Help needed for swollen eye lid

[mcrvdeb]

My Rex doe (approx 1 year old) has developed severely swollen eye lids on one eye only. This started with slight white discharge which I cleaned and sprayed with colloidal silver, then applied Terramycin as directed for several days. Treatments really did not seem to be helping and now there is significant swelling above and below the eye, much worse overnight to today. Doe is still eating well, drinking, allows me to clean the eye area and instill drops (colloidal silver) and apply ointment into the eye. There is no nasal drainage. The swelling had started above the eye first, then after a couple days below the eye as well. There is no discoloration in the eye itself, and I have not been able to see any irritation inside the lid. Any suggestions on what might be causing this? The closest vet that treats rabbits is 2.5 hours away and can't see her until Thursday.
(I realize she looks dirty, I think her next door cage mate has sprayed her the last couple days. He was moved today.)

Brief history: we had a brief bout of this (same doe) in late Nov last year. Followed same process; cleaning, Terramycin, etc. but it did not seem to want to clear up. In desperation, I instilled a solution of 70% Colloidal Silver and 30% DMSO twice daily. Within 2 days the very slight swelling and discharge was completely gone. Seemed like a mini-miracle. There was no recurrence, so we bred her end of Dec and she kindled Jan 30th so she is currently still feeding one 3 week old kit. There was no sign of discharge or swelling again until 6 days ago.

 

[tambayo]

The next door cagemate spraying may have hit her eye leading to this. What differences are there now compared to the november one?

 

[mcrvdeb]

The next door cagemate spraying may have hit her eye leading to this. What differences are there now compared to the november one?

The spraying has just occurred in the last day or so, not a common occurrence in the past. Don't know what triggered him to start now.

The discharge showed up about 6 days ago with minor swelling beginning a couple days later. Dramatic increase in size occurred overnight last night.

Both incidents began the same way with white discharge only. Within a day or so minor swelling was visible in the upper eye lid but not the lower.

In November the lower lid didn't ever become as swollen as it is now. Doe kept wiping the eye and it just didn't seem to get much worse, but also didn't improve for the 10-12 days I was cleaning/treating it. I was wanting to breed her at that time but didn't want to do that as long as she had the eye issue, so I decided to try the CS/DMSO combination kind of as a last resort. I was quite surprised that the eye cleared and stayed clear for 2 months. I assumed it was done.
This time the discharge started, swelling of upper lid showed up late the next day, then this time the lower lid began swelling after I started cleaning and treating the eye. I have not tried the CS/DMSO drops yet but probably will this evening.

I'm concerned about it being infectious because she still has her kit in the cage with her. He is not eating enough pellets/hay yet to take him out.

 

[Alaska Satin]

The spraying has just occurred in the last day or so, not a common occurrence in the past. Don't know what triggered him to start now.

The discharge showed up about 6 days ago with minor swelling beginning a couple days later. Dramatic increase in size occurred overnight last night.

Both incidents began the same way with white discharge only. Within a day or so minor swelling was visible in the upper eye lid but not the lower.

In November the lower lid didn't ever become as swollen as it is now. Doe kept wiping the eye and it just didn't seem to get much worse, but also didn't improve for the 10-12 days I was cleaning/treating it. I was wanting to breed her at that time but didn't want to do that as long as she had the eye issue, so I decided to try the CS/DMSO combination kind of as a last resort. I was quite surprised that the eye cleared and stayed clear for 2 months. I assumed it was done.
This time the discharge started, swelling of upper lid showed up late the next day, then this time the lower lid began swelling after I started cleaning and treating the eye. I have not tried the CS/DMSO drops yet but probably will this evening.

I'm concerned about it being infectious because she still has her kit in the cage with her. He is not eating enough pellets/hay yet to take him out.

We've found that white rabbits very often seem susceptible to eye irritation. We had one white Satin buck who was allergic to hay (I kid you not!). His new owner used her own allergy eye drops on him, and they did the trick.

I tend to avoid using ointments for rabbits. They often make such an effort to clean themselves, that they end up irritating the area worse than it was to begin with. (The exception is that if they do actually have conjunctivitis - a bacterial eye infection - Terramycin is usually helpful.) In addition, they often end up ingesting the ointment, which may not be very good for their gut health, and that can add fuel to an already flickering immune system fire.

White discharge doesn't necessarily mean an infection; sometimes simple irritation can result in white discharge and notable weepiness, as the eye tries to collect and dispel the irritant. Dusty hay or pellets, or dry and dusty environmental conditions can result in this type of irritation. If the irritant remains, the rabbit may try to clean the eye so vigorously that it can cause more irritation and swelling.

If it was my rabbit, and I'd determined that the situation did not respond to Terramycin, I'd be inclined to leave it alone. Gently - very gently - wiping the discharge away with warm water or weak chamomile tea might give her some relief, but I'd avoid putting anything else on it.

One idea to examine is the eyelids themselves, and look for the possibility that the eyelashes might be turned in toward the eyeball. It's hard to tell from the photos, but it seems it might be the case with your doe's upper eyelid. ??? We have a Havana doe that had a kit living with her that began "grooming" the dam's face to such an extent that it damaged her eyelid. It comes and goes in its presentation, but her eyelid is very definitely turned inward, and the inward-poking eyelashes really bother her. I'll see if I can get a photo and post it here.

If the kit is not ready to wean, I would leave him. Even if it's eye an infection, he'll either catch it or not. Many breeders agree that we want to breed rabbits that are naturally resistant to infections/illnesses. If the kit does catch something from his dam, you may see conclude it is an indication that that particular line is less robustly healthy than what you might want in your herd.

 

[mcrvdeb]

We've found that white rabbits very often seem susceptible to eye irritation. We had one white Satin buck who was allergic to hay (I kid you not!). His new owner used her own allergy eye drops on him, and they did the trick.

I tend to avoid using ointments for rabbits. They often make such an effort to clean themselves, that they end up irritating the area worse than it was to begin with. (The exception is that if they do actually have conjunctivitis - a bacterial eye infection - Terramycin is usually helpful.) In addition, they often end up ingesting the ointment, which may not be very good for their gut health, and that can add fuel to an already flickering immune system fire.

White discharge doesn't necessarily mean an infection; sometimes simple irritation can result in white discharge and notable weepiness, as the eye tries to collect and dispel the irritant. Dusty hay or pellets, or dry and dusty environmental conditions can result in this type of irritation. If the irritant remains, the rabbit may try to clean the eye so vigorously that it can cause more irritation and swelling.

If it was my rabbit, and I'd determined that the situation did not respond to Terramycin, I'd be inclined to leave it alone. Gently - very gently - wiping the discharge away with warm water or weak chamomile tea might give her some relief, but I'd avoid putting anything else on it.

One idea to examine is the eyelids themselves, and look for the possibility that the eyelashes might be turned in toward the eyeball. It's hard to tell from the photos, but it seems it might be the case with your doe's upper eyelid. ??? We have a Havana doe that had a kit living with her that began "grooming" the dam's face to such an extent that it damaged her eyelid. It comes and goes in its presentation, but her eyelid is very definitely turned inward, and the inward-poking eyelashes really bother her. I'll see if I can get a photo and post it here.

If the kit is not ready to wean, I would leave him. Even if it's eye an infection, he'll either catch it or not. Many breeders agree that we want to breed rabbits that are naturally resistant to infections/illnesses. If the kit does catch something from his dam, you may see conclude it is an indication that that particular line is less robustly healthy than what you might want in your herd.

I went down and checked her eyelids and lashes for entropion but don't see that at this time. Better picture attached. The swelling under her eye is quite hard, about small grape size under the fur, just below the eye socket. Doesn't move when gently pushed from any side. Skin is quite tight from swelling.
Although she lets me touch it, I have to believe that it must be painful. Can I give her something for pain? She is about 10lb.

 

[Alaska Satin]

I went down and checked her eyelids and lashes for entropion but don't see that at this time. Better picture attached. The swelling under her eye is quite hard, about small grape size under the fur, just below the eye socket. Doesn't move when gently pushed from any side. Skin is quite tight from swelling.
Although she lets me touch it, I have to believe that it must be painful. Can I give her something for pain? She is about 10lb.

Poor girl!

If it is a small localized infection you might try warm compresses (again, chamomile tea is a go-to for me). That's what I do for my kids who get a sty in their eyelid (not willing to cull those for health issues,

I avoid most meds, but for pain relief, willows can allow the rabbit to self-medicate for painrelief. Willow bark contains salicilin, a source of salicylic acid (formerly used to make aspirin, now synthesized). I actually grow willows (Salix sp) to give my rabbits. I don't think there's an upper limit to how much you can ofer them.

Here's an interesting source of information on that:
https://naturespoisons.com/2014/07/24/salicylic-acid-the-journey-from-humble-willow-to-aspirin/

 

[mcrvdeb]

Poor girl!

If it is a small localized infection you might try warm compresses (again, chamomile tea is a go-to for me). That's what I do for my kids who get a sty in their eyelid (not willing to cull those for health issues,

I avoid most meds, but for pain relief, willows can allow the rabbit to self-medicate for painrelief. Willow bark contains salicilin, a source of salicylic acid (formerly used to make aspirin, now synthesized). I actually grow willows (Salix sp) to give my rabbits. I don't think there's an upper limit to how much you can ofer them.

Here's an interesting source of information on that:
https://naturespoisons.com/2014/07/24/salicylic-acid-the-journey-from-humble-willow-to-aspirin/

Ironically, we have just been researching taking cuttings of local-ish willow and trying to plant and grow on our property for goats. Didn't think about using for rabbits. I'll sneak down to some we found growing on the roadside and cut a few pieces for Betty to gnaw on. Thank you!