Runny Left Eye

[Eduardo]

Hello fellow rabbit lovers!

My 8 month-old rabbit has had a runny eye for 5 days now. It's just his left eye. The discharge seems clear but makes his fur stick.

We took him to the vet, where the vet said it was the beginnings of an infection and gave us eye drops to fight it.

The day after the first applications his eye seemed much better...but now it's worse again. We have since stopped the drops because the vet suggested not too many consecutive eye drop days due to the steroid content in them.

We are unsure what to do now.

His actual eye doesn't seem red or anything - we just notice it because of the discharge.

Thanks!

 

[Maureen Las]

Makes sure that you are using a vet that is really familiar with rabbit medicine. There is a list of (member recommended) vets right here in the Infirmary.

A rabbit saavy vet most likely would not start out prescribing a steroid drop unless there was no other option. Rabbits do not handle steroids well at all.

A runny eye in a rabbit doesn't necessarily mean that there is something wrong with his actual eye; it can be symptoms of problems elsewhere.. Sometimes it is something as simple as a blocked tear duct and /or an infection in a tear duct. When a duct is plugged the tears leak out on the inner eye. A vet can actually flush out the ducts.
Could be the beginning of a URI


Treatment may be with an eye drop and a systemic antibiotic or sometimes with only drops.

Teeth problems (especially in lops and other breeds with rounder flatter faces) often begin to show themselves through eye problems. Infected tooth roots can often cause runny eyes but often with pus.


I suggest you see another vet or ask your vet for a more thorough exam. If tooth root problems are suspected a head x-ray is usually a way to diagnose it
And on a lighter note you rabbit may have scratched his eye on a piece of hay and caused irritation.
Very important to know why the eye is runny than to just treat at random.

 

[tonyshuman]

I agree. My bunny had a similar problem and it turned out to be a clogged tear duct. They flushed the duct and gave me some take-home drops and that cleared it up, we were lucky. If your vet isn't comfortable doing a tear duct flush, I'd look for a new vet. If the duct flush doesn't help it, head x-rays may be needed to check for tooth problems as angieluv mentioned.

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

the only thing I can add to what has already been said,is..--tear ducts are internal and a few flushings can/will cause scaring which will compromise the health of the bun,,--eye drops are generally gentamyacin-an optical antibiotic solution-if all else fails a skull/facial radiograph is in order for dental problem,,--watch the eating habits--a good diet of grasses-,some pellets,some treats like dandylions,etc.--sincerely james waller :grouphugink iris::happybunny::bunnydance: caution / prey animals hide their pain,discomfort,illnesses very well.!