Bunnys nails look weird

Question
QUESTION: Hey! My baby Holland Lop rabbit has a little sleep in the corner of her eyes. Sometimes it is dry and sometimes it's a little wet. It does not go onto her fur it is just in the very corner of her eye and she does not sneeze or have discharge from her ears, nose, or act wierdly. I'm just wondering if this should be a concern? Thanks so much!

ANSWER: Dear Catrina,

A bit of sleep in the eye isn't a problem.  Just gently wipe it away with a moist cottonball, and all should be fine.  But if you see any sign of runny nose or eyes, please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sneezing.html

and find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey, this doesn't have to do with my preivious question, but i was wondering about bunnies nails.` You can't see my bunnies nails because they are covered by fur, but on the back paw she has a nail that you can see and it appears to be growing sideways. Is this bothering her, and how can I correct it. Should I cut it like I cut her other nails? Thanks so much !

Answer
Dear Catrina,

It seems that as some rabbits age, their toes can sometimes splay sideways and the nails can grow in an unusual direction.  This also can be a result of an injury, or from walking on a surface that doesn't give enough traction or friction to keep the nails short.  This isn't all that likely if your bunny is a baby, but good to know, anyway.  

If the nail is excessively long, this can contribute to the unusual position, and it can get worse as the nail grows even longer.  It would be wise to make sure all her nails are at a manageable length:  like dogs, rabbits can suffer foot damage and pain if their nails are too long.

For good instructions on how to trim your bunny's nails, there are plenty of resources online.  Here's a sample, for starters:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=rabbit+nail+trim&aq=f&aqi=g2&oq=&fp=e8d

But if you can't do it yourself, you can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who can show you, and give your bunny the all-important wellness check, too.  The vet can look at the toe and make sure it's not a problem.  Eventually, you will need to have her spayed, when she's old enough (8 months or so).  Unspayed female rabbits have a very high risk of uterine cancer, and spaying eliminates this risk.

Hope this helps!

Dana