys are throughly sick of all the vet trips now though. Poor Eric has been going along for moral support and has ended up being poked and prodded himself a bit as the vets have used his eyes for comparison. :roll:

We've told Ernie that after tomorrow he can tell people he's a one-eyed pirate bunny! :love:

I hope that Ernie's op' goes well tomorrow and that he will soon be on the road to recovery xx
 
Aww, I had a beautifully bun, Pirate Noodle - her eye was damaged when I rescued her & became ulcerated later so had it removed - she coped amazingly well. Loads of vibes for Ernies operation tomorrow.
 
Sending loads of vibes for Ernie's operation tomorrow. I hope it all goes welll and that he recovers quickly.
 
Hi guys, thanks for support and very helpful links! :)

Ernie had his ultrasound this morning and the vets think there is a tumour in his eye now. They are still not 100% sure as his eye is so dark that they literally cannot see anything in it. He's booked in for surgery in the morning to have the eye removed, as it has to go regardless of cause, and they hope to know the definite cause after that. Currently they think his right eye is fine though, which will be a huge relief.

Poor boy has been so brave. The vets keep telling me how good he is, putting up with all the poking and prodding with no fuss at all. Think both boys are throughly sick of all the vet trips now though. Poor Eric has been going along for moral support and has ended up being poked and prodded himself a bit as the vets have used his eyes for comparison. :roll:

We've told Ernie that after tomorrow he can tell people he's a one-eyed pirate bunny! :love:



Aww you're welcome Lisa :)

Good luck for the operation! I hope all goes swimmingly well :)
 
Yes, in short, they cope fine.

I have a boarder with one eye, she bounces around completely normally and you wouldn't notice if it weren't for he fact she only has one eye :)

My Noah is almost completely blind and people are shocked when they find out as he seems normal. Same with my headtilt boy Sweep, he only sees out of one eye due to headtilt and his eyesight is poor also.

Best of luck for his op :)
 
A quick reply as I've just got in from sleeping in my Mum's room at her Care home as she's very ill ..

Indeed they can. Luna had E. Cuniculi and consequently has lost the sight in one eye ... ok, she so she veers to one side, but she manages really well.

No problems at all. Xx
 
Dropped Ernie off for his surgery this morning. I was a mess even before we got there! Poor little bun looked so sorry for himself. :(

I also have the additional worry that he and Eric will now be separated for a whole day. Could this cause any issues when Ernie gets back home and they are together again?
 
Dropped Ernie off for his surgery this morning. I was a mess even before we got there! Poor little bun looked so sorry for himself. :(

I also have the additional worry that he and Eric will now be separated for a whole day. Could this cause any issues when Ernie gets back home and they are together again?

When you go to collect Ernie can you take Eric too ? Re-introducing them at the Vets and then if possible have them travelling home in the same carrier should help. There may be no issues at all. But Ernie will 'smell wrong' to Eric. Also, it will be important to make sure that Eric does not keep licking the surgical wound on Ernie. It may be that they need to live side by side but not have unsupervised direct contact for a short time.

Sending lots of vibes for Ernie xx
 
Sending loads of vibes for him. I hope it all goes well.

Separating my three, when one has to be at the vets has never caused any issues.
 
Dropped Ernie off for his surgery this morning. I was a mess even before we got there! Poor little bun looked so sorry for himself. :(

I also have the additional worry that he and Eric will now be separated for a whole day. Could this cause any issues when Ernie gets back home and they are together again?


Loads of vibes for Ernie xx

I hope it won't cause any issues with Eric, but will you be able to take Eric with you to the vet so that they can travel home together in the carrier? It may or may not have a beneficial effect, but worth a try :)
 
Ernie is awake! Still very dopey but she said the surgery went well. :D I'm hoping that he copes with recovery just as well. We'll get another update on him around 6pm and we'll know then whether we can bring him home tonight or in the morning.

With regards to putting him back with Eric. I don't have another carrier unfortunately so I'm just going to have to re-introduce them carefully. If I have something to divide the shed then I might do that but can't think what I have that I could do it with. When re-introducing them is it a good idea to offer a distraction such as food?
 
Ernie is awake! Still very dopey but she said the surgery went well. :D I'm hoping that he copes with recovery just as well. We'll get another update on him around 6pm and we'll know then whether we can bring him home tonight or in the morning.

With regards to putting him back with Eric. I don't have another carrier unfortunately so I'm just going to have to re-introduce them carefully. If I have something to divide the shed then I might do that but can't think what I have that I could do it with. When re-introducing them is it a good idea to offer a distraction such as food?


I'm so pleased to hear that the surgery went well Lisa :D

If Ernie is dopey, it's probably best if they aren't together right away. Unless the vet can keep Ernie till he recovers a bit more spring in his step, I would be wary of letting them together unless you can keep a watchful eye.

Yes food is a marvellous distraction :) Herbs .. dill, coriander, parsley, mint - I wouldn't hold back with the lovely eating things as you really want them together asap, once Ernie is recovered a bit from his sleepiness xx
 
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