Eye ulcer and dead cells

[HannahSnow]

We have a two and a half year old lop with no prior health issues, Petunia. We saw her ulcer two weeks ago. We immediately took her to get treated. We treated her with two different eye drops for the last two weeks. Ciprofloxacin and another for swelling. We went back Tuesday for a follow up appointment and the vet noticed the ulcer had some dead cells around it. The vet called us back today after researching for 3 days and is suggesting we get the diamond burr debridement surgery.  I have since read about it and think it could be a great option if this does prevent the ulcer from healing completely. However, it has only been two weeks since the ulcer has even appeared. She has reacted SO well to the eye drops so far. The swelling is completely gone and her eye is usually open now. We can definitely see the healing process going on. She’s eating as usual, acting as usual, and her potty looks great. Her personality is as spunky as ever. Petunia has been our first experience with rabbits so of course we are concerned. My concern is- is it too early to jump to this surgery already? I’m not 100% trusting of this vet because it is our first experience with her. I have read it may take months for eye ulcers to heal. I am fine with taking her for this surgery if she does need it, but i feel as if its too soon to spend $2500  help! 

Hannah

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sorry, I’m not knowledgeable in this area but I’m “”bumping” your thread to hopefully get some replies for you.

[Bunny House]

I haven’t personally dealt with this but I would say, since the meds have shown they work, continue them for another month or so. and even add or take away other eye drops to see if it helps. My lop has had chronic ear infections for forever. We finally found a treatment, to pack her ears with some med for the past 2 months, along with pen-g shots and her ears are almost normal. it can take months for treatment to fully work. All her vets said we could take her to surgery and remove her ear canal for $2k but id rather go a different route and save money. She will need daily ear flushes but its better than spending that much money on something that might not even help.

[jerseygirl]

Im not familiar with that surgery at all. I can certainly understand your hesitation, given she is showing such improvement also. Do you think the vet was just letting you know that is an option? Or did they make a case for having it done? Are the dead cells a risk of further damage?

The eye is fast with replacing cells. I would hope it would be able to remove the dead cell debris and replace with new cells…

You are right in saying eye ulcers can take some time to completely heal. BB had this issue with one of her rabbit Vivian, The ulcer would shrink but never completely heal. In the end, they used an animal contact lens which helped keep the eye lubricated and that along with the drops was what helped it fully heal.

I’ve read that eyedrops with N-Acetylcysteine can be quite beneficial for eye ulcers. Acetylcysteine is known as a mucolytic (your vet may know it as Parvolex) but used in the eye, it has good staying power and this agent is an antioxidant. I believe there are eye drop solutions that contain it, along with other lubricating ingredients.

ETA: I just found this recent study using Chitosan N-acetylcysteine (C-NAC) on corneal ulcers in rabbits. It’s somewhat lengthy but my main takeway from the Discussion was: “The data of the present study indicate that corneal wound healing in a rabbit model of epithelial damage was significantly improved when C-NAC containing eye drops were applied compared to the placebo treatment.” 

[BinkyBunny]

I know this is quite late – I messaged you directly as well today.  Your bunny may be healed by now but this is for anyone else who may come across this info. 

My previous bunny, Viv, also had debridement and it wasn’t nearly that expensive.  $2,000 for debridement seems outrageous. 

It’s a fairly non-invasive treatment.  I wouldn’t even consider it a surgery – more like a procedure.  The eye is numbed and then then scraped in the affected area . There is no discomfort at the time of the scraping.   The whole thing was $353. (this was 5 years ago, so it may have gone up, but not to $2000. And this is in California where everything is more expensive.   

The most expensive part was just the exam $125 because this was a specialist – Vet Ophthalmologist.  

Attached are some pics of the statements that may be helpful. 

One thing I do remember was less ended up being more.  Less frequent with the eye hydrating meds.   Ironically dryness prevents healing but putting in the meds caused her to rub her eye to get off the excess and that’s what seemed to prevent healing. 

Note: Viv also had glaucoma – so the some of the meds given were for that ongoing treatment so the bill may have been even cheaper. 

I wasn’t charged for Metacam because she had gotten that the week before and so I still had it.

Also note:  It says Anesthesia — but it wasn’t the kind you normally think of – to go unconscious, it was just a numbing drops that were put in the eye like an eye drop. 

 

[jerseygirl]

Posted By BB on 10/26/2018 8:09 PM

…

One thing I do remember was less ended up being more.  Less frequent with the eye hydrating meds.   Ironically dryness prevents healing but putting in the meds caused her to rub her eye to get off the excess and that’s what seemed to prevent healing. 

… 

Ohhh!!!  My memory is faulty on it then!  I’m really glad you posted your experience here.

[BinkyBunny]

JG-  The contact was a huge help.  It almost got it to the point of fully healed but then she learned how to knock it out of her eye with her 3rd lid.      It was one stubborn ulcer. 

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