Watery eyes when I open the windows? Allergies?

[bunnnnnnie!]

So now that the weather is starting to warm up and get a bit nicer, I have been opening the windows to my apartment whenever I can!  I have noticed however, it seems as though just as I began to open windows, Zeus began to have an occasional bout of watery eyes.  

They’re not RUNNING, there’s no flow down his cheeks or anything, just slightly watery around the eyes themselves.  He doesn’t sneeze or sniffle or cough, his nose doesn’t run.  His eyes are clear.  He never even wipes his face, I don’t think he even notices they’re watery.  He does, however, loooove when I wipe his eyes with a warm wet paper towel.. but he looooves attention period, so. .

His appetite hasn’t changed, attitude hasn’t changed, acting totally normal.  And like I said, no sniffling or sneezing or coughing.. no runny nose or mouth, ears are clean too.  Could it be allergies?  It never happened all winter, and the fact that it only started when I began to open windows seems like too much of a coincidence to me.  I don’t have to wipe his eyes daily, usually only every 4-5 days.

What do you guys think?  I’m not sure if this warrants a vet visit or not, I really hate to stress him out with a vet trip over a few tears he gets 2 or 3 times a week.  But if that’s what I need to do of course I’ll do it! 

[RabbitPam]

It doesn’t sound like much of a problem to me yet. I would keep an eye on him to see if he shows any other symptoms, like starts sneezing, or if it gets watery on the fur just below his eye which can indicate a duct getting blocked. My guess is that it’s just a new shot of fresh air that he will get used to and the watering will stop soon.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By RabbitPam on 03/30/2011 05:21 PM

It doesn’t sound like much of a problem to me yet. I would keep an eye on him to see if he shows any other symptoms, like starts sneezing, or if it gets watery on the fur just below his eye which can indicate a duct getting blocked. My guess is that it’s just a new shot of fresh air that he will get used to and the watering will stop soon.

I hope that’s the case!  Too bad they don’t make bunny Claritin. 

 

[Monkeybun]

I tend to get watery eyes when I first open things up for spring too. Fresh air, different smells, old air heading out along with the dust bunnies… lol

[Sarita]

Could be so many things with the “fresh” air like pollutants, smells, etc…like Monkeybun stated.

[BaileyBun]

I’ve had the windows wide open for the past 3 or 4 days, and Logan’s watery eye returned 2 days ago. My allergies are also flaring up right now, so I’m wondering if we’re both allergic to something outside- maybe the grass or trees. My vet gave me eye meds for when Logan’s allergies are bugging him, and those help his eyes clear up.

[BinkyBunny]

Yesterday, we also opened up our windows and door as it was finally such a beautiful warm day, and I went into the worst sneezing fest all day long. Eyes watering, and mean aggressive sneezes!! Today, all is better. Strange, because I rarely have allergies. But something was definitely irritating my system, so who knows what is really going on.

How is your bunny today?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By BB on 04/01/2011 12:28 AM

Yesterday, we also opened up our windows and door as it was finally such a beautiful warm day, and I went into the worst sneezing fest all day long. Eyes watering, and mean aggressive sneezes!! Today, all is better. Strange, because I rarely have allergies. But something was definitely irritating my system, so who knows what is really going on.

How is your bunny today?

It’s been cooler the last few days, so no open windows, or only open for 20 minutes before it got too chilly and I had to close them!  And not surprisingly, no watery bunny eyes.  It’s got to be the open windows causing it.  Maybe I’ll start opening only the window NOT near his cage, and the one near his cage just barely crack it.

I’ve also been vacuuming out his cage more frequently to try and cut down on the dust/hair.

 

[RabbitPam]

There can be a lot of temporary allergens outside as the seasons change. Snow can cover over a lot of greens and things that were wilted or faded last fall and then lay dormant, but the thaw makes them all moist and winds can churn them up into the air before getting dry and mixing with new spring soil. Also, early on the new things bud, the grasses and weeds are poofing out their seeds to start the new growth.

So I guess my point is that you opened a window or two and all got poofed on. But even if you continue to open the windows, in a month or two it may not be the same allergens in the air and everyone will stop crying.

[Author]

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