Is my bunny in pain from his cataract or is he sick as well?

[Kathryn]

Hi guys,

Panda is a 7 year old mini lop that was diagnosed with a cataract a couple of months ago. I’m worried about him surviving surgery so we’re treating him with drops at the moment.

My worry is that he started breathing rapidly and I noticed his ears are always hot. He’s also lost weight and in general is much more lethargic.

Does anyone have any experience with an older bunny with a cataract? I’m so worried about him 😔. I’m going to take him to the vet but there are no rabbit specialists were I live so any advice is welcomed!! I’m wondering if it’s the cataract or if something else might be going on too. Or if it’s just pain?

[Bam]

Hi!

Cataracts could cause eye pain in, for example, very bright sunlight. It can’t cause weight loss though. What drops are you treating him with and what surgery have you been discussing?

Cataracts in rabbits can be caused by an intracellular parasite called e cuniculi. The parasite can be transferred to the rabbit while it is still in the womb, and then lie dormant until something challenges or weakens the immune defense. The immune defense gets weaker with natural aging, and while 7 years isn’t exactly old, it isn’t a young age either.

E cuniculi can manifest in many different ways, depending on the organ system involved. The most well known manifestations are head tilt, hind end weakness, seizures, cataracts or incontinence. It can however affect any organ system, and there’s still a lot that isn’t fully understood about the effects of e c on the body.

If you have a rectal fever thermometer, its not very difficult to take a buns temp. Here is a good instructive video that I myself have had good use for: https://youtu.be/YZd10Hk0maA

I do think you should contact your vet. The weight loss is a major observandum and means something isn’t right. E c can be tested for with a blood test, but since the test still isn’t a 100% (it can produce false negatives), many vets choose to treat on symptoms. Treatment is Panacur (fenbendazole) for 28 days, often combined with meloxicam (an anti-inflammatory pain killer) and sometimes also the antibiotic Baytril (enrofloxacine). Recovery can be very slow, so patience is of need.

[Kathryn]

Hi Bam 🙂

He’s currently on a dose of Latanoprost and Cosopt to reduce the eye pressure, and Maxidex for inflammation. All only in his left eye twice a day. The vet I’ve been seeing specialises in eyes (but not rabbits, unfortunately) and said the best long term solution would be to remove the cataract in his left eye however it would cost several thousand dollars and he’s considered an elder bun that would be of high risk, so we’re doing the eye drops for now. I’ve been heavily considering the surgery but it’s something I would have to save up for and that could take upwards of a year so I’m hoping the drops are enough til then.

When he was diagnosed with the cataract we did a blood test to check for E cuniculi and it came back negative. He hasn’t had any other symptoms associated with it so I assumed he was fine however maybe I should contact the vet and request we do a treatment to be safe. I’ve read some rabbits can die from Panacur though so was nervous about that, as he’s already on so many medications and with all the vet visits has been under a lot of stress which is affecting his digestion 😔

Is breathing fast a symptom of E c? The vet checked his lung and couldn’t hear that anything was wrong, so I’m wondering if maybe its Thymoma or something? They can’t figure out his problem so scans may have to be the next step.

Thank you for your helpful reply!!

[LBJ10]

Cataracts can develop very slowly with age in both eyes. This is normal. What isn’t normal is a cataract that develops quickly, especially if it’s only in one eye. Although it isn’t always the case, this does suggest EC is the culprit. As Bam explained, a weakened immune system can allow an EC flare to occur.

To answer your question about eye pain, a severe cataract could potentially cause eye discomfort. However, this only happens if the cataract thickens the lens to the point where it’s difficult for the eye to drain properly. Cataracts typically don’t cause glaucoma, but in extreme cases it can create additional pressure within the eye (because the eye cannot drain properly). From what the eye specialist said though, perhaps this is what they are worried about? They did prescribe medications to help lower eye pressure. Keep in mind that EC can also cause inflammation within the eye, so that could be a cause of discomfort too.

Even if she has tested negative for EC, it probably still be a good idea to treat for it.

 

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