Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A My Dear Aging Max: Receding Eyeballs

Viewing 19 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Deleted User
      Participant
      22064 posts Send Private Message

         Max is the 5-year-old Flemish neutered buck bonded to my beloved Sam, about whose arthritis I wrote yesterday — my two geriatrics. (Flemish as large rabbits don’t live so long and for the first four years of his life Max lived in a barn which increased weather related stresses to his system, which ultimately may shorten his life).  

         

        I am finally taking Max in to the vet (in the process of making an appointment, at any rate) in general to do bloodwork, explore the eye issue more closely and get his arthritis (much less marked than Sam’s) diagnosed.  I tried to read up on this particular symptom of receding eyes and found very little.  My best resource suggested two different options – e cunniculi or a situation where the gland above the eye becomes enlarged and pushes it down.  I did start preventatively treating for e cunniculi, but I can easily see the ropy thick gland above the eye on both sides and wondered if anyone had any experience with such a thing.  I am worried for my dear Max.  He is the goofiest, most outgoing, zany fun bun when he is healthy, but he is unhappy right now.  I give him some of Sam’s metacam and he feels much better, but he needs his own diagnoses and meds.  I just hope we can get something set up soon.  My rabbits really are my kids — I just obsess when something is not right with one of them and cannot rest.  They are just so fragile and gentle and loving and utterly dependent.  and it seems I never know enough in time.

         

        I guess one thing I’m really curious about is whether there is a link between kidney disease and receding eyes, as kidney disease s very common to older rabbits . . . and part of why I want the full blood panel (thank goodness for the tax refund!)

         

        I certainly appreciate any comments or thoughts people may have.


      • Deleted User
        Participant
        22064 posts Send Private Message

           Here’s a picture of my goofy boy, Max.


        • Sarita
          Participant
          18851 posts Send Private Message

            Oh, he’s gorgeous! I’ve heard the e. cunniculi thing as well. Also BinkyBunny’s rabbit Vivian has been diagnosed with glaucoma, so perhaps that’s a possibility.

            Please keep us updated on what the vet says.


          • Deleted User
            Participant
            22064 posts Send Private Message

              Glaucoma is an interesting thought— my baby boy Bronson inherited the bu-bu gene for glaucoma and his eye nearly exploded when he was young so I have always thought of glaucoma as excess pressure. So it can be reduced pressure too? Would make sense because as I understand it it is really just the malfunction of the distant branch of the tear duct. . . .

              Oh, yes, I will keep you updated. . . . I just wish I would hear from the vet about an appointment. I just get too obsessed!

              And thank you for your concern.


            • RabbitPam
              Moderator
              11002 posts Send Private Message

                He’s really adorable and cuddly. Persist in getting the vet to see him. I’d like to know how he makes out as well. If you have any vet concerns, you can check out the listings via the links we have at the top of the forum section and input your zip code to search for other exotics vets. It never hurts to have a second opinion as a back up handy if you need to call someone else.


              • jerseygirl
                Moderator
                22338 posts Send Private Message

                  Both Sam and Max are beautiful rabbits! This picture creates a funny effect. Made me think of a Lilliputian resting on a Giant bunny pillow. Lol

                  I hope you’re able to find out what the cause is. Is the tissue around his eye losing elasticity at all? Or the surrounding tissue seem more swollen? If more fatty or retaining fluid, it could make the eyeball seem like its receding. It almost appears like it sags. Equally, if the eyeball has receded then the space created could appear like sagging or excess tissue. Confusing!


                • peppypoo
                  Participant
                  1945 posts Send Private Message

                    Oh no, poor bun!

                    Glaucoma is actually a pattern of optic nerve damage that can be caused by a number of different factors, but most often by increased pressure inside the eye. This can be because too much of the normal internal eye fluid is being produced, or the outflow drainage is being blocked (not quite the tear duct though). I can’t say for certain since I’m not a vet, but I don’t feel like glaucoma would be the cause of something like this.

                    It’s also possible that the changing appearance of his eyes could be due to nerve damage, weakening and sagging the eyelids and surrounding muscles. It’s a little difficult to tell from the picture exactly what the changes are, and I’m not entirely sure by your description. However, overgrowth of tissue behind the eye is definitely a symptom that is seen in some conditions (such as excess thyroid function), though it usually causes the eyes to bulge outward as opposed to receding.

                    I hope you find some answers to Max’s problem, and do keep us updated! He looks like quite the goofy character indeed .


                  • LittlePuffyTail
                    Moderator
                    18092 posts Send Private Message

                      Max is such a cutie pie. I don’t have any advice for you but want to wish you luck at the vet.


                    • Deleted User
                      Participant
                      22064 posts Send Private Message

                         Hi RabbitPam-  Good to meet you.  Your bun is a doll.  

                        I was more concerned about Max last night and had hoped to drop him off at VCA for our rabbit specialist to see (I prefer appointments but will do the drop off in emergencies) this morning but I know she has a tightly packed schedule and did not hear back from her.  Hopefully I can do a drop off with him tomorrow morning.  He is just more agitated.  Of course, due to Sam’s new cart, routines are being altered a lot and Max may feel Sam is getting more attention, which would be reason for agitation. . . . But I sense he is cranky because he is hurting more.  I will be glad to get the vet’s opinion.  Vetwise I’m very fortunate.  My original vet is a vet hospital which is now quite a distance but which has many rabbit specialists; in my new location, the rabbit specialist is a real hot-shot specialist (someone my other vets would refer to), but because she is associated with a vet hospital it is easy to leave rabbits off for treatment and still get done the work I need to do.  And I go back to my more original vet for some just general mainenance care to maintain ties.  You are right- it is good always to have a source of a second opinion.


                      • Deleted User
                        Participant
                        22064 posts Send Private Message

                           Thanks for your good wishes, Little Puffy Tail!


                        • Deleted User
                          Participant
                          22064 posts Send Private Message

                             PeppyPoo, thanks for the thoughtful response.  I also tend not to think glaucoma because of that books mention of the disease with the increased size of the glands above the eye and their visibility.  The picture I posted is not a recent one of his eyes as they are  now.  Normally he is the most bright-eyed, inquisitive guy, but his eyes are not only receding/other parts enlarging, they are duller and seemingly less active. . . . I wonder if this could be a response to getting cataracts?  Well, hopefully we’ll have the answer soon.


                          • Deleted User
                            Participant
                            22064 posts Send Private Message

                              What we do for our buns! I just heard from the vet and the only way I can get him in to see her before next week is to take the 3:00 appointment this afternoon. I have a 1.5 hour commute, and she is another 45 minutes away . . . basically this means I will be taking a significant paycut this week due to not being able to work the full 40 hours (or anywhere near it); but my Max, he’s definitely woth it!


                            • Sarita
                              Participant
                              18851 posts Send Private Message

                                Let us know what the vet says.

                                I’m all for drop off appt’s too – that is the only way I can really get my rabbit’s to the vet and it works out for the vet too.


                              • RabbitPam
                                Moderator
                                11002 posts Send Private Message

                                  Drop offs are excellent for the vet, the patient and you. My vet was able to see her drop offs between appointments, or during a blocked off time of day when she wouldn’t schedule appointments. Sometimes it allows them to watch your bunny for progress over time that day too.
                                  It’s always hard to deal with the logistics of work and medical care, for ourselves as well as our pets. Am I the only ancient one who remembers docs that came to the house?

                                  We have a thing we do here where we send {{{{{{{{{{{{{healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}. Some of our members swear it helps!


                                • Deleted User
                                  Participant
                                  22064 posts Send Private Message

                                    RabbitPam-thanks for the (((((healing vibes)))))! Funny thing- I can’t be late for this appointment becausee afterward the vet is making a housecall. . . . Yes, a few still do! Thank goodness!


                                  • Deleted User
                                    Participant
                                    22064 posts Send Private Message

                                       This was the first my vet had met Max and she immediately understood why I had said I always expected Max to outlive Sam by quite a bit-he’s just a sturdier rabbit.  We did bloodwork, which was very good, but the CBC (blood cell count) won’t get back till today.  The vet said the sinking eyes at this point looked like nothing more than the fat in the face reorganizing itself even as it does on human faces as we age.  But I pointed out it was the pain he  was having in the eye that led me to put him on Metacam so that one’s still up in the air.  As he is slowing down, we will put him on both Cosequin (glucosamine for cats) and Adequan, just like Sam, to delay any arthritis or back strain issues.  I think there has got to be something off in the CBC.  While there have been some stresses he may be responding too, he is suddenly remarkably low in energy and spirits. . . He just doesn’t seem himself.  But maybe he just needs to get a little more spring fever!

                                       

                                      Thanks for everybody’s concern. 


                                    • Sarita
                                      Participant
                                      18851 posts Send Private Message

                                        Hmmm….doesn’t seem like you got much answered – that can be frustrating. You mentioned kidney disease – I’m not sure about any eye problems with that. I’ve only experienced this a few times and my rabbits who suffered from kidney failure went pretty fast. They slept alot mainly and the only thing that kept them going was sub-q fluids – I didn’t really know that is what the problem was initially – I cannot remember know what initially it was to tell you the truth it was awhile ago. But I also remember lack of appetite as being a problem.


                                      • Deleted User
                                        Participant
                                        22064 posts Send Private Message

                                          He’s just so low in energy. I wonder if the CBC won’t come back showing he has mild anemia or something . . . Anyway, a lot of time’s vets just have good hypotheses-no answers. We’re keeping an eye on things. And certainly gettinghim started on the cosequin and adequan can’t be a bad thing. . . Thanks for your concern.


                                        • BinkyBunny
                                          Moderator
                                          8776 posts Send Private Message

                                            I am so sorry. I know this must be very worrisome. It’s hard to see our animals suffering and not be able to solve the issue right away. Has the receding been gradual or did you notice a real difference one day, actually related to discomfort or pain. I am wondering if pain elsewhere (due to arthritis, nerve pain) may be stressing him and thus tiring him out a bit, which then leads the the drawn face muscles that would make his eyes look like they are receding.
                                            I am not familiar with strokes in bunnies, but also wonder if that is a possibility too.

                                            The thing is, when you gave him pain med relief, he seemed better, right? Did the vet prescribe pain meds for now? Or did she want to wait on the bloodwork? Even if it is arthritis, though glucosamine can help, it takes time to take affect, over weeks, and even then pain relief may still need to be given in more severe cases. Just wondering if your vet addressed that possibility. Is there any movement issues?

                                            xrays revealed that my bunny Jack had arthritis in his spine – though luckily Jack was not in severe pain. (Though I had pain meds on hand on days where he seemed a little more uncomfortable) and he too was on a glucosamine mix that was flavored for vegetarian animals so it was definitely more palpable. Sometimes the cat stuff has a fish or meat flavor.

                                            Also, has Max urination habits been normal? Does he strain to urinate or does he sit funny or uncomfortable at times. Just wondering if something is going on in his bladder that is making him uncomfortable. And again, that discomfort is causing distress, which shows in the muscles in his face somehow.

                                            By the way Max is GORGEOUS! What a handsome boy! .


                                          • jerseygirl
                                            Moderator
                                            22338 posts Send Private Message

                                              A former forum leader was a vet tech and gave the tip that the human version, Cosamin DS, is often cheaper.

                                          Viewing 19 reply threads
                                          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A My Dear Aging Max: Receding Eyeballs