white albino rabbit red eyes health question

Question
i have an albino rabbit which is nearly 5 years old and was wondering how long they live ? also he has started getting weepy eyes and is starting to skab is it due to old age ? or is it a medical problem ? pls help also any other health tips would be great as i don't know much about them many thanks danielle

Answer
Dear Danielle,

At the age of five, your rabbit is still young.  A well cared for house rabbit who is spayed/neutered and gets proper care can live well beyond 10 years, and into his/her teens with luck, and good genetics (over which we don't have that much control...)

The weepy eyes are a sign that it's time for him to start having regular dental exams including molar spur checks.  Runny eyes are caused by blocked tear ducts, and these can be due either to bacterial/cellular debris in the ducts (which can be cleared with the appropriate antibiotic ophthalmic ointment from your vet, and/or a tear duct flush), or by narrowing of the duct due to tooth root intrusion into the skull.  You can read more about this here:

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

You can find a good rabbit vet here to help you:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.

Dana