Missing fur on ear and closed eye

[GizmoRabbit]

Hi this is my first post here!
Mainly I need a little help with my bunny. So I just noticed yesterday that he had hair missing on his ear, and also the hair is shorter near the base of it too. He also on the rim around his eye was a little red and he seemed a little uncomfortable. Today his eye is crusted shut. I'm thinking this is a disease or something and not just something in his eye since it is crusted shut and not just him holding it shut. I considered that maybe he and his cagemate, a guinea pig, could be fighting. But they have always gotten along, and when I take him out of the cage she gets super anxious and starts squeaking like crazy till I put him back, so unless it was an accident I don't think it was from her.
Thanks to anyone that can help!

Oh also he is acting pretty normally, like hopping around and climbing all over me

 

[mystang89]

Welcome to RabbitTalk. Sorry I can't be much help as I'm not sure what the problem is but I know there is someone on here with some helpful advice.

 

[Dood]

It sounds like mites to me. A vet can do a skin scrape to identify any parasites that could be causing the problem.

 

[jollysrabbits]

have you looked inside the ear, maybe earmites? it will look almost like scabs at the base of the ear, they tend to scratch a lot because it bugs them. could be why the fur is missing. as far as the eye goes, is there any discharge? dry using a warm washcloth to "help" him open up the eye. so you can get a better look, dont force the eye open though! pictures always help as well.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi Gizmo!

:welcomewagon:

I'm not sure if the two issues are related or not- he could have rubbed the fur off of his ear because of the discomfort of his eye, or he could have mites.

You should apply a compress of either chamomile tea or warm water to the eye to moisten the crust on his eye and then wipe it gently to remove it. Chamomile tea makes a good eye rinse, or you can rinse the eye using saline solution. I would also recommend a non-steroidal eye ointment. There is a possibility that the eye is scratched, and steroids inhibit healing.

Check the inside of his ears for any debris- there is a possibility that he has ear mites.

Also check his teeth. If he has a broken or impacted tooth, it could be causing an infection which is draining from his eye.

If you haven't done so already, you need to quarantine him from the Guinea Pig. There is a possibility that the eye infection could be Pasteurella, which is very contagious, and you do not want your little piggy exposed for any longer than necessary.

If you could post a picture so we can see exactly what is going on, that would be very helpful.

Here are a couple of links to threads on how to do so:

attachment-tutorial-t5.html

picture-tutorial-t6003.html

 

[mystang89]

Ohhh, she done brought out the dreaded "P" word. OUCH!

 

[GizmoRabbit]

Okay I'll separate them. They have a multilevel cage so ill just bring up the ramp.
His eye opened on its own and I now realize it has a grey film over it. Here's a picture.
Oh and do rabbits ever go through a molt or shed their fur? Recently he's been shedding what seems to be just his top coat and what is left is the fuzzier stuff underneath.

 

[ladysown]

i'm betting he's damaged his eye somehow. the filming could be from his eye being crusted over, but the swelling concerns me.

you could very carefully examine the eye, looking under the ring as much as you can. You could flush with some clean water and then apply a medicated eye drop.

if there is no debris in the ear you could consider fur mites as an issue.