Runny Eye

[dquesnel]

Hi, I have one bun with chronic tearing of an eye- his duct is blocked due to the formation of scar tissue and cannot be unblocked. It does not discharge anything other than tears, however. Has a blocked duct been considered with Vinnie's eye?

I am inclined to think this is a tooth root issue with Vinnie- sometimes the angle of an xray won't show a problem but if you get another angle it could be evident. I also wonder if this could be a sinus issue with Vinny, based on the latest info you have posted. Is he still having some trouble chewing? Those are the three things I would think to test for first.


It sounds like you are doing a really good job- I hope you and the vet finds out what is troubling the little guy.

 

[bunnylady2]

Thanks!

You have given me some great avenues to pursue. Vinny is still not chewing as he should. He still won't eat hay and everything else takes him forever to eat.Our vet says the xrays look good. Perhaps we need more films.

No one has addressed a blocked tear duct either.



I'll will mention these things to our vet on Monday,

Thanks again

 

[Maureen Las]

I had a holland lop (RIP Jacques) who was also a rescue. I got him from Catnap when I still lived in that area. He had a runny eye (clear) when I adopted him and I immediately took him to an exotics vet. She flushed his tear duct and a white milky substance came out (pus) and also tiny chunks of pus ( probably caused the blockage). He did not have teeth issues.

he was treated with baytril orally and eyedrops (neomycin?? can't remember). it cleared up immediately but once again recurred before we moved. The doctor treated him in the same way at that time believing that this was probably a chronic issue. It did occur now and then in Wi but it reoccured more frequently if the vet did not use an oral antibiotic but only did a flush

He ate well and except for a little bit of weepy eye now and then and did really good. In other words he didn;t look sick at all.
Beau , on the other hand has no issues with his eyes but massive teeth problems.
I do not expect him to eat hay or anything that he needs to chew at this point in his life and neither do the vets. If Vinnie had molars removed he is probably unable to chew. Sometimes (as with Beau) they regrow and need to be taken out again if they are not aligned properly or growing in crazy directions. Beau has to rely on critical care mixed with pellets mixed into a gruel for his nutrition. This really makes him a special needs rabbit as Vinnie may be.

I am going to relate another story re a rabbit named Hannibal that belonged to a friend. Hannibal was a lop and was a poorly cared for rescue like Vinnie. He had issues with reddry eyes. Hannibal was seen by an opthamologist and also an exotics vet in Chicago. The roots of his teeth had grown upwards into the area around his eyes. When his molars needed to be filed down and had overgrown his eyes became extremelydry and inflamed. His roots blocked normal tears. He needed molar trims and eye salve his entire life.


A dentist once told me tht in many rabbits the roots grow up and all over in the face.

Issues with tear ducts, runny and dry eyes, overgrown teeth , inappetence etc can all be related or can be semi-related.


Continue to let us know what you learn about Vinnie. I would just prepare soft food for him at this point to keep him healthy but also offer regular food just in case .........

 

[bunnylady2]

Thanks so much..I will keep you all posted and I will keep Vinny on his Critical Care meatballs. Our vet did recommend that since he is not eating hay. He has been eating more vegies than before.

He is so much better..I hope we can get this figured out..he is such a great rabbit.

 

[slavetoabunny]

Hey Liz - I have a whole bottle of neomycin eye drops left over from Billy. Let me know if you need it - don't buy any at the vet if they prescribe it. How is your supply of critical care? Let me know when you get low. Also, if we ever need it, I have a bottle of they ear drops from when Snowball had mites.

 

[bunnylady2]

Thanks Patti.

I have 1/4 bag of critical care and Anne gave me some. This little guy just gobbles it up. I just mix up the mush into meatballs. No need to syringe feed him and that makes me happy.

 

[slavetoabunny]

I just ordered 2 lbs. of apple-banana critical care. I'll get you a bag of it.

 

[bunnylady2]

Vinny says THANK You to hisink iris: "Aunt Patti".

 

[slavetoabunny]

Apple-banana critical care is akin to sliced bread.....what did we do before we got it! The buns just suck down the stuff.

 

[dquesnel]

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow! Hope it turns out positive. I would ask for more xray angles for sure. Sometimes it is really, really hard to see those tooth roots.

 

[bunnylady2]

Our vet has conferred with another exotic specialist and he thinks we still have teeth issues. He wants our vet to take six more views and post for him to have a look. Vinny goes back in on Wednesday.

I feel like we are getting closer to an answer. Thanks for all your feedback. It sure helps!

 

[slavetoabunny]

I talked to bunnylady2 this afternoon. Vinny is going in for his new films tomorrow. We think (but are not sure) that he will have to be put under anesthesia for the films. If he is, we want to have our vet neuter him at the same time.

Any thoughts on this? Other than his runny eye and continued chewing problems, he seems healthy, but we wouldn't want to take any chances.

 

[slavetoabunny]

Totally OT - Liz, was your new avatar picture taken at my house? Love the pic!

 

[bunnylady2]

The pic was taken the day of our NJ article. I was long over due for a picture. That's my big boy..just love him.

Thanks Patti

 

[Maureen Las]

probably a neuter would not be too traumatic but after surgery you will need a lot of time with him to get him eating and drinking....possibly need to do some prolonged syringe feeding.

 

[bunnylady2]

Hi everyone,

After more xrays, our vet is not convinced it is still a dental issue and Vinny had his tear duct flushed today and....he was well enough to neuter! He is home , looking bright and alert and has already started to eat.

I sure hope the flushing takes care of his eyes. The only other issue he has is thathe is not much of a veggie or hay eater, although I offer them to him everyday,

He has come along way and am gratful for all your support.

 

[dquesnel]

Hi, that is great news to hear. I hope he recovers too. he might sneeze quite a bit a day or so after flushing. Do you have anti biotic drops to put into his eye to prevent it from blocking again? After my buns get flushed I like to do this for a few days- it seems to keep it clear and avoid anything else form forming in there.

 

[slavetoabunny]

dquesnel wrote:

Hi, that is great news to hear. I hope he recovers too. he might sneeze quite a bit a day or so after flushing. Do you have anti biotic drops to put into his eye to prevent it from blocking again? After my buns get flushed I like to do this for a few days- it seems to keep it clear and avoid anything else form forming in there.

I am bunnylady2's rescue partner. From what she has told me, he doesn't have any eye drops. I have a full bottle of neomycin drops available. Should we call the vet tomorrow and ask about medicating?

Liz has done such an amazing job with Vinny. The first time I saw him was the day after she rescued him. He was about the saddest looking bunny I've ever seen. He is so much happier and healthier today!I'm sure this precious boy has never had such a wonderful life.

 

[bunnylady2]

Thanks everyone.....

Actually, I have two bottles of anti-biotic drops left.Dr. E asked me how he did off the meds andI said I don't know because we kept him on them to try to clear things up. She suggested leaving him off a couple of days, but that was on Wednesday. We changed eye meds three times. Someone else suggested he could have gotten the blockage due to all the eye meds from the past two months as we were treating for an infection. The discharge and smell were horrible whenI rescued him.

I will call the vet tomorrow just to be sure and see what she suggests.I am anxious to see how his eyes look in the morning.

 

[bunnylady2]

Today is the first day since I rescued Vinny almost two months ago that his eye is dry!

He is eating well and our vet wants me to use CiproFloxin (eye meds)for ten days. I still had some left from last time.

I think we got it. The flush worked. We may have to repeat in three months and recheck his teeth in four weeks. I feel like we've come along way.