My 7.5 year old holland lop has caraeacts

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dustydog

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Does anyone know if anything can help my bunny who was diagnosed with cataracts in the right eye and starting in left. He has no other symptoms Other than his fur comes out in clumps but not an over amount. I am wondering how bunnies adjust to not being able to see and if I can help him in any way
Thanks
 
My 7 year old nethie became blind about 3 months ago. She's been a real trooper about it. After a few weeks you couldn't tell she can't see at all - most people don't believe me when I say she's blind. You just have to help her by doing obvious simple things : speaking when you come into the room, make noise when you put food or something new down, try to leave things at the same place so that your rabbit won't have any trouble to move around. Of course, don't move your rabbit unless it is absolutely necessary because to put him on the floor suddenly will desorientate him. But honestly, I'm amazed by how well Aki has been doing : she followed the walls, often put her muzzle on her husbunny to check where he was and hesitated a bit while moving during about a month (she was very stressed too, she even had a bout of GI stasis - during this time, I mainly left her alone with her bunny friend, closing the door to their room so that there were no strange noises that could startle her and I made several piles of hay on the floor so it was easier for her to find it) but after that she got used to it very fast. Now she's running around like before. A month ago, we went to my parents' house for the holiday, where she hadn't been for a year, and she went into her cage and little cardboard houses with no hesitation whatsoever (even those with a second floor!) - some things had been moved but she memorized everything after a single tour of the room and I've never seen her bump into anything. She's now back to her feisty, picky self and will fight her husbunny bravely for the last piece of carrot or a few pellets (even without her sight, she's still winning most of the time).
So, I wouldn't really worry about your rabbit. Check that he can access his food easily, try not to startle him and he will get used to his new situation in no time at all.
 
You have put my mind at ease. I will take your advice and let the rest of my family read your reply. After taking him to the vet and knowing he is not in pain and knowing yours little one adjusted makes me feel much better. Thanks again
 
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In case you might be interested, surgery can be done to remove the affected lens to restore some of the rabbit's vision, if you have a specialist vet available that will perform the surgery on rabbits. I did read of a lens replacement that was done, but this was over in the UK, so not sure if vets are doing it here yet.
http://bunnyapproved.com/bunnys-cataract-surgery/
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Eye_diseases/Disorder/Cat/Cat_en.htm

I'm curious about the clumps of fur coming out. Is it around the eyes and did your vet mention why and if it's something that should be treated?
 
I had a rabbit who was deaf and then later went blind (she was born deaf and went blind due to E. cuniculi) and she did VERY well. She even liked it when we put new things in her environment (small, soft things, with no potential to harm her) to explore. She was totally normal except that either her husbunn or I had to nudge her into her cage and whatnot for feeding. Her husbunn was a great help though. He knew he wasn't going to get fed until she was in bed, so he'd always find her and get her at bed time and breakfast time.
 
Glad I could help ^^. I hope your bunny will get used to his new situation very fast!
 

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