Recurring eye gunk

[Theodorusrex]

Hi guys,

Quick question: Theo is very prone to getting ‘eye gunk’ now when I say eye gunk I mean it’s hard and crusty like sleep in the eye would be in a human. There can be quite a lot of crusty eye gunk accumulating and when I clean his eyes its usually back in a few days.

We noticed this when we first got him and I put it down to an allergy to the wood shaving bedding we were using at the time (didn’t know any better). He now only has his blankie as bedding and wood pellets for litter in his litter box. A little while ago we changed his hay from timothy to a mix of botanical and orchard grass by oxbow as my allergies can’t cope with timothy. 

But we still have gunky eyes – his cheeks are never wet, nor is there any wet discharge that I’ve ever seen. Is this normal? Is it just a case of me continuing to remove it when I groom him? It seems to have become perhaps a little more common as of late. His eyes look otherwise healthy and bright also. 

Thanks 

[Mikey]

Can you use a paper bedding instead for his litter? That might help out as well. You can drop one or two water drips to each eye to help clean our any dirt that may be stuck in his eyes

[Bam]

A less dusty bedding could help and the change of hay is good. I find that orchard is often less dusty than other types of hay. You can use human eye wash to rinse his eyes, just a few drops. 

This is not an uncommon problem but it doesn’t seem to signify anything bad. I found this old thread for you: 

Bunny Eye Boogers

[Theodorusrex]

Thanks Mikey and Bam – this is what I thought but good to have some confirmation. I’m reluctant to change his litter as it’s so effective and inexpensive but it maybe something I need to try in future.
When I googled all I could find was about runny eyes which Theo doesn’t have it’s always hardened, his wee cheeks are never wet.
Thanks again guys my mind is at rest

[Author]

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