Rabbit Eye Problems- All You Should Know

Last Updated on January 26, 2022

Taking good care of eyes is important. For that reason, first, you should identify the eye problem then treat it accordingly. Check out all about rabbit eye problems to know about it.

There can be various reasons to have eye problems, it can be both physical and mental. A rabbit can also have eye issues if it is stressed or traumatized. In that case, you must know what kind of eye problems there are and what you should know to treat them.

Check the details out first!

Why Do Rabbits Have Eye Problems?

There can be a lot of reasons for having eye problems with rabbits. Rabbits can also have some weaknesses. The biggest problem rabbits can have is tear ducts. It makes their eyes watery and inflamed. These problems occur because of the location of the eyes. It locates on each of the heads. They have a blind spot in front of them.

As a result, they face some eye problems. Also, their eyes are large. And objects can injure them frequently. So, some common eye problems can occur. They can have several eye problems with discharge gathered around the eyes, redness, and more you can find.

Moreover, if your rabbits have dental issues, it can also be a reason for having eye problems like tear ducts.

Different Eye Problems in Rabbits

Your dearest bunny may also have some eye issues that make her suffer. She may feel itchiness, dryness, and irritation if she has an eye problem. It can also be a matter of stress and pain for her. If it is not treated quickly, it may get worse. So, it is important to take proper steps as soon as possible.

Check out different types of eye problems so that you can take the necessary steps in time.

Corneal Ulcers

The cornea covers the front part of the eye. It is the clear covering of the eye. If it gets damaged, it becomes infected on the surface of the eye. And this will be painful for your rabbits. There are some symptoms of it like redness, discharge from that infected eye, difficulty opening the eye, visible blood vessels in the white part of the eye, and more.

Ulcers cannot easily be seen as the cornea is clear. And it makes things difficult. You can see a stain in the eye in ultraviolet light. If your bunny has this eye problem, you have to treat it as soon as possible. The diagnosis includes pain medications, topical antibiotics, and medicines for fast healing.

You need to give her suitable treatment according to the condition of the ulcer. If the situation is chronic, it may need surgery to improve the eye problem.

Conjunctivitis

This is the most common type of rabbit’s eye problem. It is called conjunctivitis. It seems like pink eyes. It can occur in any of the eyes or both of the eyes. The reasons for conjunctivitis are irritation, infection, or any trauma of the eye. The symptoms are pretty simple. The eyes look red, there may be discharge from the affected eye, swollen eye, and prominent blood vessels in the white part.

This eye problem is an inflammation of the eyelids that have membranes. It can also affect the eye cavity. The eyes become itchy and painful. That is why you may see your bunny rubbing on that area. But the good part is, the condition is generally mild. It can be cured by some regular treatments and ointments. But make sure you treat this problem in time or it may lead to corneal ulcers.

Cataracts in Rabbits

Cataracts happen when the lens becomes opaque and cloudy. You can guess the condition by looking them in the eye. It can also happen in one or both eyes. The condition may progress quickly or slowly. If it is mild cataracts, it may not require any treatment as it doesn’t put much impact on vision.

This disease may occur due to genetics, age, and any trauma or infection to the eye. We recommend you treat this as soon as possible. It is caused by the infection of a parasite called E. cuniculi that you must treat well. Otherwise, it can lead to glaucoma or blindness.

Blocked Tear Ducts (Nasolacrimal Duct Blockage)

There can be blocked tear ducts or a blockage of nasolacrimal ducts that can be a massive disease for creating eye problems for your rabbit. It is a narrow tube and it runs from the eye to the nasal cavity. It helps to drain excess tears from the eye. But if it’s blocked, tears cannot drain from the eye that has been affected.

There are inflammation, irritation, infections, and dental disease as some of its symptoms. Some other symptoms are rabbit eye infection white discharge, crusting around the eye, excessive tearing, mild conjunctivitis, and more. To identify the blockage, you need to assign the veterinarian to sedate the rabbit and flush the duct by using warm sterile saline. It helps to remove any kind of discharge or debris that can be the reason to block the duct. As a result, it reduces inflammation.

Rabbit glaucoma

Glaucoma is known as aqueous humor. This is a complicated disease of the eye. Like humans, rabbits can also have glaucoma. It has symptoms like abnormal eye conformation and genetic causes. You should treat it before it gets worse. It can be treated with topical medications. This helps to reduce pressure, manage pain, and improve drainage of aqueous humor.

Rare Eye Conditions

Despite them, there are some more eye problems rabbits can have and those are rare. Such as eye proptosis (exophthalmos), and iris prolapse. Eye proptosis happens when the iris gets stuck through the cornea.

What To Do If Your Rabbit Has Eye Problems?

Having eye problems is irritating and painful. It can lead to severe damage if it’s not treated in time in the right way. It may become a permanent problem as well. If you doubt your rabbit has an eye problem, it is a must to see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Your rabbit needs proper treatment and diagnosis before it gets serious. Your veterinarian helps you to choose the right treatment for your bunny. Follow their guidelines and make a decision fast.

When to Contact Your Vet?

It’s important to contact your vet as soon as you are sure about your rabbit’s eye problems. To prevent further damages like permanent damage or loss of vision, you should take this matter seriously. The reason is, it may make this situation severe. So, go to your vet and do the procedures as early as possible.

What Do Your Rabbits’ Eyes Say about Their General Health?

Your rabbit’s eye condition can say a lot about her general health condition. If your rabbit has wide-open bright eyes, equal-sized pupils with smooth eyelids, no discharge or water coming from the eye, then you can consider it as healthy eyes.

Some Tips to Consider

There are some tips or you can say some hacks you can use to keep your bunny healthy and sound. See them below.

• Give your beloved bunny the best rabbit food so that they get their proper nutritional needs. If she gets a proper diet, there will be fewer eye and health problems as well
• Try to keep the area as clean as possible because if bacteria exists, rabbits may have some health issues including eye problems
• Keep maintaining regular rabbit grooming
• Immediately contact your vet when you see the symptoms of having eye problems of your rabbit
• Make sure you avoid playing with your rabbits with sharp objects as it can hurt eyes and create serious eye problems

Also read:

• How To Clean Rabbits Ears
• How To Preserve Rabbit Feet

Home remedy for rabbit eye infection

Wrap Up

Now that you know all about your rabbit’s eye problems, the symptoms, and how you can treat them, you should maintain all those things. The eyes are the most sensitive and important part of the body. You should not be delayed to diagnose your rabbits if it needs to.

Get the information about rabbit eye problems and rabbit eye infection treatment to get better results in time. Love your rabbits and take good care of them.