Rabbit with runny eye

[CochinBrahmaLover]

http://i.imgur.com/SbzT77x.png?1

"Hello Rabbitors. My Rabbit, Chip, has had a teary eye for the past month. After one day of noticing this I made him an appointment where my vet (specializes in Rabbits) flushed out his eye and commented that it did not look infected.
The next week we brought him back as the tearing continued. We were given antibiotic eye drops that seem to have little effect on his problem.
If anybody has any experience or knowledge on this symptom please share!"

Was on a pet forum and saw this guy and his poor bun. I was wondering if perhaps anyone had any ideas? I know y'all are very smart in the diseases and injuries section. I know the vet couldn't find anything but I figured you guys would probably have some ideas? The only suggestion was that 'some rabbits have chronic runny eyes' which just sounded... Crazy, tbh, but I'm not too well versed in rabbit illnesses so I wasn't going to question it

Thanks

 

[ladysown]

Most weepy eyes clear up just fine. Some don't. The age of your bunny may place a role.

Weepy eyes can be caused by
- irritation due to foreign particle
- irritation due to lense scratch
- disease...it's one of the many facets of pasturella, plus other illnesses
- tooth problems (hence the age factor)
and there's something I'm forgetting but this list covers the basics.

Tea bag handles the first, eases the second, nothing prevents the third, and the vet handles the fourth.

so make yourself a cup of tea, set aside the tea bag until it's lukewarm and place gently over the eye.
The stuff in the tea (sorry my brain is still partly asleep yet) helps to clean and bathe the eye.

 

[michaels4gardens]

sometimes flushing the nasolacrimal duct will help, -- but,-if you are not familiar with this procedure,[and have an eye numbing eye drop, and small plastic catheter, ] it is best done at a vet office by trained people. --excess tears are drained away through this duct, if clogged "tearing " is the result

 

[Sagebrush]

I was just going to suggest that the poor bun might have something inside the ducts or in the nasal cavity that is preventing the tears from flowing, or irritating it enough that it is tearing up to try and clear whatever it might be. :thinking: I wonder why the vet didn't check for that to begin with?

 

[michaels4gardens]

JMHO -- Most vets will try the simple and easy treatments first, if it works, fine -problem solved, but if not ,then flushing [ not as easy], is the next step, - I may take issue with this , but I understand the thinking. -- I think that if the tearing was clear, and not goopy, a flush would have been in order the first visit. --but-- if the discharge was cloudy or goopy , then the first approach was the proper course . But in any case, a nasolacrimal duct flush should have been done on the second visit. --again, JMHO <br /><br /> -- Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:13 am -- <br /><br /> http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/weepy.pdf

IV. Treatment
If your veterinarian suspects a simple case of cellular debris blockage, the
treatment might be as mild as ophthalmic drops containing antibiotics to kill
bacteria and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation of the mucous
membranes. If drops alone don’t solve the problem, your vet may suggest a
tear duct flush (or a series of flushes). If the problem is a dental or sinus
infection, your vet may prescribe topical and/or systemic medications.
These may include anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, and/or
antifungal medications, depending on the pathogen(s) or processes involved.

 

[Dood]

Here is an excellent paper discussing causes of chronic teary eye - http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/weepy.pdf

I agre that the vet should have flushed the tear ducts but it would require complete sedation and is often cost prohibitive, as well as having the dangers of anesthesia.

 

[michaels4gardens]

Here is an excellent paper discussing causes of chronic teary eye - http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/weepy.pdf

I agre that the vet should have flushed the tear ducts but it would require complete sedation and is often cost prohibitive, as well as having the dangers of anesthesia.

we do it all the time with only proparacaine eye drops, and a helper to help hold the head still, "usually" the rabbit does not even struggle at all.
We never use complete sedation.

 

[Dood]

we do it all the time with only proparacaine eye drops, and a helper to help hold the head still, "usually" the rabbit does not even struggle at all.
We never use complete sedation.

:shock:

I would not recommend that but to each their own :shrug:

- from http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/ ... lation.htm

"Anaesthetise for the initial investigation and flushing
"General anaesthesia is always indicated for the initial investigation and irrigation of the nasolacrimal duct and is, in general, preferable for subsequent nasolacrimal duct flushing". (B600.11.w11)
The nasal mucosa is sensitive in rabbits and flushing the nasolacrimal duct can be intensely stimulating particularly if the duct has ruptured. This will cause some rabbits to scream even under general anaesthesia. (B600.11.w11)"

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Thank you everyone!

I have sent him a PM. Hopefully he'll join and post or will be able to use the teabag idea to help. I'm not sure how old the rabbit is.

 

[michaels4gardens]

we do it all the time with only proparacaine eye drops, and a helper to help hold the head still, "usually" the rabbit does not even struggle at all.
We never use complete sedation.

:shock:

I would not recommend that but to each their own :shrug:

- from http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/ ... lation.htm

"Anaesthetise for the initial investigation and flushing
"General anaesthesia is always indicated for the initial investigation and irrigation of the nasolacrimal duct and is, in general, preferable for subsequent nasolacrimal duct flushing". (B600.11.w11)
The nasal mucosa is sensitive in rabbits and flushing the nasolacrimal duct can be intensely stimulating particularly if the duct has ruptured. This will cause some rabbits to scream even under general anaesthesia. (B600.11.w11)"

JMHO -use of a small size catheter will allow some fluid to bypass and prevent rupturing of the duct, and -in this way avoid the pain / damage experienced from creating too much pressure in the duct.- I feel that by doing this while the rabbit is awake, the tech will be aware if discomfort is being experienced by the rabbit [struggling will begin], and the procedure can be aborted, or another option selected. again JMHO