Rabbit Eye Injuries–! :(

[ZooLady]

Firstly: Forgive all my posts and questions….I’m very obsessed with my bunnies..

After my male rabbits had a little tussle last night, I discovered that the older one had some redness and swelling in his right eye.   He didn’t seem to notice, and I left it til the morning to see how it would react.  

Took him to the vet by the afternoon as it seemed to pus.  Turned out he ripped a part of his “third eyelid”–I believe that is what the doctor said.   He gave me some ointment to put on his eye a couple of times a day.   Has anyone else had bunny-eye injuries before?  It’s so scary.  The vet kept trying to convince me it would heal, but it looks so icky and I am worried nonetheless.

Worry…..

[flippersmom]

Hi ZooLady – I am a tech for a veterinary ophthomologist and we do see bunnies!!! It sounds to me that your vet is correct about this injury!!! Animals have a third eyelid or extra lower eyelid that under general circumstances we may not even see. They can bring it up to cover the eye in the event of an object coming at it, or to cover they eye if an injury has occured. Often times in a scuffle, they can damage this eyelid, which believe me is much better than damage to the eye!!!!!!! I’m guessing your vet gave you some type of antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. You will probably notice that the eye seems more “goopy” (good technical term!!!), but remember, you are adding ointment into it!!! The area will absorb the antibiotic portion, leaving the ointment base for you to clean up!!!!!!! Eye related injuries always seem horrendous, but the eye is a lot tougher than it seems!!!!!!!!!

[Miyuki]

Posted By flippersmom on 06/02/2009 06:53 AM
You will probably notice that the eye seems more “goopy” (good technical term!!!), but remember, you are adding ointment into it!!! The area will absorb the antibiotic portion, leaving the ointment base for you to clean up!!!!!!!

Aha!  I always wondered about why the eye ointment was like leaving what seemed like “residue”.  Guess I know now!  Man that stuff was thick .

 

Zoolady – I hope your bun’s eye heals okay!  I’m sorry I don’t have anything else to add.  How is the ointment going?

 

[Sarita]

Keep us updated with how he’s healing. I’ve never had this particular type of eye injury with my rabbits but I have had some eye/dental problems in the past. It’s good to have a vet tech who helps an opthamologist on the list too – thanks Flippersmom.

[babybunsmum]

i have experience administering goopy eye ointment… it’s very gooey! hope all is going well and the eye starts to looks better soon.

[ZooLady]

flippersmom–thank you so much for your reply–it eases my worry a good bit.

I looked at Mischis eye today, and while there appears to be a bit of fur loss around the eye, it is no longer red and the pus that kept clumping on the front part of his eye is gone. I guess the drops are really working. They do leave a petroleum-like residue behind, but I expected that.

The main thing is that the injury is looking so much better, and that lump in my throat gets smaller everyday. It’s difficult having to administer it though, because this particular rabbit does not like to be handled at all; I have to chase him around the room for 5-10 minutes before catching him and try to hold his little wriggly self still long enough to apply it! Silly bun. It’s as if he thinks I’m out to hurt him, and here I just spent two hundred dollars getting him emergency vet treatment!

[Miyuki]

I remember the chasing! But I had to do the wrap in towel on counter method. Because when I least wanted it the ointment would curl up or ooze out of the tube on its own onto everywhere… neither makes it easy to drop into the eye -_-.

I’m glad they seem to be working and that it is looking better! Keep us updated!

[flippersmom]

Hey Zoolady – Just wonder how Mischis’ eye is doing!!!

[Author]

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