RIP Rosie's losing her eye.(Closed RB)

[BEAUKEZRA]

I noticed that Rosie wasn't acting quite right the last couple of days and today she didn't seem too interested in her treat so I picked her up and started feeling around her belly. That's when I noticed her eye bulging out of the socket! I called the vet immediately and brought her right in. He went over the options and we decided to have her eye removed. It's out of the socket and she can't see out of it and he can't save her vision in that eye. He gave her a pain injection and gave me some ointment and saline solution. He said it was dry so it didn't just happen. I clipped her nails yesterday morning and I know her eye didn't look like that! I didn't spend a lot of time with them last night when I got home from work but how could I have missed it. I feel horrible and every time I think about her surgery I feel sick. I don't know how this happen. Maybe she tried to jump on her shelf but missed. I don't know. I'm at work and I've been crying all day. Please say a prayer for Rosie!

 

[ra7751]

Hi,

I would urge you to reconsider your decision. I really feel you are making a decision based on emotion right now. That surgery is called an enucleation. It is a major operation. Exactly why did the vet seem to think this is necessary? We have had major infections in the jaw/skull areaand have also treated "bulging eye"...technically known as Exophthalmos. It can be caused by numerous things.....most likely some type of infection or tumor behind the globe. I would at least consider some rads to see what is going on inside the skull. It is very possible that it could be a treatable condition that would not require surgery. In the instances we have seen this condition, the problem has not been the globe but an edema (swelling) of the tissue lining the eye socket. In one case, it was an abscess.

While the globe may need to be removed if it is damaged, I would explore other treatment protocols...including seeking the professional opinion of a veterinary opthalmologist prior to proceeding with this radical procedure. This is a tough decision....don't make it on emotions...get facts before you move ahead with surgery. I don't envy your position but I do understand your dilemma.

Randy

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

The vet seemed to believe the eye was damaged and would definitely need to come out. She also appeared to be in pain which is causing her not to eat as much so I certainly don't want to wait too long before I do anything. If they go in and find a tumor or infection then what happens? I'm terrified of doing the wrong thing but maybe I just need to trust the vet that he knows what he's doing. I feel even more sick now.

 

[BSAR]

rayrayers and thoughts for Rosie. I hope she comes out of the surgery ok. Im so sorry about her eye.

 

[dootsmom]

I totally agree with Randy. There can be many reasons why this happened and I would check every option before jumping into surgery.

Here'e another reason:

Everytime I clip Gracie's nails, the next day the same thing happens. Needless to say I, too, nearly had a heart attack the first time I saw it!! Seems Gracie gets a little hypertensive and her stress level reaches the sky when I do this....or handle her in any way.....and it causes her eye to bulge out to the point where it appears to be out of it's socket. It takes a few days for it to go back to normal. Needless to say, her nails are a little longer than the rest of the rabbits!!

She's fine with having her cage vacuumed out everyday and doesn't mind having her litter box changed. She doesn't even object to being petted & rubbed......just seems to freak out when she is picked up. She was surrendered.......I never get the truth as to what their true living experience was.

Charlotte

 

[Pipp]

The vet should be able to tell the difference between a tunor or abscess and an actual eye injury, but to be safe,I would think an x-ray or pressure test would be in order to make sure they know what they're dealing with. (Did they do this?)

Even Randy said if the globe is damaged, it will have to be removed. But if the cause of the bulging eye is an abscess or an eye disease, another treatment may be best.

You may want to ask your vet to do a phone consult with an eye specifalist.

Meanwhile, there is great info in our Library filles:

Eye Problems



sas ray:

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Thank you for all the replies and although he didn't do an x-ray he did exam her and said it was definitely out of the socket and damaged. She doesn't like to be handled much but I always pick her up and nothing like this has ever happened before. I'm pretty sure that this eye is not going back to normal on it's own. I scheduled it for Monday morning because I didn't want her to be in pain any longer than she has to be. I don't have a lot of money and I'm already borrowing from my co-worker to have the surgery done. I hope I'm making the right decision. I'll ask the vet on Monday if this really is the best course of action.

 

[Pipp]

I think the concern is WHY is it out of the socket and whyis it damaged. Trauma is much more rare than various eye ailments that mimic trauma.

Did you notice if he looked 'up' when examining her eye as opposed to straight ahead? Here's a quote from the first article linked in the Library:

Another species variation of the rabbit is the location of the optic disc. It is superior to the visual. To visualize the optic disc, your veterinarian must look up, rather than straight back into the eye with instruments.

It also says:

6. An extensive orbital venous plexus. This means behind the eye there is a mass of veins; important to note when contemplating removing the eye (enucleation).

I really would just make sure the vet is rabbit-savvy and knows all the options. I'd ask how many similar operations he has done ON RABBITS.

You can also print out (or fax) the Susan Keil article.Rather than make it look like you're trying to educate him, you can ask him to explain it to you. Ask him which sectionapplies to Rosie.

I do hope the vet gave you pain meds to take home for her, the injections only last the day.

Poor Rosie. And poor you!



sas ray:

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Also you can actually touch her eyeball without any reaction from her at all. She can't see out of it and she can't seem to feel the eyeball itself. I have to keep rinsing it with saline and putting antibiotic ointment on it. The vet did do some tests on both her eyes and put some green drops in and then flushed them. I don't know if he looked up or not . I was so nervous and all I wanted to know was whether or not she'll be ok so I didn't question what he was doing. He does work on rabbits all the time but I don't know if he's actually removed a rabbit's eye or not. She looks so miserable and I just want her better. I'mterrified about the surgery but I didn't leave the office questioning the decision because it seemed like the best answer. I think I may throw up if I ever stop crying!

 

[pla725]

I would get a second opinion from a specialist.

VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

http://www.acvo.com/

 

[Pipp]

BEAUKEZRA wrote:

Also you can actually touch her eyeball without any reaction from her at all. She can't see out of it and she can't seem to feel the eyeball itself. I have to keep rinsing it with saline and putting antibiotic ointment on it. The vet did do some tests on both her eyes and put some green drops in and then flushed them. I don't know if he looked up or not . I was so nervous and all I wanted to know was whether or not she'll be ok so I didn't question what he was doing. He does work on rabbits all the time but I don't know if he's actually removed a rabbit's eye or not. She looks so miserable and I just want her better. I'mterrified about the surgery but I didn't leave the office questioning the decision because it seemed like the best answer. I think I may throw up if I ever stop crying!

First off, remember that Rosie can feel your stress, so it's important to just relax. Stressing out won't do anything. Have a nice cup of tea. Pet Rosie.

The vet sounds like he knows rabbits, so that's good. Just make the decision carefully with as much research (and as little emotion) as possible. Chances are she'll be fine whatever the treatment, this is just to try and make the treatment and recoveryas easy on her as possible.

I'd still get a definitive diagnosis and go over the options with him just so you'll feel confident with your decision.

Enjoy your tea!



sas et:

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Luckily for Rosie I'm at work right now so she doesn't have to witness my meltdown and trying to pet her would stress her out even more. She doesn't care for any shows of affection. She's a cranky pants. I do have faith in my vet but maybe I should see a specialist but I don't want to spend the money I'm borrowing on an office visit and then need the surgery anyway. Also she's scheduled for Monday morning at 8:30 so I would have to cancel at the last minute. I was confident in the decision but now I'm really torn and I don't know what to do. Her eye looks really bad so my heart tells me to have the surgery. She'll still be beautiful even with 1 eye. I'm crying again.

 

[pamnock]

ra7751 wrote:

While the globe may need to be removed if it is damaged, I would explore other treatment protocols...including seeking the professional opinion of a veterinary opthalmologist prior to proceeding with this radical procedure. This is a tough decision....don't make it on emotions...get facts before you move ahead with surgery. I don't envy your position but I do understand your dilemma.

Randy

I agree with Randy. Explore all possible options before making a radical decision.

If you find that surgery is the option agreed on by all the professionals, then you'll know it's the best thing to do.

We are all praying for you and your bunn's strength during this very difficult time.

Pam

 

[ilovetoeatchocolate]

so sorry to hear about your bunny being sick! I will send all the healing thoughts and prayers that I can for her. I know it is hard when your rabbit is sick and you don't quite know what to do. There are so many illnesses that can happen to rabbits it can be overwhelming at times. They should make a book.

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

My husband just called me.....

Husband- "You know what I was just thinking"

Me- "what?"

Husband- "remember the other day when I walked in the "kids" room and I startled Rosie and she banged her face on the shelf when she tried to jump."

Me- "um I remember you telling me that you scared Rosie and you were laughing at her then I yelled at you and you said oh she's fine!"

She banged her face??!!! Why would it take more than a day for her eye to pop out though or am I so blind that I didn't notice it for a couple days. I hate myself right now.

The vet definitely said it was popped out of the socket.

 

[Pipp]

All any of us can do when treating our rabbits is go with our best guesses with the resources available to us.

If you trust your vet, take Rosie in and drop her off as scheduled -- stick with the plan.

If you're a little unsure, drop her off but ask him to do a phone consult witha specialist prior to the surgery.

If you're unsure and you have the resources, ie: the finances and a specialist close by, cancel the appointment and call the specialist.

Whatever you decide is going to be the best option for YOU. We don't know your Vet,Rosie's injury (eye issues arehard enough to diagnose in Vet's office) or what other options you have logistically.

It's extremely difficult trying to make the right decision, and most of the time, most of us will neverknow whether it's the right decision or not until it's done. We just hope for the best andtry not to second guess the decision or beat ourselves up over it.

That's honestly all we can do. Health care is almost always agamble, all wecan do is work on the odds.

I wouldreally appreciate seeing some photos for educational purposes in our Library, though. Is that possible? I've never seen that in a rabbit and many others I know will appreciate knowing what to look for.

Your experience with Rosie is going to help others through this thread, regardless.

Thanks and good luck to both of you. :goodluck



sas ray:

 

[werecatrising]

I was in a similar situation with a cat a couple of years ago. I found a kitten with a ruptured eye. Our first plan was to try and save the eye, even though it would never be visual. I had to medicate several times a day. The only way to do this was to bring him to work with me. He got to where he hated the eye meds. I finally decided that it wasn't worth putting him through all of that to save an eye that he'd never see out of anyway.

Only you know how Rosie is feeling and how she will cope with treatment.

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Thank you for that. I could use all the reassurances I can get. I am going to talk to the vet again before I let the surgery happen. I also don't want her going thru a lifetime of vet visits, injections etc because I didn't have the surgery to begin with. She gets stressed very easily and constant handling and vet visits will not be good for her. I will talk to him again and go from there. Thank you everyone and I'll keep you updated.

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Pipp wrote:

All any of us can do when treating our rabbits is go with our best guesses with the resources available to us.

If you trust your vet, take Rosie in and drop her off as scheduled -- stick with the plan.

If you're a little unsure, drop her off but ask him to do a phone consult witha specialist prior to the surgery.

If you're unsure and you have the resources, ie: the finances and a specialist close by, cancel the appointment and call the specialist.

Whatever you decide is going to be the best option for YOU. We don't know your Vet,Rosie's injury (eye issues arehard enough to diagnose in Vet's office) or what other options you have logistically.

It's extremely difficult trying to make the right decision, and most of the time, most of us will neverknow whether it's the right decision or not until it's done. We just hope for the best andtry not to second guess the decision or beat ourselves up over it.

That's honestly all we can do. Health care is almost always agamble, all wecan do is work on the odds.

I wouldreally appreciate seeing some photos for educational purposes in our Library, though. Is that possible? I've never seen that in a rabbit and many others I know will appreciate knowing what to look for.

Your experience with Rosie is going to help others through this thread, regardless.

Thanks and good luck to both of you. :goodluck



sas ray:

Thank you. I'll try to get a picture up sometime tomorrow.

 

[pumpkinandwhiskersmom]

I'm so sorry about your Rosie. How's she doing today? I'll sure keep her and you in my thoughts and prayers!ray: