Health Problems

[Serenity]

Hello guys!

My 1 year old mixed rescue, Fred, has been healthy for the whole time that I’ve had him but I was playing with him in the backyard today and I noticed he kept rubbing his eye and when I looked it over it was going pink and wouldn’t open as widely as the other one. I’m pretty sure it’s the beginnings of an eye infection because it’s also more watery than the other and seems to be more itchy to him. I’m sure it’s not because he was outside, I let them all run outside every day in the mornings because it’s not too hot and he’s never had any problems before. He’s not sneezing, he has no other symptoms that I’ve noticed. He’s eating regularly, pooping, drinking water and running and playing.

It’s Memorial Day so the vet’s not open and even if it was my Mom is not up for taking him unless it becomes critical because we’re not exactly in the financial position to pay. Not only that but he’s never been before and I don’t really have a designated “vet” so I can’t call and ask. It’s a very frustrating position. I’d really like to know if there’s a home remedy I can concoct or fix up to help him? I haven’t done anything yet because I don’t want to make it worse. 

[Bam]

Try rinsing it with saline eyewash for humans. That’s a good first step. A lukewarm compress with camomile tea can sometimes help, but try the rinsing first.

[Serenity]

Yay! Thank you so much, I’ll definitely try that and get back to you. I really hope this works, I’m very concerned. 

[Bam]

Yes, please report back!

If you wipe the runny eye, take good care not to touch the healthy eye with anything that’s been in contact with the inflamed eye. Wash your hands before and after etc. If it is bacteria or virus you don’t want to transfer it to the other eye.

[Serenity]

Yes, thank you. I rinsed his eye with my Saline water like you said and something pink came out? It wasn’t fluid, it was definitely solid and it looked almost like a piece of skin!? Tiny, probably rubbery but I didn’t really examine it much. It might have been a problem or a result of the infection. I’ve been watching him for a while and should I quarantine him from the rest? I really hate to take him away especially after Hermione only got here a week ago, but I feel like it might be necessary.

[vanessa]

You canadd honey to the chamomile tea rinse. Its a good natural antibacterial. Lancelot enjoys hiswarm honey/chamomile eye “grooming”. A good option fir your first aid kit is terremycin eye ointment that you canget at a feed stire.

[Serenity]

Thank you guys so much! Fred’s eye keeps oozing that pink, gooey stuff? I don’t know what it is but I just rinsed his eye again and the same weird substance came out. Again, not sure if I should quarantine him from my other rabbits. Thoughts?

[vanessa]

Does he have a bonded pal?

[Serenity]

All of them are friendly toward each other, but Hermione is his buddy. She doesn’t know to help him because she’s so young but Ginny has always been motherly toward him and is trying to help him by occasionally licking it clean. I don’t know if I should stop her because she could get infected or encourage it because she could be speeding up the healing process. In the meantime I plan to do the chamomile tea rinse if we have any and see if that helps. I just really don’t want the others to catch it…

[BanditCamp]

Does it look like a booger? That’s how the rabbits flush out their eyes naturally but does it look like maybe blood? That would be a vet visit. I asked my vet and she said That the white discharge is normal it’s when it’s other colors it might be an issue. Try another rinse and if the color persists after 12 hours I would take him

[Serenity]

It’s definitely not bleeding, I’m sure of that. It’s probably just mucus and boogers like you said, Bandit. But my real question is whether or not I should quarantine him in a separate cage from the others or maybe block him off the top half of their cage so my other three don’t catch the germ? If I do should I leave him a buddy (George, Ginny, Hermione) or not risk it at all and just let him alone? I could keep him company if so. Thanks for all your help guys, I really appreciate your time and help!

[vanessa]

I have never separated my bunnies when one was ill – except where Lancelot is not physically strong enough to remain with his pal. I’v kept them together through eye boogers, sneezing, runny eyes, EC, you name it I’v never had a cross-infection. It’s your call – I decided the stress of separation/re-bonding would not be worth it, and since the other bunnies were all strong and healthy – they didn’t get sick.

[Serenity]

Okay, thanks so much for all your help. Hopefully the swelling will go down a bit more (it did a little over night) and a trip to the vet won’t be necessary. :/

[Serenity]

Update: Fred is fit and healthy as ever and binkying happily in the backyard again! Thanks again for all your guys’s help!

[Bam]

Yay!!! Thanks for the update!

[Azerane]

That’s great to hear

[vanessa]

Awesome 🙂

[Author]

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