Bunny runny eyes a worry

Pampered Pets

QQI have two littermate male neutered My one-year-old tomcat has been rabbits. One of them has developed scratching his right ear, which I have slightly watery eyes over the past few been treating with drops from the pet weeks. Is this something I should bother shop. He is scratching less but now the the vet with? ear is swollen and he holds it to one side, A A

I’m sure your vet won’t be bothered but doesn’t seem in pain. Why is this?

by you asking for advice. All Your cat is probably developing an problems, however seemingly small, are aural haematoma in his right ear, best dealt with early as this always gives known as a blood blister. This is usually the best opportunity to solve them. caused by constant ear shaking,

Watery eyes in rabbits are an resulting in burst blood vessels in the important warning sign and I’d pinna, the visible part of the outer ear. recommend a consultation with your You don’t mention whether your cat vet. The problem may be something has been neutered. I have seen many easy to rectify, such as a dusty cases in stray unneutered tomcats, environment causing eye irritation, or a especially the old battle-scarred ones. build up in ammonia levels if the In these cats, fighting may be a factor. bedding is damp. Otherwise, ear mites, ear infections, or a

However, rabbit eye problems are generalised skin problem can cause often related to dental disease, head shaking. particularly if the diet is incorrect. The An aural haematoma will not go away most obvious example of this is a rabbit on its own so a vet consultation is fed on a muesli-type mix. necessary. There are two aims in

Unfortunately many rabbits are still treatment. First, any underlying cause fed in this way and it often leads to needs to be diagnosed and treated. watery eyes before developing into a Secondly, the haematoma must be range of serious conditions. drained, and in the majority of cases this

Rabbits selectively feed on the requires a simple operation performed sweet parts of muesli and neglect to under general anaesthetic. eat the bits that contain calcium. To I treat aural haematomas by draining compensate for this, calcium is leached them and suturing the inner and outer out of the bone system, particularly the part of the pinna together to prevent skull, which becomes softer. swelling reoccurring. Other vets carry

Teeth do not grind down properly, so out other equally effective operations. become too long and put pressure on If not treated, the haematoma will the tear ducts. If these block, it results in become fibrous resulting in collapse of watery eyes, or the rabbit can develop the pinna, eventually developing into a abscesses in its lower jaw. ‘cauliflower’ ear. This is not ideal as the

During the consultation your vet will ear will then be prone to constant ensure your rabbit’s diet is suitable, infection due to poor drainage, with examine its tear ducts, which can be little possibility of a permanent cure. flushed if necessary, and treat any ●

conjunctival infection with antibiotics.

For more on diet, see rspca.org.uk/ adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits.