I don’t know what that is. My first thought is an ulcer due to a scratch or other injury. (though ulcers can start for other reasons too) However, like you I am more used to hearing and reading about the “white dot”. When it comes to eyes, I am not a huge help, so I will notify the other leaders who may have some other suggest-ons. Regardless though I’d would have a vet check it out.

Does it seem to be irritating to him?

I haven’t seen that before. Is it discoloration or a growth? I definitely would call the vet, or email the picture you took to ask if he needs to be seen by her.

I don’t know about eyes, but fur changes color, potentially with each shed, as they get older. So it may be natural.

I’m more concerned about your anticipated vet’s response. Where are you again, Karla? No chance of finding another vet? Look in the yellow pages under “exotics” vets.

I have no idea what that could be – please let us know what the vet says.

I also don’t know. Keep us posted. Does he seem to have reduced vision or anything?

In dogs these sort ot spots can be due to an injury such as a bite or an ulcer. I hope your vet will know. Keep us posted! Vibes for Freddie that it isn’t serious.

I forwarded your higher res photos to my sister, she and her husband are/and teach optometry at U of H in Houston and Judy is always interested in opthomalogy too, problems, diseases, etc. She’s guessing also that it’s an ulceration or abrasion and if it is the vet will probably prescribe a topical antibiotic for it, but it didn’t really look like a cataract from the photos. I don’t think you need to be afraid that the vet will want to put him down or anything so I’d certainly take him in.

I know how you feel though, I’m afraid of what I might hear when I take mine in for anything at all no matter how minor.

Edited to add: She did ask if you’ve noticed any green or yellow discharge

I’m sorry to see dense here but with the latest photo, are we looking at that white glob toward the right of her–looks like it’s more inside, or is that a reflection? Or is some other little doodad more to the left of that? Maybe you could circle it? Either way, I still think consulting with your vet is best, I am just wanting to know what I am looking at for sure.

Eye problems are so hard to diagnosis from a photo- usually a vet might rung a couple different tests to see what is going on- looking deep into the eye with a light/magnification, staining the eye, measuring eye pressure, measuring tear production. etc.

I would get it checked out- it might just turn out to be something simple that is nonpainful and requires no treatment- but better safe than sorry.  Sending some “hope everything is OK” vibes for Freddie!!!

Ditto.

Keep an open mind with you’re vet as they prob can identify injury or ulcerations fairly readily. There are some changes that are due to infections common to rabbits but it would be good to look into possible injury causes now.

Has it grown in size? It appears the pupil is irregular too or is that just the picture fooling me?

(((vibees!)))

Let us know what you find out, it’s hard to guess from photos, my sister is interested in what an actual exam will show. We should have a spot for weird situations, like this and my Hershey’s Horner problem.

I have known people with irregular pupils. Her pupil wqas actually tear drop shaped and went downwards into the egde of her iris, Freddies almost looks arrow shaped. I did notice it in the photo but I am interested in what your vet will say. They should be able to determine whether it is in his cornea or not.

The iris is a muscle, so if it was injured and didn’t heal right (or maybe was in the process of healing), it might turn a different color and/or mess up the edge of the pupil, which is just a hole in the iris. Maybe that’s what he meant?

If you’re still concerned, there are veterinary ophthalmologists out there too, though they might be far from where you’re located (usually at university centers, but they’ve been migrating out to other specialty centers as well). They usually treat multiple species, and would have more experience with specific eye issues than a regular vet. If Freddie’s eye is really an offbeat issue they might have more answers for you.

Hope whatever it is heals up soon!!!!

You could try sending a link to this post to Dr. Dana Krempel, who answers questions online. Let me go find her link.

en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/indexExp_35789.htm

here ’tis. She has communicated with members here. I would suggest emailing her and asking her to take a look at your post and the photos. I suspect that she may be more experienced than your vet, but you might not need to see a specialist just yet. That would be very expensive and while the sight is still fine, not necessary at this stage. Definitely watch for changes for the worse. But if it’s healing, it just might get better or stay the same.

The first link is when she was first diagnosed for the Horners

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

This second is when she had recovered a little bit from the Horners but then developed headtilt which claimed her life a few days later.

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…spx#156199

Our vet said she rarely saw such a clear cut case of Horner’s so she involved all her staff with Hershey’s visits so they could learn to recgonise and treat it when they saw it again. At least a little bit of good came from it.

The technical term for a weak, out-of-work muscle is atrophy, is that what he said?

It is more expensive to go to a specialist, but depending on what you’re willing to pursue, it can sometimes wind up being cheaper than pursuing more diagnostics at your regular vet (i.e. sometimes 1 visit to a specialist can tell you more than 3 visits to the regular vet). I would ask the vet you saw if he thinks more diagnostics would be worth it at this point, or if he thinks the spot will just heal on its own (or at least not get worse). If it’s totally benign and isn’t going to cause trouble then you might as well save money On the other hand, if the spot gets worse or you’re just intensely curious, the ophtho is going to have the most direct answer as to what caused it.

On specialists… I ended up seeing a veterinary behaviorist for my litter-box-issue cat after exhausting all other options (the shelter behaviorist, the regular vet, every book and article on cats and litter boxes, EVERYTHING)… she came to my house and within, I kid you not, 15 minutes had figured out the fairly uncommon, random issue my cat had- rodent sensitivity. She eliminates wherever she smells rodents, and I had a pet gerbil at the time (and later had an uninvited mouse in the apartment)- once we addressed that issue, we never had another problem. That behaviorist was worth her weight in gold. I know yours is a totally different issue, but just wanted to share that sometimes specialized knowledge is EXTREMELY useful!!!

Posted By Karla on 07/26/2010 06:59 AM

en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/indexExp_35789.htm

By the way, I was shocked to see that they have another “expert” there who strongly advocates that rabbits are solitary animals and should never be around other rabbits  Can’t believe he is allowed on that board.

Some of the experts there are breeders or show judges etc. and not all have rabbits’ happiness in the forefront of their minds. Dana is the best ~

I know this isn’t of much help, but I’ve seen something very similar in a horse before, weird light spot in the iris. Not my horse, don’t know what caused it, but to my knowledge the horse’s vision was fine and it was just a permanent “thing”. I would def consult the experts via email but if your vet said there’s no problems and to just keep an eye on it, that’s what I’d do. 2 hours each way is a pretty long trip!

Karla,
You have had her examined by an eye specialist, been diagnosed with either of 2 possibilities, and given medication to treat it. I would NOT start a different medication based on an article. Who gave you that one? It wasn’t listed in this post I don’t think.

There is a danger, here included, of diagnosing online and indirectly. So at your expense you did the smart thing which was contact a specialist, get confidence that it was necessary to make an appointment, get a direct examination and get treatment. That was ultimately a wise choice. Emailing the vet with a question based on an article is fine, but please don’t freak out. You have two vets on the case so far so I would say you are in good hands. I’m hoping it’s not the tumor.
{{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}

Please keep us updated. It wouldn’t hurt to share the article with the vet either.

I don’t have much experience with specific not commonly seen eye problems- as my vet refers them to a board certified ophthamalogist about 45 minutes away. But is there actual swelling or just the discoloration- abnormal pupil in the eye? Because if there is no swelling- I would find that to be a very good sign- there can be many eye conditions or injuries that cause scarring or spots- and if the pet is not in pain- then it really is not a big deal if that is the only side effect. Spots, scarring, vision impairment/loss in an eye is really not as traumatic for a pet as it is for a human- they do not need to read/drive/etc in order to function on a daily basis.
Please keep us updated.

My dog when she was a puppy had a weird thing happen with her eye- where her pupil dialated in one eye and not the other- and after a time of rest and not high activity. She is a blue eyed Aussie- so that is probably what made the problem actually noticeable to me. But the ophthalmogist looked at the eye and said it was just a muscle thing and she should grow out of it- and after puppyhood I never noticed it again. Aussies and other herding breeds are notorious for congenital eye conditions- so I was freaked at first (even though her parents were certified normal).
 

EDIT: I found a pic of when her eyes were weird….. the red is from the flash- and it did not appear that way in person.  Since this was 4 years ago- I do not remember for sure if it was a case of abnormal dialation in the right eye or abnormal constritcion in the left eye.

I am not trying to confuse the issue with Freddie’s eye- but from my experience with my dog it seems that atrophy of the muscles or another structural eye abnormality would not necessarily be a bad diagnosis.  Not ideal as perfect eyes- but manageable and should be pain free I would think.

Well, correct diagnosis is half the cure. Do the 10 days and give her an update to see if more is needed.
{{{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Ponazuril is a newer drug that some vets have used in treating E.Cuniculi. Sometimes using this along with fenbendazole. It’s actually a horse med (other name “Marquis”) that is used for treating a protozoan infection simliar to E.C. They’ve also found it has been super in treating coccidia in rabbits (also a protozoan infection). Part of the success is it can pass the blood brain barrier where as the other anti-parasitic meds don’t do this.

It has been used off-label for rabbits and reports are anecdotal so vets might be reluctant to use it because of this. But many of the meds used now for rabbits were for another species and were used off label…   It’s also expensive as it comes in dosages for horses so alot more than needed for a little rabbit!  If the vet is open, I suggest talking to her about this med and suggest she contacts Dr Krempels who has experience with it and is an advocate.

I’m wondering, will this vet test for any other infections that may have caused the uveitis?

Oh goodness Karla! Well, at least you have some help with Dana. Let us know what your vet says.

It’s promising though that some lines of communication between vets could open. This would be good in helping getting a more certain diagnosis and dosage requirments if you go ahead in treating for EC.

Interesting that Baycox is supposed to be more accessible. Weird because has same active ingredient as Ponazuril(Marquis) and they both made by some company. I guess it’s who they’re marketing too? 

Edit: On medirabbit.com there is another drug been used. I hope I’m not making things more complicated, but if you & vet have difficulty in getting the others, then this one may be an option. Pyrimethamine http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/cun…hamine.htm

EC treatments seem to be evolving.

Most rabbits are infected when really young. I think I read it’s even possible for infection while in the womb…(???) Chances are our rabbits have been exposed to EC or infected at some point when younger. Even if infected, can show no ill effects of having had it or even show symptoms of a current infection.
I can’t recall for sure but I think Binky Bunnys rabbit Bailey had EC. I think Rucy tested positive but had no symptoms and Jack tested negative. Not entirely sure.

My knowledge of EC is very patchy and it is pretty mysterious to me. Difficult to get a handle on how it effects rabbits.

Posted By jerseygirl on 08/05/2010 01:15 AM

I can’t recall for sure but I think Binky Bunnys rabbit Bailey had EC. I think Rucy tested positive but had no symptoms and Jack tested negative. Not entirely sure.

Yes, that’s exactly right. Rucy tested postive (and she WAS negative when I got her as she was tested for it at the shelter).  Bailey was positive though I didn’t know it at the time I was housing Rucy and Bailey together. (when they got along) at one point.  Bailey must have been shedding spores via her urine while Rucy was housed with her because Rucy did test postive. However, Rucy never showed signs of it and she lived with Jack for rest of her life— five or so more years.  Jack was tested for e.c. last  year and came back negative.

I used Ponazuril with Bailey and that did help.  (Her symptoms were hind leg weakness).  We used it for longer than 10 days though!  I do know that with Ponazuril,  long term use, over 3 months I think, can cause a low appetite–  That did happen to Bailey, so we did off and on thing.  

I’m sorry to hear about your bunny having to deal with this. I have heard of these eye issues as a symptom of E.C. and I am sorry.    I wonder why your boyfriend doubts?  Either way,  I know this is not easy.  Big HUGS to you.

I am so impressed by Dana, and happy to hear that she really was reaching out to help in the way she did.

Keep us updated. 

Oh, wow, get better Freddie!
~definitely suspend all bonding until this is all resolved and figured out.

That was a nice response from Dana Krempel. It sounds like your vet is doing the best available treatment for all of your bunnies. I have high hopes for all three of them now.

hang in there. {{{{{{hugs and fresh healing vibes}}}}}}}}

My understanding is that if cataracts have formed (rapidly, as in case of EC) that the damage is permanent.  Does anyone have any information about possibly reversing the progression of cataracts from this cause?

Thanks,

Chris

Hello Chris,

Do you have a rabbit with cataracts or that has tested for EC ? Cataracts are typically removed and eye topically treated with an anti-immflamatory. Along with antiparasitic if it’s induced by E.C.

The only thing I have found is there has been some clinical test done on dogs and rabbits using N-acetylcarnosine (NAC anti-cataract eye drops / Carnosine ) that reported some reversal. I’ve quoted the relevant part below. The source: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pharmacy-1407/N-acetyl-carnosine-effect.htm is a very lengthy(!) citation of some research reports relating to use of this drug.

According to Dr. Babizhayev one of the leading NAC researchers “The NAC anti-cataract eye drops have been carefully tested in animals. We have processed the treatment of age-related cataracts in canines and experimental models of cataract in rabbits. The most striking results have been obtained using a 1% NAC instillation in canines with age-related cataracts. We have determined the efficacy of cataract treatment, and we have revealed a new phenomenon of melting snow upon the instillation of NAC, for the chronic treatment of cataract within only 1-month. The cortical appearance of cataract reversal starts from the periphery and then the lens becomes more transparent. This is then accompanied by the improved visual behavior of the animal. Rigorous computerized image analysis have been supplied to support the evidence of the cataract treatment in rabbits. The striking results of reversing cataract and the prevention of the lens opacities are clear…” Medical application of carnosine.
A. M. Wang, C. Ma, Z. H. Xie, and F. Shen
Department of Biochemistry and Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, PR China; E-mail: Wangam@ems.hrbmu.edu.cn