Milky, discharge from the eye

Question
Hi Dana!

I'm sorry to do another eye question, but I've read through all the ones you've previously posted and the difference is my bunny doesn't have a "weepy" eye. Panda is 9 years old and the fur around his eye was matted and crust-like when I came home from college so my parents honestly don't know how long it's been going on. I took him to a vet that gave me Terramycin that I later learned was for dogs(!) but I've been squeezing the ointment on his eye for about 4 days. Now it's milky and pussy and I try to clean it out. I feel like everybody I've talked to is giving me a million different possible reasons for this (molars, blocked tear duct, hay, scratch, dry weather, he's not neutered, etc). His teeth are fine. What can I do? I honestly don't have enough money to go to another vet and test everything. Several people have said a flush might help. Can I do this myself? I love him and I want him to be better!!!

Answer
Dear Helen,

The reason people are giving you multiple possible reasons for his problem is because there *are* multiple possible reasons.  And unfortunately, without seeing him, I cannot tell which of the possibilities is the one that your bunny is suffering.

Chronic pus and runny eye are very often a sign of molar root abscess, especially if there is swelling along the jawline (upper and/or lower) that is asymmetrical (only on one side, or on different areas on two sides if the bunny has multiple infections).  Problems like this are much more common as a rabbit ages, and Panda's at an age where dental problems are just a reality.  Please read this right away for complete information on what could be going on:

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

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

and to find a good rabbit vet, use the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please also see:

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

Even a good vet needs practice to do a rabbit tear duct flush, and there is no way you can do this on your own.  It requires special equipment that only a vet will have.  

For now, continue with warm, wet compresses and keep the eye as clean as possible until you can get him to an experienced rabbit vet.  

I hope this helps.

Dana