Eye problems

[Sabine]

My 1.5 year old REW Netherland Dwarf doe had to see the vet about a months ago about a problem with her eye. It appeared redder than normal and there was a bit of discharge which got encrusted around the eye. In fact, that was how I noticed it the first time as with her being REW the inflammation was not that obvious initially.
At the time the vet seemed to think it was the result of some sort of an impact injury (like an animal that had been in a car crash:?)and I was given Maxitrol eye drops to treat her with. (As far as I am aware no accident had occured and I have no idea how such an impact could have happened) As her eye got worse I returned to the vet and she transfered me to a specialist.
The specialist diagnosed that an ulcer had formed on the eye due to the fact that she was not blinking which may have been caused by nerve damage. She gritted the eye for the ulcer to heal and prescribed fucithalmic ointment.
I have been back to my vet since and the ulcer has improved but is clearing rather slowly.
Polly has been very subdued and tends to hide away in her little house quite al lot but has been eating and drinking normally. I am still applying the fucithalmic ointment on a regular basis.
This morning when I checked on her I noticed that most of her food was still left in her bowl and as I examined her eyes I noticed to my horror that the other eye is showing exactly the same symptoms as her first eye did about a months ago.
There is a small bit of encrusted discharge and it looks inflamed and is bulging slightly.
Basically the theory of this being caused by an impact injury makes no sense anymore.
I am not certain but I don't think she is blinking either and I am keeping her eyes moist with vidisic eye drops.
I am not able to go to my vet today but booked an appointment first thing Monday morning.
Another thing occured to me as i am writing her medical history down: The day before the first problem occured she was vaccinated against myxomatosis. At the time I did not see a link but I am beginning to wonder now:
Part of the reasons is that two of her babies (now 11.5) almost died after being vaccinated against myxo a few days ago. They are recovering now and will be sent home today after a 3 day stay at the vet's) - I posted a thread about it a few days ago in this section.

Additional information: I bred Polly myself, in fact she was the one doe I kept from my first litter last year. She had two litters this year - One in early spring and the last one in Summer.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Hmmm I really don't have experience with myxomatosis, but I can say it does seem a bit conicidental that both her and the babies have displayed symptoms after their vaccinations. I'd agree that it could have something so do with that. I really don't know what though. wish i could help more.=(
I hope someone can offer more than I can as I"m really not experienced with this side of bunnies. Havne't been blessed with having to treat that one.

 

[Sabine]

We had our vet appointment yesterday and the vet could confirm that a small ulcer has started to form again which I am treating now with fucithalmic cream.
Again she could offer no explanation how this is happening.
Polly seems to be not blinking which may be due to some neurological damage. How this can occur I have no idea as I am not in the habit of battering my rabbits:?
She seems very subdued and clearly somewhat vision impaired. The ulcer on the first eye has much improved but the other eye is still slightly bulging and looks very irritated.
I took her inside so I can apply the lubricating ointment and the fucithalmic more regularily.
has anyone heard of nerve damage to rabbits that stops them from blinking? Is there any other explanation?

 

[JimD]

I'm not aware of any conditions that would cause a rabbit not to blink.
Normally, rabbits only blink 10 to 12 times an hour.
Tears and thethird eyelid help keep the eyes moist.

 

[Sabine]

Polly has deteriorated further. She is eating very little and her weight keeps dropping. I also noticed that she looked quite messy around her bottom from urine. I am beginning to wonder if teeth could be a problem. I am totally frustrated that I have to do all this guess work when a vet should have the knowledge...

 

[Pipp]

Ugh, sorry I didn't see this sooner.

I've found that you have to experiment quite a bit with eye antibiotics, and she sounds like she needs a systemic one if she's not on it already.

And pain meds!! The ulcers are very painful.

And it may be an abscess forming back there, she really needs an x-ray when there's a bulge I think.

Please check the Library, here:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Eye_diseases_main.htm

and particularly this entry:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Eye_diseases_main.htm

And I suggest you try posting on Rabbits United, a great UK forum, for myxo jab info (if you haven't already).

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/index.php

This really sounds serious.

She really needs supplemental care right now as well, lots of fluids, food supplements (like Critical Care) and pain meds.


sas ray:

 

[Tuckerbunnies]

This sounds to me like a 'Retrobulber Abscess'the vet will need to do a head x-ray and ultrasound.

 

[Sabine]

Thank you so much for that Pipp.
I am on Rabbits United and I posted about problems I had with the myxo jab there before.
After reading through some of the info in those links from the library I am absolutely convinced that this is caused by the myxoma virus.
I had not thought about pain medication. I must get on to my vet for that. Poor Polly, she is eating a bit but is really quiet.

 

[Sabine]

Tuckerbunnies wrote:

This sounds to me like a 'Retrobulber Abscess'the vet will need to do a head x-ray and ultrasound.

Wht type of absess is that? We did drive to a specialist and she did some tests bu not those ones.

 

[Sabine]

P. S. I am going to ring my vet as soon as they open in about half an hour. I am hoping to make an appointment for 10 o'clock.
More than likely I will have to sell my entire rabbitry to cover vet bills.
I offered full reimbursement to someone who bought two rabbits off me that ended up in intensive care after the vaccine and now this. I am really gutted!