Eye Irritation

[LopLover]

Igloo is having an issue! On Saturday night I noticed his eyes were a bit red and a bit watery. Unfortunately, my vet is closed Sundays and Mondays, so I had to wait until today to try and get an appointment, and they don’t have anything until Thursday. They’re the only rabbit savy vet in my area, and I think it’s best to wait for them rather than take him to someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. 

Anyway, I’ve been applying hot compresses to his eyes twice a day since I noticed the problem, and his right eye is completely back to normal. However, his left eye is still just a little red, and occasionally he gets a little discharge. This morning I gave him a hot compress to clean his fur and soothe his eye, and then flushed his eye with some cool, bottled water and a clean syringe. He promptly did a binky, ran around my room, and then started cleaning his face, haha. He’s still very active, happy, eating well, drinking well and his bathroom habits have not changed. 

My question is, do any of you have any idea what could be causing his eye problem? He’s very patient and gentle, so I’ve felt his jaw and face all over and everything is normal, his teeth look proper as well. I’m also wondering if any of you have some at-home care tips to assist the problem over the next day until I can get him into the vet?

[JackRabbit]

It could be anything from a piece of hay or fur in his eye to a corneal abrasion to tooth issues. Best to let the vet diagnose.

Instead of bottled water, you could use otc eyewash sterile for humans — just make sure its eyewash.

[Bam]

I use single-use saline eye wash for humans for bunny eye-problems. But if it persists, a vet visit will of course be necessary. I hope it’s just a piece of hay etc.

[LopLover]

Bam, I took your suggestion and gave him an eye wash this morning – we have them around because I’m accident prone, haha. Anyway, this evening his eye is soooooo much improved. All the redness is gone, the tearing has stopped completely. The only thing left is a small bald patch in the corner of his eye from where he rubbed at it. I’m assuming the fur will grow back in time? I think he’s cured! Thanks guys!

[Bam]

So glad to hear it! The fur will grow back, but it may take time since they don’t have continous hair-growth like humans (bunny hair grows after a shed, not in between, so to speak).

[Author]

Messages