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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny with itchy eye, has anyone ever had anything like this?

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    • KairiNamine
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        Hi everyone

        I’m new to the forum. I thought I’d join and see if any of you rabbit lovers have ever come across this problem. 

        I have 2 mini lops, Namine and Kairi. They are both outdoor bunnies. This Sunday morning we woke up to find that Kairi was scratching her right eye. Looking closely we could see that clear fluid was leaking down her chin and the area around that eye was swollen. We rushed her to the emergency vet and they tried a dye to check for any ulcers and blockages. Everything was fine and as she was eating drinking and pooping, they gave her some painkillers and sent her home.

         Later that day her scratching got so bad that we noticed a little red spot on top of her head. Also she had now stopped eating We rushed her back. This time they gave her something to keep her digestive system running and gave us a cone to try to stop her from damaging her head any further. They told us that this is something that our normal vet would have to deal with in the morning.

        Monday morning, I took her to our vet first thing. She had taken off her cone in the evening and so had scratched at her head all night long. Her head was so itchy by this point that her foot seemed to forever be at her head. She was also laying with her head tilted alot. Our normal vet kept her in, put her under to check her over properly. They checked the fluid from her eyes and said there just was a lot of white blood cells. They said her teeth were bad (she has had teeth problems before) but they didn’t think this was causing it. As she could hop around properly they also ruled out any neurological causes.

        They gave her more injections to try to calm down the scratching and the swelling around her eye. They sent her home with eye drops and tablets to reduce the inflammation. Last night she was spasming from her itchiness and making whimpering noises when I tried to stop her. She has been eating a few bits of greens and banana but not her pellets or hay. She is drinking ALOT.

        The vets don’t know what is causing this and if it will go away but they have suggested I wait 2 more days and I suppose after that she will have to be put down.

        Has anyone heard of anything like this? Any idea what could be causing this? I’m desperate to save her. She clearly wants to eat and move but every movement seems to set off the scratching.


      • Bam
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          Did she get antihistamines by the vet? It helps against histamine-mediated itches.

          Some animals have allergic reactions to flea saliva. Could she have been bit by a flea? Did she get any antiparasitics (ivermectin, Selamectin) at the vets? In case she has a skin parasite (mites, fleas etc) the itching could go on even after the parasites have been killed by an antiparasitic medicine.

          I hope others here have more ideas. It sounds very uncomfortable for her. Would a cool compress on the head help soothe the itch?


        • Luna
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            Can you have her stay indoors for a couple days to see if maybe something environmental outside is causing it? I’d also keep her strictly on hay and water to see if maybe other foods are causing it somehow. Namine is unaffected? Luna sends vibes ((((Kairi))))


          • KairiNamine
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              Yeah I have had her set up indoors since it all began, we had to separate them as Namine seems to be fine and I don’t want her to catch it if it’s contagious. Unfortunately as she is not eating her hay and pellets we have to give her greens as the vet says it’s important for her to be eating anything. It’s still in there as an option for her just incase but I haven’t seen her touch them once.
              I had thought antihistamines would help too but I don’t know if they gave her any.
              They have given her the following injections;
              Ranitidine
              Colvasone
              Buprenorphine
              Metacam
              I think you’re right bam, she seems to be constantly wetting her face in her bowl so I wonder if she is trying to soothe it. I tried blowing on her head and she seemed to like that for a bit.
              I’ve got my fingers crossed that the itching somehow heals. She seems brighter today, she hopped around our room but she is still having crazy itching spasms


            • Luna
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                A cool damp washcloth on the itchy area might help.


              • Bam
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                  Ranitidine is a gult motility drug. colvasone is a corticosteroid which would help with itching and inflammation. Bupenorphine is an opioid painkiller, Meatcam is an NSAID, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that’s also a painkiller. Your vet seems to be taking this seriously, and that’s of course good.

                  Drinking a lot can signify lots of things, from the simplest (distraction from itching/pain) to more severe things. Dipping her head in the water bowl is, as you’re saying, most likely an attempt at alleviating the itch. Whatever she eats now is good, she must kep her strenght and her gut must have food in it.

                  Alumininium acetotartrate solution (ALSOL) can be used on insect bites and suchlike to stop itching and inflammation. It can’t be used in an eye though, because it’s highly astringent.


                • KairiNamine
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                    She’s now grinding her teeth on top of everything . She has another appointment tomorrow

                    I’ve attached a photo of her now and a few days ago.


                  • Luna
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                      She’s beautiful . Please keep us updated. ((((Kairi))))


                    • Bam
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                        Poor little darling
                        I hope there will be improvement.


                      • jerseygirl
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                          {{{Kairi}}}

                          It does sound like a bite of some sort. Maybe a spider? Has she been checked for ticks or chigger mites?

                           Or could she had a grass seed lodged up high under the lid on in the skin somewhere?
                          She may need an increase in pain meds/anti inflammatory if she’s uncomfortable.


                        • jerseygirl
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                            What type of teeth problems has she had before? Is the pressure in her eye being affected at all?

                            Maybe xray or CT scan can provide vets further information??


                          • KairiNamine
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                              She’s been to the vets again this week. They are happy with how her eye is progressing and have now given her antibiotics as she has managed to get an infection under her neck.
                              She’s getting her naughtiness back which makes taking care of her difficult as she bites, but I’m pleased that she’s feeling well enough to do so!
                              Still scratching but with longer breaks between scratching episodes.
                              She has been booked in for a dental next week as well, her back teeth are apparently bad. I’m not sure if they’re overgrown or if they just grow at odd angles.
                              She had to have it done last year too and apparently will have to have it done throughout her life


                            • Bam
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                                I’m so glad she’s improving!

                                Dental buns need their teeth trimmed throughout their lives. Hay-eating should be encouraged because hay wears down teeth. Twigs like apple and willow can also help a bit.

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                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny with itchy eye, has anyone ever had anything like this?