teary eye

Question
Hi im cheryl a 17 year old girl who works part time in a pet shop! There is this one rabbit at my work that is about 10 weeks old. we have had her since she was 6 weeks old and has recently started getting wet, matted patches under her left eye. i read that it can be caused by an allergic reaction or be an eye infection, so we took her off woodchips and put a layer of straw and hay down to find out if it is the sawdust causing it! what do you suggest doing to find out why she has a weeping eye?

Answer
Hi Cheryl

Rabbits can get allergies but they can also have numerous other problems.

The best thing to do is to take her to a vet so that her teeth and sinus's can be examined.  I am not sure if the owner of your store is willing to do that but it is in her best interest.  

In the meantime pick her up and cradle her in your arms like a baby.  Gently open her lips and make sure her front teeth are lined up normally.  If there is any sign of malformation of the teeth then there is nothing else to do but take her to a vet.  Also try putting her on Aspen chips.  Rabbits are far less sensitive to aspen then any other wood chips.  Wipe her eye down with sterile saline solution (preferably contact solution with boric acid).  Look in her nose and if you see any drainage or if you hear any rattling with her breathing she needs a vet immediately.  She also needs to be kept separate from any other bunnies or small animals you may have there with her.  If she is contagious she needs to be at least 8 feet away from all other small animals.

You might want to talk to your store owner and make sure he is only getting rabbits from reputable breeders.  Make sure that he knows them and has visited their farm.  Have him take a look at all the other animals there and inspect their general health.  Yes rabbits do get sick on occasion but when a herd carries a bug such as pasturella you can see it widespread throughout the herd.

Ask your owner if the breeder provides pedigree's with the rabbits.  If not then you should ask him to consider purchasing the bunnies elsewhere.  Many foolish breeders will inbreed rabbits or breed rabbits that are genetically defective.  If they are willing to provide a pedigree and guarantee the health of the rabbit they are far more likely to give your store good quality rabbits.  I absolutely hate pet stores that sell bunnies and this is part of the reason.  Some people out there breed rabbits to try to make a profit.  They don't understand that malocclusions and other genetic defects occur when rabbits are continuously inbred or when a genetically weak rabbit is producing offspring.  Then some poor little kid, or even grown up buys a rabbit thinking that it is going to be their companion and then finds out way to soon that they have to put the bunny to sleep because it is sick.  I got a pet rabbit from a family that had purchased it from a pet store.  She just turned 2 years old and I had to have her put to sleep because she had such bad malocclusion that her teeth were growing into the roof of her mouth.  I cried for 3 days and I raise rabbits.  I can't imagine what that would do to a little kid who loved the little beast more than life.

Good luck with the baby Cheryl and I hope that she is ok.  If you need anymore help at all please let me know.

Sincerely,

Pam