Eye diseases in rabbits cause a lot of inconvenience in the process of their maintenance and require veterinary intervention, and sometimes surgical.
Rabbit Eye Disease
Common rabbit eye diseases
Rabbit eye disease can be triggered by various factors. All ophthalmic diseases in animals by veterinarians into three main groups:
- appeared in the process of inflammation,
- formed during exposure to infectious pathogens,
- acquired from parents, that is, congenital.
Inflammatory processes and the associated redness are mainly infectious in nature and less likely to occur due to allergic reactions, traumatologically, or due to other injuries.
Among the most common inflammatory infectious diseases in rabbits, various cases of abscesses are recorded, which are caused by various etiologies of infectious pathogens. The initial symptom of such disorders is purulent discharge from the orbits. In this case, most often veterinarians note infectious lesions of the organs of vision as a result of infection through the blood and in cases of rabbit tooth disease. The cases of abscesses end with surgical intervention with the removal of the organ of vision and subsequent therapy with drugs from the antibiotic group.
Only timely access to veterinary care will help avoid rabbit vision loss and preserve their visual organs.
No less often, eye diseases in rabbits are observed in the form of the appearance of neoplasms, which can occur in a single or multiple form, small or reaching large sizes. They can be based on benign or malignant formations. Factors of the regular appearance and growth of neoplasms are clarified on the basis of cell sampling and laboratory studies. Surgical intervention in most episodes results in removal of the organ of vision.
Among the frequent inflammations:
- problems with redness of the mucosa (conjunctivitis),
- corneal problems (keratitis),
- inflammation of the membrane (uveitis),
- inflammatory eye problems with white discharge (dacryocystitis).
Among other pathologies, it is often noted:
- tumor states of the eye orbit,
- corneal ulcerative process,
- cataract and glaucoma.
A separate category is the description of the protrusion of the eyeballs in rabbits, called exophthalmos.
Inflammatory eye diseases
Conjunctivitis
In the process of irritation of the iris with hay and sawdust dust and other tiny particles, inflammation of the mucosa occurs. At the same time, the cause of the disease can be a high ammonia concentration accumulated due to untimely cell harvesting. Allergic reactions and infections cause a secondary type of conjunctivitis. Among the symptoms - the eye reddened in the rabbit, swam and begins to tear, eyelids swollen, purulent discharge begins. The rabbits begin to squint, their eyes are stuck together, the wool near them is wet, the animals do not open them for a long time.
Treatment of sick rabbit eyes with conjunctivitis is directly related to the causes of the inflammatory process.
Non-infectious edema of the eyes in rabbits is treated by regular washing with a solution of manganese, the red eye can be treated with boric acid, anti-inflammatory drops drip, which often include antibiotics.
Red-eyed white hares are more prone to allergic conjunctivitis than a black hare.
The tetracycline antibiotic group is widely used to relieve eye inflammation in rabbits in the treatment of infectious conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis of the eye in rabbits can be treated using antihistamines.
Keratitis
This name defines the processes when the cornea is sick and inflamed. Clogged lacrimal channels and traumatic injuries of the eyeball are often the cause of this eye disease in rabbits. It can be a consequence of vitamin deficiency in adults and rabbits.
Among the symptoms of keratitis are:
- clouded irises with a white film
- non-standard reaction of the rabbit to light due to increased photosensitivity,
- purulent discharge.
With keratitis manifestations, cleaning treatment is first and foremost, the sick eyes are washed. For treatment, ointments and drops with anti-inflammatory effects are prescribed, together with a group of antibiotics. It is possible to alleviate the painful sensations of animals if atropine therapy is done.
Uveitis
This rabbit eye disease is an inflammatory process of the membrane due to the presence of infection, parasites or as a result of trauma. Symptoms of uveitis include decreased eye pressure, adhesions, and other changes in the lens. Outwardly, rabbit eye disease looks like a blurred eyeball, tearing and photophobia. Rabbits lose their visual ability.
It is treated with antibiotics and hormonal drugs with a vasodilating property.
Other eye pathologies
Cataract
This can be a congenital disease or a defect develops due to aging of the animal. In addition to these reasons, cataracts can develop under the influence of parasites. Outwardly, this disease looks like cloudy lenses with spots. One or two eyes may be affected.
Treatment of cataracts is carried out only with therapy, which helps to alleviate the condition. In this case, eye drops are prescribed in accordance with the etiology.
Glaucoma
It is expressed as an increase in eye pressure and is placed during a veterinary examination. Externally, at home, it can be detected due to the bulge of the eyeball. Therapy in rare cases leads to a relief, often ends with surgical removal.
Exophthalmos
It occurs due to an abscess formed from the inner wall of the eyeball. The reasons are incorrect tooth growth in the animal or their improper grinding. As a result, an abscess by pressure displaces the eye beyond the orbit of the eye. The consequence of this is the drying of the mucosa, since the eyelids do not close completely, subsequently a corneal ulcer develops. How it looks, you can look at the photo and video.
Treatment of exophthalmos is not carried out, surgical removal is performed.
Corneal ulcer
It is obtained with erosive changes of a chronic nature, due to reduced immunity, but may also be a consequence of traumatic effects. It usually begins with an inflammatory symptom when a film has fallen. The process ends with the necrosis of the film that appeared on the eyeball.
Treatment consists in the surgical removal of the resulting film and the subsequent administration of antibiotics. Atropine drops will reduce pain.
Epiphora
This name indicates increased tear, which may be due to:
- inflammatory processes in the lacrimal sac that swell,
- blocked lacrimal canals, the eye flows and gets wet,
- inversion of the eyelids or abnormal growth of cilia.
Increased lacrimation sometimes occurs under pressure from the roots of the incisors on the lacrimal canal, completely or partially blocking it.
Epiphora can be treated if the stagnant liquid is washed, reducing irritation. Pressing incisors are removed and a course of antibiotics is prescribed.
Myxomatosis
It does not apply to eye diseases, but leads to damage to the organs of vision in the first days when rabbits get sick after receiving a viral infection.
In myxomatosis, there are two main forms - edematous and nodular. With the edematous form of myxomatosis, purulent conjunctivitis begins. In animals, the eyes begin to redden and watery, the eyelids swell with simultaneous swelling of the nasal cavity, cones are formed in rabbits in front of the eyes. With the nodular form of myxomatosis, the eyelids stick together in animals, nodules appear in the eye and nasal cavity.
Myxomatosis is cured only in the early stages. Rabbits can infect myxomatosis of newborn rabbits.
Treatment of a viral infection is possible with the use of injectable antibiotics, but only a few individuals recover. The best way to prevent the disease is to prevent it with vaccination.
Antiseptic agents are used for complex eye therapy, including potassium permanganate and furatsilin.
