Rabbit about to have eye removed

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This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by Lauren.

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- 04/15/2018 at 9:51 AM
  LRose
  Participant
  13 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  I’m a new registered member but have been using this site heavily for advice and ideas since adopting Frankie back in December. Our little bunny is neutered (Jan 2018) and extremely active and social. He’s our sweet little guy and we want the best for him.
  
  Sadly, one of our cats accidentally scratched his eye. We rushed him to an emergency vet, then a ophthalmologist specialist in the area. They determined that the scratched has caused too much damaged to try and repair the cornea and lens so his eye needs to be removed. This will be happening on Tuesday (April 17th).
  
  While waiting on news, I was reading on here people who have had to go through this or adopted one-eyed rabbits. I would love to hear some recommendations on things we can do, especially during the initial period after surgery, to help him transition. He such a sweet little guy and even now is acting like himself. He’s eating, drinking, and pooping/peeing like normal.
  
  I just want to do whatever I can to help him. Right now, he has to wear a cone which he is hating–unless a treat is in there. Love any advice from those who have some experience with this.
- 04/15/2018 at 12:13 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17001 posts
  I’m sorry this has happened to your rabbit. We have had one-eyed buns here over the years. Rabbits do well with only one eye. Here’s one bunny that had to have his eye removed, but his eye problem was due to e cuniculi, a parasite he was likely infected with in his mother’s womb. He did fine with just one eye, but the parasite caused him more trouble later in his life. That’s of course completely unrelated to having had the eye removed.
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/156882/Default.aspx
- 04/15/2018 at 5:49 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Sorry to hear this about your bunny. A stressful situation, for sure, although I’ve never dealt with eye removal. I do however, have Bindi, my little elderbun who just before Christmas, had his eyes cloud over completely (within a matter of weeks). He’s adapted very well to being blind. When he comes out for run time, I make sure there are no toys or anything in his way to bump into.
  
  Bunnies (and most animals) are amazing at adapting to situations like this. I’m sure your bunny will be just fine with 1 eye.
- 04/16/2018 at 1:42 PM
  LRose
  Participant
  13 posts
  Thank you for your responses!
  
  We have been lucky to have been in contact with a well-versed vet here who works with rabbits often. He was kind enough to provide recommendations and then advice after hearing about Frankie.
  
  We used an emergency vet on Saturday, then were directed to a university teaching school to have them look at Frankie’s eye. Both places said it was severe and needed to be removed. Both also told us to put an E-Collar on our rabbit. Frankie was upset about the collar and would repeatably stand on his hind legs and fall over trying to get it off. It was concerning and we didn’t know what to do.
  
  Luckily, the prior mentioned vet heard about this and said to remove it immediately. He was also upset as the university facility brought a team there on Saturday to save his eye, but upon deciding he would lose it anyway, wanted to wait to do the procedure on Tuesday. I’m grateful for this in the end as their advice could have done an unnecessary procedure and cost us about 5K.
  
  The new prognosis is Frankie will most likely be able to keep his eye. He may have light sensitivity in the eye and maybe difficulties focusing with it. We will know for sure at his next appointment next Friday.
  
  I say all this to hopefully save others the same issues we faced. I spoke with our local rescue (Georgia House Rabbit Society) and they offered amazing advice and also were horrified Frankie was put into an E-Collar (especially since they felt he would lose his eye anyway). I was told well-meaning rabbit parents get in the same situation and get taken advantage of by facilities that are not knowledgable of rabbit biology. On top of that, our rabbits are often not treated with the same urgency and concern for their well being.
  
  Thank you all again for your responses. I hope everyone here has the same group of advocates looking our for the care of their rabbits as we have found here.
- 04/16/2018 at 3:44 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17001 posts
  Thank you for the update! Fingers crossed he’ll get to keep his eye! I’m so glad you found that rabbit-savvy vet. It’s true many rabbits don’t get the vet care they need and deserve. Rabbits are exotic animals and exotics vets are not exactly growing on trees. I was very happy when I found an exotic vets specialized in rabbits here. The difference between a normal vet and a rabbit vet can be huge when the rabbit’s health-problem requires more than emergency supportive care.
  
  Thank you again for updating us. It’s very valuable for all our members.
- 04/16/2018 at 6:05 PM
  MountainBuns
  Participant
  513 posts
  I wish you the best!
- 04/17/2018 at 4:25 AM
  Lauren
  Participant
  38 posts
  I know exactly how you are feeling as the exact same thing happened to my bunny. Sadly I lost her as she was a lot more poorly then we thought. Complications happened and a tumour was behind her eye.
  
  Before all that happened and we were treating her for a scratch and an infection she lost her sight and adapted really well. You wouldn’t have even know she only sight in one eye.
  
  Fingers crossed your bunnys eye can be saved!! Sounds like you’ve found a great vet!
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