Head “weaving” in baby white rabbit

[meg1]

Hi all,

 

I was wondering if anyone has experience with albino rabbits? I have just acquired my 4th bun at 9 weeks old, and have noticed that she tends to sit looking slightly spaced out, swaying her head.

I have read that this is a side effect of the pink eyes they have, and the way they process light differently? The vet says it is normal and unless she displays other problems, its nothing to worry about. She is fine other than this, but as she is my latest house bunny, I was wondering if there may be problems with her sight that may effect her interactions with the other 3? Does anyone have any further info please?

Thanks!

[Sarita]

I have had some red eyed rabbits do the same thing – they call it scanning. I think it is the result of poor eyesight but I don’t think this will affect her interaction with the other buns. I’ve seen articles on this before – if I can locate the one I’ve read I will post a link to it.

[meg1]

That would be great, thanks.

[Sarita]

http://www.sandiegorabbits.org/health/eye_scanning.html

Here’s the article.

 

[Gravehearted]

thanks for sharing the article Sarita, I didn’t know much about it – so it was interesting to read more about.

[bunnytowne]

wow  I never knew that no wonder Cotton always bobs his head up n down when I am carrying him somewhere. cool now I have an explanation I always wondered what was up with that. he has blue eyes by the way. I thought perhaps he was being extremely agreeable saying yes all the time lol

[Sage Cat]

Nature is so cool!
Once I realized bunny’s don’t have the same depth perception that we do – the “bobbing” completely made scene.

[Lion_Lop_Lover]

Neat!

[meg1]

Hi,

Thanks for that useful info! I think she has quite bad eyesight as she didn’t even register her food bowl being put down this morning! I had to put it directly under her nose before she realised it ws there! Bless.

Thanks again for your help! Very interesting to know!

 

[osprey]

Another little bit of information is that true albino rabbits are very sensitive to bright light.  One of our rescue bunnies used to stagger around a crash into things and we were certain he was blind.  He is a Red Eyed White, and it turns out that he is a true albino.  The vet said that he has no pigment in his eyes to filter light, so his eyes can get overwhelmed with bright light.  I even see some of this with my three.  DJ is all black with brown eyes.  He is a scanner, when you carry him from one place to another his head is always going up and down.  Deanna is a REW dwarf with one eye.  If the sun is at an angle where it shines directly on her, she will close her eye and try to get away.  The two black bunnies are not effected in this way.

[BinkyBunny]

As long as you are sure it’s due to her being and albino and not some other illness, then like the Sarita mentioned, intensive “scanning” can happen when the bunny is in new place and is trying to become familiar with everything. I notice that with a couple of albinos at the shelter I volunteer for.  A long time ago it used to alarm me – I’d report it as an illness alert (ear infection, or e.cuniculi warning) to the manager, but now I can tell – “oh….that scanning yes?”  I still report it if no one is around to verfiy just in case, but now I have a better sense of what is “scanning” when I see it.  (a slow calm sway back and forth – and the bunny isn’t bothered or panicked – just calm if they are sitting there swaying)

Bunnies that have sight issues can be more easily startled by the others, so you may need to get her familiar with their scent.  Use a toy animal and rub the scent of the other bunnies on it and put it with her for awhile

[Author]

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