Eye Gunk + Whiskers

Roibin · Apr 6, 2007

About a year ago my mom brought home a rabbit from work, the person she got it from was actaully taking it to the SPCA because "his wife had allergies to it." We later found out that they got a dog instead. When I first saw Jessica I noticed that she had some eye gunk actaully sitting on her eyeball, so I picked it out and it went away for a couple of months but now it is back. I usaully pick it out for her and she doesn't mind at all. But I'm getting a little bit worried as to what it is and if it needs vet attention. Also she barely has any whiskers and the ones she does have are all curly and kinky...I'm wondering is that normal?

Pipp · Apr 6, 2007

Hi Roibin! I used to live in Edmonton, nice to see fellow Alberta natives signing on.

The eye gunk is probably nothing, hair will collect on the eyeball in some cases. My dwarf, Pipp, was scratched by a cat (in self-defense!) and it seems to have caused a compromised tear duct or something, because that eye will collect hair and fuzz. It looksjust like your photo, and like you, I just pick it out. But if it's too bad and the eye looks swollen or irritated, best to see a vet, there are many rabbit eye diseases that can be serious.

Here's a link to the library info for Eye Problems:

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=14567&forum_id=10

As for the whiskers, it sounds like she's a mini-Rex, they naturally have stunted, curly whiskers. They're such weird little bunnies! (I've got a few of them too!)

Hope this helps.

sas

Pet_Bunny · Apr 6, 2007

I am not sure of the gunk in her eye. But I am guessing that itcould do with the excess calcium leeching out from her eye. Because you changed to a different brand of pellets, the problem might go away.

Yesit is normal for rexsto have curly whiskers.

Rainbows!

naturestee · Apr 7, 2007

Pet_Bunny, I've never heard of calcium leaching out of the eye. Do you have any info on that?

Roibin, you can flush the eye gunk out with saline- normal human eye saline. If the whites of the eye or the skin around the eye looks irritated, or if the gunk comes back frequently, then a vet should check it out.

I agree with Pipp- your rabbit is a rex and the whiskers are normal for it.

aurora369 · Apr 7, 2007

Wildfire never had eye gunkies when she was living on her own. She's a very clean bunny and barely sheds.

Now that she's moved in with the boys, she gets them all the time. I think it's Baxter's fur getting in her eyes. Baxter sheds alot and it gets everywhere. I started brushing him every couple days and that seems to help.

It's most likely a piece of fur or some other small irritant getting inher eye. Then the eye coats it in goop to protect the eye.

Wildfire never seems bothered by them. They come out.

I wouldn't be too concerned unless her eye seems irritated.

--Dawn

Pipp · Apr 7, 2007

When you pull out the blob, just make sure it'shair and not pus or mucus. Some white globs in bunnies' eyes can indicate a serious eye problem, as per the library page linked above.

sas