watery eye

Question
QUESTION: Hi! I just bought an SPCA bunny this month (I'm a previous rabbit-owner). She is 6-months old, spayed Jan. 25, and VERY active! She had a small amount of tearing in one eye when I visited her at the SPCA, but when I spoke to the vets on-site, they said it was not a concern and had improved since coming to the SPCA (they had her about 2 weeks). I got her on Feb. 5. She has continued to have a runny right eye that I clean off with a wet cloth and flea-comb. When I pet her and look at her face, I don't see/feel any lumps or notice any painful spots. She eats/drinks great and in all other ways appears very healthy. Is this something I can handle at home, perhaps with some drops or ointments? I don't' mind cleaning her eye if its not a health problem, but I just hate spending money on the vet if its not necessary, especially since a vet did tell me it "wasn't a concern" (I don't know how bunny-knowledgeable they were, though). Thanks for your help, I hope I've provided you with enough information to answer my question!

ANSWER: Dear Laura,

A chronic watery eye is usually due to a blocked tear duct.  This can be as simple as a bacterial or dead cell plug, or as problematic as a molar root intruding too far into the skull and pinching it off.

In many cases, an antibiotic ophthalmic ointment with a tiny bit of steroid in it can reduce inflammation enough to open the duct and stop the running.  Sometimes it doesn't.  In this case, a tear duct flush *might* help. But sometimes a chronic runny eye is because of a permanently blocked duct, and the only treatment is constant management of the wetness with washing and ointment of irritated skin.

You can read more here:

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

Some people recommend letting a bunny like this choose a mate.  Once they're bonded, the mate will often groom the runny eye and keep it clean, solving the problem from the outside.  So that might be something to consider, if all else fails.  You can contact your local rabbit rescue group here:

www.rabbit.org/chapters

and find an experienced rabbit vet to help you here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps!

Dana

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

QUESTION: Thanks, that does help! Would you be able to recommend any specific ointments to protect her skin from irritation around her eye? Is Vaseline safe to use? It seems that I will need to take her to the vet afterall for an antibiotic/steroid or tear duct flushing (he is a rabbit-vet, but EXPENSIVE!) Thank you again for your advice.

Answer
Dear Laura,

Vaseline won't hurt, but it's a bit too thick and gooey to be a good balm.  We've found that calendula creams or ointments (you can get these at most good health food stores, such as Whole Foods) are good.  But to tell the truth, nothing really beats good ol' neosporin (or other tripla antibiotic ointment).  Use very little, and don't use the kind with topical anesthetic (lidocaine or other "caine"), as these can sting and cause more irritation.

Before resorting to a tear duct flush, you might ask about just trying antibiotic/steroid ophthalmic ointment to open things up.  Sometimes that alone will do the trick.

Hope that helps!

Dana