Vet appt on Weds - Runny Eye

Question
Hi Dana,

My lop Ella is 5 years old. Over the years she has had a runny eye 3 times. My vet has prescribed Ciloxan to treat this and it has always cleared. Ella had a recurrence about a month ago. I used Ciloxan and the eye seemed to clear up. Her eye began tearing again about a week later. The discharge is white/clear. I am keeping the eye clean with warm compresses and administering Ciloxan again.  

She will see her vet on Sept 1 for her annual check up and also to address the eye. I am worried there is something else going on since the issue recurred. She is eating pellets, greens and hay, drinking water and acting normally. She lives with another rabbit who is not showing any symptoms.

My understanding is this could be dental, a tear duct issue or bacterial - what should I ask my vet/have done to determine the cause and get her healthy again?

Thank you!
Alison

Answer
Dear Alison,

This is a very common problem, and the proximate cause is a blocked tear duct.  But the cause of the blockage can be anything from a simple bacterial and skin cell buildup to mild infection to dental problems causing inflammation and stenosis (narrowing) of the tear duct.

If we have a bunny like this, our vets usually start with a "first try" treatment such as antibiotic ophthalmic drops with a bit of steroid to reduce mucous membrane inflammation in the tear ducts.  This can often clear up the problem completely.  Problem is...most bunnies with chronic runny eyes do have a bit of stenosis of the tear ducts, for whatever reason (genetic or developed later).  Lops are particularly prone to this, due to their foreshortened faces.

If drops don't work, then systemic antibiotics can help for a while.  A tear duct flush can clear the ducts if neither of these treatments work.  Sometimes a bunny just has to live with runny eyes and get daily facewashes (just ask our Big Vash, and our hare, Selena; they get face washes every day.  And I will say that facewashing a wild hare is truly a learning experience.)

I'm sure none of this is heartening, but it's really what's the case.  There may be no easy cure, but it's also not usually indicative of a life-threatening problem.  More an inconvenience than anything.

This might be the time to consider allowing her to choose a neutered male from your local rabbit rescuer.  Try to find one who's a kisser.  I've known more than one chronic runny-eye bunny to show no signs of trouble at all once s/he has a mate who takes care of washing the affected areas.

Hope this helps!

Dana