Eye Problems!

[MStewart87]

I woke up this morning and went to get Scooby out of the cage to let him get in the bed with me and his eyes were like bloodshot and very red in the front (if that makes any sense) the lens of the eye looked like it had some "goop" on it so I am going to assume it is an eye infection. One eye is worse than the other and there was dried stuff in the corner of his eye. He is still eating just fine and drinking water so I would assume it is an eye infection similar to what a human would get I just do not know how he would have contracted it as he is the only bunny and only animal in the house. I figured he can wait till Monday morning to go since I do not want to take him to an emergency vet that does not have much experience with rabbits. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

[Sarita]

I think you are fine until Monday too as long as he is eating and drinking. It’s possible he got something in his eye that has resulted in an infection too. Really could be a number of things too including some dental issues. I hope he’s okay and let us know what the vet says tomorrow.

[MStewart87]

I doubt it is dental issues as he was just at the vet for his yearly checkup about 2 months ago and I would like to think my rabbit savvy vet would have caught that. She did look at his teeth and said they looked pretty good. Hopefully it is nothing more than an eye infection that antibiotics will clear up. I just read all these things on the internet about life threatening illnesses with eye symptoms and I freak out. I am pretty sure that he will be ok until the morning since hes eating, drinking, pooping, and acting like himself.

[Scarlet_Rose]

As long as he is going about his usual routine, he will be just fine until morning. He may have just accumulated a lot of hay dust in his eye or even scratched it. My Daff scratched the lens of her eye before and I was given an antibiotic and anti-inflamatory. I do have to share with you though, the anti-inflamatory was a human-med that I went to the drug store to get and they were BAFFLED because I told them it was for my rabbit, so they were trying to figure out how to enter it in their system and ended up saying Daffodil Bunny. LOL Oh my it was a crack up because when they first looked at the script they said, this is from a VET??!! The other way they were going to enter it was Buggs Bunny. : )
Anyway, do you have any saline solution to irrigate the eye and rinse it out? If not a warm washcloth to wipe away the excess, and if your bunny will hold still, take a hot compress and place it over the infected eye. Most rabbits will not tolerate this so irrigating the eye to wash it out works fairly well with getting the gook out and if there is any foreign object in it.

[MStewart87]

He is eating well for sure. I have been watching him closely all afternoon and evening and he is going about his business like it does not even phase him. I have to work tomorrow so I will probably just take him there when the vet opens and then tell them to have the vet examine him when she has time during the day and then I will pick him up after work and hopefully meet with the vet at that time to discuss his stuff. That or make the boyfriend take him if he can between his classes if they have an appointment time available.

[Scarlet_Rose]

That sounds great! Is he pooing normal too? I really think that it can wait until morning, try not to stress about it and get a good nights sleep! Speaking of which, I need to head off to bed real soon. Take care and let us know how the vet exam goes!

[MStewart87]

Yes, the poo is there too. I am actually a horse person (english jumping) and I have been surprised to find out how similar horses and rabbits GI tracks are. Since the two are so very similar, I am pretty in tuned to watching for the “belly ache” symptoms of stasis and colic in horses. Ironically, I spent a whole night at my barn last week because the horse was suffering from a small colic episode. Ha what did I do to deserve two animals with health issues in one week?

[Gravehearted]

I’m sorry to hear about your horse and now your bun too. It’s true how it they all seem to get sick at once! I’m so glad to hear Scooby is eating and pooping ok, so hopefully the vet will have some good advice for you.

[BinkyBunny]

MStewart87 – Welcome! You’ve gotten some great advice. Just give us an update on your cutie pie after you’ve seen the vet.

[MStewart87]

Scooby will be going to the vet this morning around 11. His eye actually may look a bit better but I am still going to take him, wouldn’t want to take any chances with the little man. Hopefully if they give me drops or ointment it will be easier than it was giving him meds last Christmas when we thought he might have eaten a Christmas ornament at my moms house.

[MStewart87]

So Scooby just returned from the vet. He has bunny pink eye. The vet (who is wonderful by the way) checked his teeth, and ears and temp and everything was normal. She also put stain in his eyes to make sure there was no scratch or ulcer in either one. She said he could have been in a corner with dust or something or the new hay I just got from Oxbow could have had more dust or something. The hay is the only thing that has changed in the last week so for safety sake I am going to toss it. I have ointment to put in his eye three times a day for a week and she said it should improve every day.

He was such a good bunny patient. The vet said he was her best bunny patient. He just let her do whatever she needed to. Ha but now when I try to put the ointment in I bet he is going to put up a fight…naturally your child is always good for someone else!!!

[Gravehearted]

I’m so glad you got him so quickly and the vet was able to determine the problem. What a relief that it’s something treatable with ointment and that Scooby did so well at the vet.

Isn’t it amazing how well our buns behave with other people? lol I find it helpful when giving meds to put a towel on a table and then plop the bunny down. If it’s someplace that’s outside of their normal territory, my theory is it keeps them off guard enough that you can medicate them quickly before they try to scamper off. Good luck with the ointment, let us know how it goes.

[Sarita]

I’m glad he is okay and he behaved for the vet :~)

[Scarlet_Rose]

MStewart I am so glad that Scooby is doing OK and the vet was able to determine quickly what his ailment was. My oh my, I used to train horses in Western pleasure and I do recall staying up all night long nursing a horse who decided to colic when it’s owner went on vacation out of the country. Oh lordy that was tough. I think your horse and your bunny must be communicating with each other or Scooby liked all the attention your horse was getting and decided that he wanted some too! Either way I am beginning to wonder if the pink eye was something that might have been carried in from the horse barn? Heck it’s hard to say, but I am so glad the little man is OK.

[skunklionshow]

Glad to hear scooby is doing fine!  The last time I was on this site I was reading about the red/pink eye rabbits…so I’m kinda chuckling about the bunny pink eye…would that be pink pink eye in red/pink eye buns?

You can check for most zoonosis (species to species infections) on the AVMA.org website.  You can also do a search for zoonosis w/ your given pet species.  Atleast you used to be able to check that, though it may require some review of the search engine.

Pink eye AKA conjunctivitis is basically an inflamation of the eye or eyelid.  Most doctors agree that pink eye refers to a viral infection, which is why little kids are always spreading it around.  However, pink eye can also be due to bacterial infection, allergies, and chemical irritants.  TMI Sorry!

[MStewart87]

I would assume it would be due to allergies or dust or something. No chemical changes have occurred and hes the only animal…..but who knows anything is possible.

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