gunky eyes

Question
I just got a albino lionhead rabbit and he's gorgeous. He's 2 months old (I beleive) and now he's got fleas all over his head and face (especially on his nose) and his right eye is gunky and there's a very, very small bare patch right next to his eye(fur used to be there). It's also red and sore looking on his eye lids. I feel awful, I cleaned it all off and I'm thinking of puttig anti biotic, just a little, around his eyelids (not any on his eye, of course)
is that a good idea? I can't reach the vet THIS month cause we're broke otherwise I would bring him in

Answer
Dear Morgan,

It's not expensive to get some flea remedy for your rabbit, and if you can actually see them all over his head he may have a potentially deadly infestation.  PLEASE get him to a good rabbit vet immediately:

www.rabbit.org/vets

even if you have to ask for a payment plan.  All you need is some Revolution (or Advantage, which is cheaper, but not as good as Revolution, IMO) to give him relief.  Antibiotic ointment won't help flea bites.  Only Revolution will really do the trick.  DO NOT use Frontline, which is deadly to rabbits.

Please read:

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

for more information.

The runny eye could be due to irritation from the fleas, but Lionheads are also very prone to dental problems that can cause runny eyes, and you can read more about this here:

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

and

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

But really you need to get him to a good vet ASAP.  Once you take on the responsibility of a pet, you also have to accept that sometimes he'll need veterinary care, even if you have to make special arrangements to get it for him.

I hope this helps.

Dana