Eye discharge causing matting and skin irritation

[rabbitbinks]

One of my rabbits is having an issue that we’ve seen the vet for but didn’t get any guidance on going forward. It’s been months and am feeling at a loss as to what to do.

Georgia has been having discharge from her eyes - both, but especially the right one - for a long while now. (Sometimes clear, sometimes white discharge.) It causes matting in her fur, fur loss, irritated and bleeding skin. I tried wiping her eyes, brushing or combing the dried discharge out of her fur, applying various things (Vaseline, coconut oil, and a liquid bandage I can’t remember the name of but other rabbit owners have posted about using.)

Tried washing it - then tried not washing it or allowing any moisture to sit. Tried gently blotting with a slightly damp cloth.

When the matting first occured I took her to the vet. The vet said her teeth look fine on the surface but the roots are long and angled and may be irritating her, but that there is nothing to be done about that. She flushed her tear ducts and said they are tiny/almost non existent on the one side. Nothing to be done about that. She trimmed the mat away, which was great, but I left without any idea of how to care for her going forward.

Fast forward to today. The matting is especially bad, it almost looks like she has skin growths but maybe that’s scar tissue? Also small open wounds. I’m worried about it becoming infected on top of everything else. When I cut the matted fur away it smelled bad, so that may already be the case. There’s also a bit of irritated skin on her dewlap, we have been travelling so maybe the discharge sat on it while she was confined to a kennel? That bit is at least dry.

I’m loathe to return to her vet since we didn’t get any advice the first time, plus right now we are away from home and the only rabbit vet I could find in this general area is booked for a month. I’m going to call them tomorrow on the off chance that’s changed.

I’ve had a hard time finding another rabbit vet that seems experienced with this kind of thing, but Im going to book her in with someone when we’re back regardless. Georgia is really stressed after my removing most of the mat, so I‘m going to give her a break until tomorrow, then I’ll see if there’s any more bits I can carefully trim off. My anxiety makes me a terrible nurse, my hands shake when I do the trimming, but at least I managed it today. Any advice is appreciated - what I can ask the next vet to check, but especially what I can do right now to help heal the skin and avoid irritating it further. Its damp right now, which I know isn’t good, but dabbing at it with a dry towel doesn’t seem to make a difference…

 

[Shimmer]

I think another vet visit is called for. If there is a smell associated with the area of discharge, it would indicate that there is an infection - which is something that can be treated, either with eye drops or oral meds. You could also get the area clipped again, which would make it easier to keep it clean.

I'm assuming that she's not paired with any of your other rabbits? A bunny partner is often very useful at keeping weepy eyes clean - so it's worth considering pairing her up, assuming both are neutered.

 

[bunny momma]

I hope you can get her another vet visit soon. She may need antibiotics and a pain/anti-inflammatory med for discomfort. How did vet confirm elongated roots?

 

[rabbitbinks]

I think another vet visit is called for. If there is a smell associated with the area of discharge, it would indicate that there is an infection - which is something that can be treated, either with eye drops or oral meds. You could also get the area clipped again, which would make it easier to keep it clean.

I'm assuming that she's not paired with any of your other rabbits? A bunny partner is often very useful at keeping weepy eyes clean - so it's worth considering pairing her up, assuming both are neutered.

No, sadly she is very violent toward other rabbits. She had a couple different boyfriends briefly but she was too aggressive with them, cuddle then chomp. She lives on the same floor as another female that she hates and sadly that’s made her all the more rabbit aggressive. Loves dogs, cats, all other animals though.

Good call on the eye drops, thanks, that seems a reasonable next step. I wonder if I can find something OTC to use before the appt, or maybe I can do a video appt! I’ll ask

 

[Shimmer]

I would want a vet to look at her as infections in or under the skin will need prescription meds.

 

[rabbitbinks]

I hope you can get her another vet visit soon. She may need antibiotics and a pain/anti-inflammatory med for discomfort. How did vet confirm elongated roots?

That’s a good question, I dont see an X-ray on the bill. I was charged for sedation, a stain, and a flush.

I used to always have meloxicam on hand but I’ve run out since my last rabbit with glaucoma etc passed away. I’ll ask for some for her, it probably does hurt

 

[rabbitbinks]

Just an update for everyone. While waiting for a response to my email to the vet I googled the heck out of this and found and picked up a rabbit-safe OTC eyedrop and (the safe type of) Polysporin for her irritated skin. I had emailed the vet asking for a prescription antibiotic eyedrop like you guys suggested. Vet asked for some photos then sent me an rx for Tobramycin. Also advised me to trim the remaining mats away, which is the part I’ve been struggling with. I’ve now got most of it, working on the last bit. Poor gal has a bald patch under her eye.

Thank you all so much for your help, I was super stressed about this and having other rabbit people chime in helped SO much. I have a bunch of follow up and maintenance questions that I’ll post later. The important thing is, G is happy, and I can handle her treatment better now that there‘s a plan and I’m not panicked!

photo from today, I brought her in to work on her but she took off and stole the dogs bed

 

[tulsi]

She looks very comfortable there!