Radar had an unspecified rhinitis -- slight wheezing, watery eyes (both), but it wasn't a respiratory infection nor his teeth. His bonded mate kept his eyes clean and he didn't have much of a discharge. The Vet just shrugged and gave me eye ointment. It didn't get better or worse. He was eventually prescribed a systemic antibiotic, but 20/20 hindsight, I shouldn't have bothered, it caused a digestive issue.
Pipp gets a watery eye most likely because of her dental issues. I haven't treated it other then wiping it down.
And Mister has what may be conjunctivitis, although from what I'm reading, maybe dacryocystitis. It clears up with the ointment.
Here are excerpts from two of my favorite articles...
http://www.stmarysvets.co.uk/infoa3.html#dacryocystitis
'Conjunctivitis' in rabbits (dacryocystitis)
Discharges from the eyes of cats and dogs are usually associated with a conjunctivitis. With rabbits it is much more likely to involve the tear duct (dacryocystitis)
Causes
Infectious causes include Pasturella and Staphylococcal bacteria. The infection is often localised in the tear duct. Inflammation and pus can cause obstruction of the duct. Tears and discharge will then overflow down the side of the face. The tear duct courses from the eye to the front part of the nose. Along the way it passes close to the roots of the molar and incisor teeth. Dental disease resulting in movement of the teeth roots can cause obstruction of the duct. Nasal infections can extend into the tear duct. High ammonia levels due to infrequent cleaning of the hutch and poor ventilation result in chemical irritation to the eyes and nasal lining predisposing to infections.
Signs
Milky white discharges may be seen on the eyelid margins or running down the face. With complete tear duct obstruction watery tear overflow may be the main sign. Fur on the side of the face below the eye is often damp or matted. The skin under the eye may become inflammed due to the constant wetting.
Treatment
The infection is usually focused in the tear duct. Antibiotics placed on the eye depend on normal drainage to reach the tear duct. If partial or complete blockage of the tear duct is present then this will not occur and treatment will fail. Flushing the tear ducts under local anaesthetic will remove the obstruction and allow antibiotic penetration. Oral antibiotics may need to be combined with eye drops to deal with underlying nasal infections. If the primary problem relates to tooth roots impinging on the tear duct or scarring of the duct is present then the signs may never resolve completely. In these cases treatment revolves around minimising the effects, especially the tear overflow causing facial dermatitis. Clipping the fur to prevent matting and applying vasaline to the skin to prevent wetting will help keep the skin healthy.
and this one...
http://www.petmd.com/rabbit/conditions/nose/c_rb_rhinitis_sinusitis
Sinus Infections in Rabbits
Rhinitis And Sinusitis
Rhinitis in rabbits is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane. Sinusitis is quite similar; it is an inflammation of the air-filled spaces surrounding the rabbit's sinus or nasal cavity. Both of these conditions can cause respiratory problems and are often noticed because of the rabbit's excessive sneezing and nasal discharge.
Symptoms and Types
There are both acute and chronic forms of rhinitis and sinusitis in rabbits. These can either be contagious, non-infectious, associated with allergies or other conditions, or due to an abnormal or deformed facial bone structure. Some common symptoms for sinusitis and rhinitis include:
- Sneezing
Runny nose (or nasal discharge)
Reduced airflow
Lack of appetite
Slobbering or excessive saliva
Dental disease
Discharge from the eyes or other orifices
Bleeding nose, which may suggest a bacterial infection in the teeth or mouth
Causes
There are many causes for sinusitis and rhinitis in rabbits, and they often are dependent on the type of condition (i.e., infectious or non-infectious form). The more common causes for the non-infectious forms of sinusitis and rhinitis include dental disease, trauma or injury to the face or nose, inhalation of foreign bodies including grass or seeds, allergies, and invasion of the nose by abnormal growth of cells, usually cancerous cells. The infectious forms of these two conditions may be due to bacterial, fungal or viral infections.
Diagnosis
To diagnose sinusitis or rhinitis, a veterinarian will typically perform blood tests and imaging examinations (e.g., X-rays, ultrasounds) to detect pneumonia, as this is a common condition in rabbits for these two cases. Occasionally, bacterial rhinitis will show up in imaging studies.
Swabs and cultures are done from time to time, but may be hard to discern, as some of the organisms in the samples may not be directly responsible for the condition (or opportunistic). Your veterinarian may also make a diagnosis by identifying any bone structure abnormalities or deformities in the rabbit's face or mouth, the latter being a common sign of dental disease.
Treatment
The type of treatment is dependent on the underlying cause for the symptoms. Oxygen is sometimes necessary if the rabbit has trouble breathing; using a humidifier can also help open airways. Other ways to improve respiratory function include washing the affecting area and removing any environmental irritants, especially known allergic items.
Antibiotics may help with cases of rhinitis or sinusitis due to bacterial infections. Often, secondary bacterial infections cause many of the clinical signs associated with these two conditions. And because certain topical nasal decongestants cause some symptoms to worsen, they are not commonly recommended. In these cases, your veterinarian may prescribe antihistamines.
Living and Management
Animals should be provided with a proper, well-balanced diet including a wide selection of fresh greens such as cilantro, romaine lettuce, parsley, dandelion greens and spinach. Recovering rabbits need plenty of fluids at this time, in addition to regular follow-up appointments. This will ensure that the long-term treatment is successful.
Rabbits with the chronic bacterial form of sinusitis are less likely to completely eliminate all symptoms. However, it is possible to control the disease's clinical symptoms with proper care and education.
Hope this helps!
sas :clover: