Cherry eye, concerned sign of something worse

[Eloise&Chey]

Some background, I have a 5 year old netherland dwarf/ polish named Eloise, but I call her Weezy. I rescued her at 1 year old. The shelter housed the buns outside in a barn, which I have always suspected gave her a bit of the sniffles. I named her Weezy because she makes a wheezing, squeaking sound when breathing heavier.

I had her taken to the vet early on and they found nothing wrong other than slight excess discharge in one eye. Used some eye drops, took care of it. Over the years I came to learn she has seasonal allergies, they come in summer and leave by fall. Well, this year, one eye was weepy after the allergies subsided, and the third eyelid was popping out occasionally . So I took her to the vet. Vet is able to push the bulge back in easily, and she shows no pain though they never do. Tried some eye drops in case of infection, and it hasn’t helped. I am going in tomorrow and have requested an Xray of the abdomin. I read that the third eyelid popping can be a symptom of thymoma or lymphoma. I originally had hoped it was just a cherry eye, caused possibly by the stress, and an escape/fight, between her and our newest bun boy Davie. However, when at the vet for the initial checkup she mentioned thinking she felt a slight abnormality on her belly near the rib cage.

So now I am doing the worst, which is over-googling and panicking that she has cancer. She is only five, I know they dont live long but I was counting on a couple more years. She has same energy as ever, she eats and poops normally, no change except the protrusion of the third eyelid.

Please if anyone has has similar issues with their bun, or has any feedback or advice I could really use it. Trying to stay calm until the appointment. Thank you in advance.

[Bam]

Well, I can certainly understand how your head must be racing with thoughts – but as you know, what you think now wont make any difference for the outcome. You will have to wait for the x-ray results. If it is a thymoma, it can sometimes be treated, esp in a comparatively young rabbit. Here’s a thread from 2015 about successful radiation therapy for a 10-year old bun that had a thymoma: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/143504/Default.aspx

Try to spoil and pamper both yourself and your little girl until you go in tomorrow. Maybe you could watch a nice film together and have a cuddle session?

[Eloise&Chey]

@bam Thank you for sharing that previius post, I haden’t found that in my searching, and it did ease my heavy heart a bit. A cuddle session is a great idea, and maybe a little extra banana tonight! I so appreciate you taking time to read and respond to my post.

[jerseygirl]

Was the bit of discharge from the same eye that now has the cherry eye?

Since she is weezy, it’s possible it’s some congestion causing back up of pressure in the area. Or something else not allowing veins to “empty” efficiently.
If she is to be sedated for chest/abdominal x-ray, it could be worth doing head x-ray at the same time.

There can be lots of reasons for cherry eye, many less sinister. If thymoma, radiation therapy is an option, as Bam mentioned.

[DanaNM]

I understand being worried, but no more googling for now!

I just wanted to say that my Bun Jovi had/has cherry eye, and it wasn’t due to a sinister cause. He had the surgery to tack it back in place when he was around 5, so try not to panic just yet! He’s now about 9 and is going strong.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LBJ10]

Third eyelid problems aren’t unusual in dwarf breed rabbits. It probably has something to do with the whole everything being squished situation. However, a protruding third eyelid is not necessarily a result of cherry eye. True cherry eye would be the gland that has prolapsed… in which case, a vet can sometimes pop back into place.

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