Atherogenic diet: I had a question on a type of diet

Question
Hi I was wandering if you knew what Atherogenic diet is because once I went to the vet to see if my rabbit had cataracts and he said it was lipid on the eye. By researching I found that it could of been caused by this type of diet. The vet said it was probably from age because she is 3 years now. and could this effect her babies she would have on the 11 th of this month you think.

Answer
Dear Jamie,

An atherogenic diet is one that promotes atherogenesis:  the deposition of fatty/calcium deposits in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis).  Lipid deposits on the eye are very rare in rabbits, and you don't say where they are located.  I would definitely find another vet for a second opinion, and be sure the vet is very experienced with rabbits:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Preferably, the bunny should be seen by a veterinary ophthalmologist who is board certified to have expertise in the medical conditions of the eye.  I have known too many very good vets who over-reached their knowledge in the ophthalmology area, and misdiagnosed conditions that could have been treated earlier (and better) if the animal had been seen by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

You'd really have to load a bunny up on oils and fats to generate atherosclerosis by the age of three.  You can check a healthy rabbit diet here:

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

but unless you have been feeding your bunny a LOT of fat, I am not convinced that diet is the cause of her problem.  She may have a genetic predisposition for this--if it is really what the first vet thinks it is.  But I would not be convinced of this without a second opinion.

A three year old rabbit is YOUNG.  And if the vet you saw believes otherwise, then s/he definitely should not be treating rabbits.  S/he may be terrific with dogs and cats, but you need an exotics vet who has experienced and knowledge of *rabbit* medicine to be treating your bunny for best results.

I hope this helps.

Dana