[bunz]

Hi all,

I looked this up/searched the forum, but only found one response, so I thought I'd post my question anyway.

Oliver seems to have a weepy eye. I noticed it yesterday, but it seems to be getting worse, i.e., just weeping a bit more, and now there is a noticeable tear stain. It seems that he could have gotten a little hay in his eye, or around his eye, but I just thought I'd check to see if this ever happens to your buns.

It doesn't seem like immediate cause to run to the vet, as this happens to both my cat and dog from time to time. That said, is there an eye wash for bunnies, or is there anything that you use regularly?

I'm definitely going to keep an eye on him, but I'd like to clean it out as it seems like it may be bothering him. Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Jess]

There are a few main things that cause weepy eyes in buns: Infections/irritation, teeth problems, and allergies.


If you take him to the vet, they will probably give you some antibiotics and an anti-bacterial eye cream. If the discharge is is anything other than clear tears, he most likely has an infection.


Have you noticed him eating any differently at all? Since a bun's molars are directly under their eyes, they will start watering if there is anything up with their teeth that is irratating their eyes... Like ingrown molar roots or molar spurs.


Smudge has had constant weepy eyes for over a year and a half now, even though I've given him different antibiotics, eye cream, gotten his teeth trimmed... I've done everything that the vet has thought of, and they just havent stopped since he was fixed. So yeah, I have quite a bit of weepy eye experience by now LOL.


I would go ahead and get him a vet check though, just to be on the safe side, espcially if it is getting worse and not better.

 

[bunz]

Oh wow - I had no idea that it could be related to his teeth!

And no, he's eating just about the same diet as always. I added in the Orchard Grass, but that was about a month ago, and this just started yesterday.

So there's no way to clean the eye at home, first? I'm not completely cheap or anything, but I do try to do routine maintenance at home; clipping nails, cleaning out the eyes and ears, etc. I hate to run to the vet at the first sign of trouble or trust me, I'd be there all the time! But of course if it's an infection, we'll go to the vet, but I was curious if there might be something else I could do.

With the cat and dog, I just wipe their eyes with a warm cloth, and typically it's just fine. But I definitely understand that buns may be different! Geez, are they ever!

 

[Jess]

You can clean the fur around the eye with a warm wash cloth or cotton ball, but I'm not aware of any over-the-counter or home remedies that you would be able to try. Like I said before, the vet would be the best option- I've seen some horrible infections from hay getting in small animal's eyes (To the point where the eye either had to be removed, or the animal would die), and you want your vet to check Ollie's teeth too. When Smudge had molar spurs, you couldn't even tell unless you paid really close attention to details- His only symptom other than his eyes was that he was favoring one side of his mouth when he chewed, and I sat there watching him eat for about half an hour before I even noticed that LOL. But sure enough, the vet found some decent sized spurs!


I'm not trying to scare you or anything, because chances are he will be fine... The thing with bunnies, though, is that they hide their illnesses REALLY well, so it is important to act on it ASAP if you think something is wrong.

 

[bunz]

Hey Jess, no worries at all! I mean definitely, tell me like it is, because obviously you've had buns for a long time, and I've only had Oliver for a couple of months.

Honestly, I couldn't afford to take everyone to the vet for a weepy eye, but I am coming to understand that bunnies do have some specific needs that are different from that of cats or dogs. Their systems seem a bit more delicate.

I think I'll go ahead and make an appointment for Saturday, and if I need to cancel it because things have improved, I will.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Jess]

OK, glad I haven't scared you off LOL.


With other animals, a weepy eye wouldnt be as big of a deal, and I usually wouldn't rush to a vet either over something like that... Like you said, I'd be broke! But because it can be a sign of even worse health problems for buns, I always reccomend taking them in if it doesn't stop with in a day or 2.


Let me know how the appointment goes!

 

[bunz]

Good news! Not my doing, but after waiting a day or so, (was going to make an appointment on Friday if things hadn't improved), it seems like things are going pretty well! He doesn't have the tear stains, and his eye looks less irritated. I do think he probably poked himself with a piece of hay, or something, since it's resolved so quickly.

That said, still keeping my fingers crossed! Hoping I check on him tomorrow morning, and all is well.

 

[Jess]

I glad he is getting better! Hopefully he won't need to go through the sress of a vet appointment and meds.

 

[Purple-Hops]

Wow, my first thought, like Jess was a misplaced molar. God knows Akina had it :/ Then I was thinking maybe a weather change, allergy or that he poked it with hay. Bunnies will hide their pain and they will only show it upon symptoms which are out of their control, like the tear duct, which is placed next to the molar. It is a good indication that there is a problem and fluid will run down out of the eye and into and around the nose.
The vet gave me an opthalmic ointment called BNPH which cleared up Akina's mucous in her eye when she had retrobulbar.

A note about you not being "cheap". I always research online and in books and with people about symptoms and illness to see if it is something to handle at home. It's responsible and savvy because it makes you aware and "in the know". I'm a poor student and I refuse to drop out and work full time again to pay bills. I will not become a lifer like someone very close to me. Student loans are what feed my pets and medicate them. So, like you, I research as best I can about things. Coco had tapeworms from ingesting a flea from this god awful place and that was when I had no job or loan! I researched homeopathic remedies which involved garlic, rosemary and other herbs which I got from the same brand that make his food (holistic blend) which killed the worms within in a week and the eggs within 2. That was much safer in my eyes than a vet bill over 100$ and some ingestible chemicals!!

Off topic! Good luck with little Oliver and I'm glad it seems to have cleared up. Will he let you gaze into his mouth with a light? Or feel for any swelling along the cheek bones, under the affected eye? Akina's did not show up as a problem for a couple weeks.