Are bunny’s runny eyes a concern?
QI have two littermate male neutered rabbits. One of them has developed slightly watery eyes over the past few weeks. Is this something I should bother the vet with?
AI’m sure your vet won’t be bothered by you asking for advice. All problems, however seemingly small, are best dealt with early as this always gives the best chance to solve them.
Watery eyes in rabbits are an important warning sign and I’d recommend a consultation with your vet. The problem may be something easy to rectify, such as a dusty environment causing eye irritation, or a build up in ammonia levels if the bedding is damp.
However, rabbit eye problems are often related to dental disease, particularly if the diet is incorrect. The most obvious example of this is a rabbit fed on a muesli-type mix.
Unfortunately many rabbits are still fed in this way and it often leads to watery eyes before developing into a range of serious conditions.
Rabbits selectively feed on the sweet parts of muesli and neglect to eat the bits that contain calcium. To compensate for this, calcium is leached out of the bone system, particularly the skull, which becomes softer.
Teeth do not grind down properly, so become too long and put pressure on the tear ducts. If these block, it results in watery eyes, or the rabbit can develop abscesses in its lower jaw.
During the consultation your vet will ensure your rabbit’s diet is suitable, examine its tear ducts, which can be flushed if necessary, and treat any conjunctival infection with antibiotics.
For more on bunny diets, see rspca. org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/ rabbits
QMy one-year-old tomcat has been scratching his right ear, which I have been treating with drops from the pet shop. He is scratching less but now the ear is swollen and he holds it to one side, but doesn’t seem in pain. Why is this?
AYour cat is probably developing an aural haematoma in his right ear, known as a blood blister. This is usually caused by constant ear shaking, resulting in burst blood vessels in the pinna, the visible part of the outer ear.
You don’t mention whether your cat has been neutered. I have seen many cases in stray unneutered tomcats, especially the old battle-scarred ones.
In these cats, fighting may be a factor. Otherwise, ear mites, ear infections, or a generalised skin problem can cause head shaking.
An aural haematoma will not go away on its own so a vet consultation is necessary. There are two aims in treatment. First, any underlying cause needs to be diagnosed and treated. Secondly, the haematoma must be drained, and in the majority of cases this requires a simple operation performed under general anaesthetic.
I treat aural haematomas by draining them and suturing the inner and outer part of the pinna together to prevent swelling reoccurring. Other vets carry out other equally effective operations.
If not treated, the haematoma will become fibrous resulting in collapse of the pinna, eventually developing into a ‘cauliflower’ ear. This is not ideal as the ear will then be prone to constant infection due to poor drainage, with little possibility of a permanent cure.