Bad Eyesight = Skittish?

[Binkles]

Hi everybody. I’ve always wondered if Little-Bit might have bad eyesight. 

She’s always been extremely skittish, and she’s always done this lateral scanning motion when she is focused really intently on something. I know vertical scanning a few times is normal, but Peter has never done lateral scanning and Binkles never did it either. Little-Bit also does vertical scanning in addition to lateral when she is investigating something, but it will take her FOREVER to sum it up. Often times she will tip-toe VERY SLOWLY up to the object while scanning, and it may literally take her minutes to move 12 inches.

She also gets very alarmed when I wear unfamiliar shoes. Not just wary -alarmed. You would think that a hawk was circling. Commence the scanscanscanscanscanscan slow tip-toe scanscanscanscanscanscan slow tip-toe.

If she is laying down across the room and I move -if I move an arm in a normal way- unless I do it slowly, UP goes the bunny! If I come around the corner and she’s there, OHGODIT’SAMONSTER! She is so high-stress and excitable at the smallest things. I’m afraid that she’s going to have a heart attack someday. And even if she doesn’t, I hate that she is practically anxious every second of every day.

In terms of her anxiety, it used to be a little better, but ever since I got Peter I feel like she can’t let down because there’s always a chance he’ll *move*. Now admittedly, there is some merit to this because Peter has a tendency to throw his weight around and bowl her over (inadvertently or otherwise). But I know that some of this anxiety is due to the fact that she is naturally high-stress for whatever reason.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to help her? I feel like it must be her eyesight, because she fits all of the definitions.

.

[jerseygirl]

Scanning is more common with REW’s but i’ve learnt some dark eyes buns will do it also. You often read the side-to-side scanning is to with poor vision but I’m not convinced. I’ve seen my friends REW do it and its like he’s sleeping. True, REW animals might have more limited vision but I don’t think scanning is related.

I found this description of what it is:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/albino-rabbits-1.htm
Please note the term “natural nystagmus” in this answer. That is, nystagmus at a normal rate. Not the exaggerated eye movement sometimes accompanied with hilt tilt also termed nystagmus.

My rabbit Jelly (not a REW) had full cataracts from early age and did the head bob thing but never scanned. I’m convinced he had some sort of vision.

It sounds as if Little-Bit is high strung and easily startled. Does she startle as easily around Peter?

Often times she will tip-toe VERY SLOWLY up to the object while scanning, and it may literally take her minutes to move 12 inches.

When she does this is it the up and down head movement? And she moves all robotic-like?

[Binkles]

Little-Bit did have legit ear infection related nystagmus when she first came to me as a waaaaayyy underage ween. Back then she did the eye thing too, but once her infection cleared up her eyes have never rolled since. I had always just assumed that the persistent lateral scanning thing was related to permanent damage done by the ear infection.

She isn’t a REW, but I am convinced that Little-Bit has vision issues. I know that bunnies have bad vision in general, but hers seems to be exceptionally bad. She does a good job navigating the house but when something new appears or motions are made, it just seems like she has a prohibitively hard time ascertaining the situation. I’ve never seen another bunny be quite so confused by new or sudden things as Little-Bit. I always attributed it to her being a bit aloof due to being weened too early/ assaulted with an ear infection. But the lateral scanning thing makes me wonder.

She only does it when she is REALLY intently focused on something. Stranger yet, she always seems to do it to the leeeeeeeeeeeeft. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen her do it toward the right actually. This was also the direction her eyes rolled in while she had the ear infection.

And yes, her startle reaction is heightened when Peter is around. Though I had her for two and a half years before I got Peter, so I know that her excitability is not entirely due to his presence. 

The slow tip-toe is accompanied only by the vertical scanning. (I think?) I have known both Peter and Binkles to do the vertical scanning thing as well, but neither of them took nearly as long to ascertain the situation. I think in general Peter and Binkles were at least able to identify inanimate objects as not being a *threat* pretty quickly. Little-Bit treats it like a cobra about to strike. She will literally move one paw at a time, even her legs, and very slowly. I think it may be mostly dark items. Especially dark items that I have moved. Like I said, she cannot ascertain dark objects+at the bottom of Mommy’s legs=shoes. Until I have demonstrated taking them off very slowly and shown them to her.

Edit: It is also pretty common for her to come running for food from across the room and smacking right into the food bowl as I am setting it down. 

Edit 2: She ALSO has trouble convincing herself to jump onto things. Even things that are like, a foot off the ground. Even if she sees Peter do it. It makes me think that something must be making her have doubts as to whether or not she can trust that there is a solid surface up there.

[Binkles]

Interesting article by Dana Krempels. Although I would like to place a label of extreme caution on that article because it may lead some owners away from suspecting ear infection (or even E. Cunniculi). If that article had existed when I first got Little-Bit, I probably wouldn’t have even suspected ear infection and it would have probably gone unchecked for months. A mistake that a baby bunny especially cannot afford.

[jerseygirl]

Oh gosh, you’re right. The question the person asked only says “head is rocking side to side” and could easily be description of tilting the head too. :\

She only does it when she is REALLY intently focused on something. Stranger yet, she always seems to do it to the leeeeeeeeeeeeft. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen her do it toward the right actually. This was also the direction her eyes rolled in while she had the ear infection.

That’s interesting. Does she sometimes tilt her head at times when stressed?

Has a vet checked her eyes in previous check ups?

[Binkles]

No head tilt and no abnormal eye nystagmus, just the scanning motion. I know the vet does full examinations -and she’s been in pretty regularly for the last few years due to her molar spurs. Two different vets and neither have said anything about her eyes, although I have never remembered to specifically bring that up.

One other thing, she likes to pause and touch close-by objects with her nose as she’s passing them, and this is always her first order when I let them out into the rest of the house. Like, she has to have a solid five minutes of exploring around the house and establishing where things are at. I know bunnies like to map their surroundings, but shouldn’t once or twice be enough? Not every time she leaves the room? Peter doesn’t seem to do this to this degree and I don’t remember Binkles doing it that much either.

[jerseygirl]

Maybe that gives her sense of security? She does seem to be a nervy little bun. Could definitely be exacerbated by poor vision.

Just a thought… Is she more like this where you live now or it’s always been this way? Their sense of smell is exceptional so I’m just wondering if she’s sensing a smell that makes her extra wary. Same goes for hearing. Like if a close neighbour has a pet moving about. I’ve had my sisters dog in the kitchen a couple nights this week and it had a definite effect on some of my crew. One was particularly skittish.

[Velvet]

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/122672/Default.aspx

Here’s more on the subject, as I was thinking the same way……………….

[Author]

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