Eye drops and Stomach x-ray

Question
Hi Dana,

First question was both my elderly rabbits have runny eyes (both are regular dental bunnies for spurs/overgrown crowns & elongated roots)  I used to get the occasional tear duct flush at a previous vets, but a new vet has given me some drops called 'maxitrol', which contain the steroid dexamethasosne 1mg/ml (0.1% w/v) and neomycin sulphate & polymyxin B.  I was a little concerned when I read about the steroid ingredient even though its a low dose.  There is a clear fluid (slightly milky coloured) that I see forming in the eye, but it is not red or any signs of infection.  Is the fluid I am seeing tears?  Would you agree with using these drops, also someone else mentioned if tear duct was blocked, drops would not work?  I used to think flushes did help, but should I try these drops?

Also I had my eldest bun in for a dental this week because she had a poor recovery with eating from the last one and I noticed a chewing problem 3 days after she had it done.  I ended up syringe feeding her too every day but after a 10 day check vet thought teeth were good, things didn't improve and finally at 3 week point, vet found a premolar on right bit longer than rest and filed it down.  She also x-rayed stomach because she thought something else was affecting her eating.  She told me stomach was impacted and bit gassy, but I'm wondering if that was because I had fed her about 80ml of syringed down mix that morning before x-ray, I'm not sure why there would be gas except that she was stressed from vet visit and possible any air swallowed with the food that morning.  Just wondering how long the food takes to go from stomach elsewhere, she is treating her condition a bit like a stasis problem, but her droppings have all been coming through and she's had no gut problems.  Vet also feels she might be feeling effects from repeated GA's and a recent course of metacam which has been stopped completely now.  She did a urine specific gravity test which she said was low 1.007 but may be low because of all the syringe feedings she'd had.  I was also syringing her around 30ml water daily and she probably had 120ml pellet mush fed daily for around 2 weeks prior to this.  If she was producing droppings on a daily basis though, would this still point to an impaction problem in the stomach.  I have liquid paraffin to give her for a few days too at dose rate of 0.5ml twice daily, she weighs 1.4kg, does this sound correct?

Thanks for any thoughts/advice on this,


Sue

Answer
Dear Susan,

I've used these drops on some runny-eyed bunnies, and in my case, they worked very well.  Vash didn't need tear duct flushes any more!  If the ducts are *completely* occluded, then nothing (even a duct flush) will work.  But if they are only narrowed, then the drops can help reduce inflammation and clear bacterial debris that can block the remaining opening.  

The very low dose of steroids will probably not be harmful in the short term, so it might not be a bad idea to give it a try and see if it give them some relief.  It's just treating the symptoms, but since that's all you can really do with elderbuns who have narrowed tear ducts, it's worth a try.

As far as the stomach "impaction" is concerned:  I'd be very cautious about doing anything drastic.  It might help to give her some enzyme supplements (papain; bromelain) and see if they help loosen things up, but I do think the vet is right to treat it more as a case of stasis than anything else, especially since she'd been stressed by the dental filing.

Keep her eating her hay and fresh greens, and as long as she's pooping, I wouldn't worry too much about the stomach contents.  Enzyme supplements may gradually move things through, dissolving the mucus that holds the mass together.  But almost all rabbits have a food mass in the stomach at all times.  Unless it's unusually desiccated, it's not a problem.

I would NOT use the liquid paraffin (or any petroleum-based laxative), though.  This can coat the mass and make it impermeable to water, which is the LAST thing you want.  Hydrate the ball, break it up gradually with enzymes, and bun will be right as rain.

Hope that helps!

Dana