New Bunny Has Eye Problem--Please Help

[HappyFarmBunnies]

I know perhaps I should post this in the Infirmary section, but this is the only board I know and the only part of the community that I know. I trust all of your opinions and judgements. Mods, feel free to move if you feel it would be more appropriate elsewhere.

I bought this rabbit almost 2 months ago, but wasn't able to pick-up until two days ago. The breeder (who was not the breeder of this bunny but the most recent buyer) understood this and was totally fine with it. She e-mailed me a photo at purchase and all seemed well. My father picked her up two days ago and my MIL (my partner of Happy Farm Bunnies) noticed right off the bat that something was wrong. Her left eye is solidly clouded with a glassy finish. Her right eye is fine. Her bottom was also completely dirty and matted with waste, urine, dirt and who knows what else. Ellen (my MIL) gave her a bath and that's all solved now, but the eye is extremely concerning. Diagnoses? I am thinking cataracts or blindness? Suggestions? She is quarantined right now; we would want to take her back if there's any chance this is genetic. We would never breed an animal with issues. Please help!

Left eye in question.

Left eye close up.

Right eye, normal.

 

[plasticbunny]

I'd bet on e. cuniculi in the eye.

http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=E+CUNICULI+EYE&FORM=BIFD

 

[tamsin]

EC is definitely a possibility. You really need to get a vet to examine it with a scope though, you can't tell just by looking with something like that. It could be a scar from an injury or infection, cataract etc.

 

[HappyFarmBunnies]

I e-mailed her about it to see what she could tell me, and she said that she had a buck once born with a really big head and the eye developed an infection that made it look like that. Does that sound feasible?

 

[hillrise]

It's feasible...although "really big head" probably means peanut or some sort of encephalitis, neither of which look like they are this rabbit's problem.

I would get the eye checked for cuniculi. If that's not what it has, then most likely it is a genetic blindness.

It sounds like the breeder isn't a very good breeder (or caretaker) and I would be hesitant to use any rabbits from her rabbitry in my program.

 

[naturestee]

It could be scarring from a previous infection or an injury. It's really hard to tell from pictures. A cataract from E.C. is also possible. My older rabbits that are developing cataracts from age have them equally in both eyes.

I don't like messing with eyes because they are so delicate. I'd really recommend having a vet check on that. I'm also concerned about the rabbit's messy butt. How old is this rabbit? She might not be able to reach to clean herself properly if she has arthritis. But there could be something else going on, too.

If this rabbit was sold to you as a healthy rabbit who is ready to breed, I'd be rather disappointed. Do you still have the photo of this rabbit from when you purchased her, and what side of her face did it show? Had you seen her in person before purchasing her, or only from the one picture? By any chance is the picture dated?

 

[HappyFarmBunnies]

naturestee wrote:

It could be scarring from a previous infection or an injury. It's really hard to tell from pictures. A cataract from E.C. is also possible. My older rabbits that are developing cataracts from age have them equally in both eyes.

I don't like messing with eyes because they are so delicate. I'd really recommend having a vet check on that. I'm also concerned about the rabbit's messy butt. How old is this rabbit? She might not be able to reach to clean herself properly if she has arthritis. But there could be something else going on, too.

If this rabbit was sold to you as a healthy rabbit who is ready to breed, I'd be rather disappointed. Do you still have the photo of this rabbit from when you purchased her, and what side of her face did it show? Had you seen her in person before purchasing her, or only from the one picture? By any chance is the picture dated?

I had considered scarring, but nothing was ever mentioned by this breeder. It should be noted that the young lady from whom I bought this rabbit was not the original breeder, but rather the most recent buyer who has housed her for the last 4-6 months.

The bunny is almost a year old, in November. So not nearly old enough to be suffering from arthritis already. She doesn't show any other signs of illness or problems from cuniculi or other problems.

This rabbit was indeed sold to me as a healthy rabbit specifically for breeding. She has a good head on her and has great lines. (I'm not naming names to avoid placing blame where it may not belong.) I am extremely disappointed though. This young lady may not know a lot, but as a breeder of her own lines herself she should have known better. I had bought one rabbit from her before (again, not of her own breeding) that was lovely and in tip-top shape.

The photo I was shown of this rabbit was taken from her right side...and as I live in Virginia (but my rabbitry is based in Florida...I'm a bunny commuter, long story, LOL) I wasn't able to see her in person before buying, else I never would have gone through with it.

After doing more research about cuniculi I've made sure that she is seaprated FAR away from our other rabbits. My MIL (my partner) has bleached everything she came in contact with and is tearing up the floor of the hutch as we speak and laying fresh dirt and shavings. I am freaking out...I am so angry, so disappointed, and so afraid for our other rabbits whom we adore...

 

[Ashleighh]

One of my rescues, Lilith has at only 6 months old Cataract which looks similar to your bunnies eye. It's in her left eye and is slowly taking over completely. I'm not a professional though so definitely get it checked by a vet.

Gorgeous bunny either way! <3

 

[HappyFarmBunnies]

Bump, please.

 

[plasticbunny]

Did you ever get a vet opinion?

 

[HappyFarmBunnies]

My vet is really being an idiot. He says he can't do a blood test to test for the e. cuniculi, which is nonsense. I don't know what to do.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

I don't know if its just me, but her nose looks a little runny...
?

 

[plasticbunny]

Why bump, then? I think the best advice you'll get is, see a vet.

 

[Pipp]

You can't test for EC, your vet is right. It will only prove if he's been exposed to it. But he should be able to tell if its an ulcer, which could be very painful.

If rabbits are stressed and in pain, they show it with symptoms like digestive upsets and runny noses.

You really have to get this rabbit to a vet. Very cruel not to deal with this. No home remedies in this case.

sas

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

It could be ec, also sometimes if a bunny is kept in a dirty nestbox as a baby ( or just not clean *enough* ) or if they get something in their eye while they're little, an infection like this can get started.