Runny eyes and stool build up

Question
My rabbit (2 yrs old) has "runny" eyes to where the fur on his face is somewhat matted and he has also scratch away some of his fur on this face. I don't see actual flowing liquid, but he definitely has something that is matting up his fur -- I have sat with a warm wet cloth on his face to try to loosen it up.  He also tends to get a build up of stool on his private parts -- so much so, that I have to soak him to gently remove it.  What is causing this?

Answer
Dear Kathi,

Your rabbit's tear ducts are blocked.  This can be caused by bacterial and mucosal cell debris building up in the ducts, or by a physical obstruction, usually caused by the intrusion of a tooth root farther into the skull than normal.

Some breeds are naturally predisposed to blocked tear ducts, including the short-faced breeds such as dwarf and lop rabbits.  Two years is young for dental problems to show up, but it's not impossible.  Irritation from molar spurs also can cause soft tissue inflammation around the tooth roots that extends into the sinuses and tear ducts, causing blockage.  You can read more here:

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

and

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

The best thing to do is get your bunny to a good rabbit vet for a deep oral exam and treatment of any spurs or other dental problems that might be evident.  The vet also can try a tear duct flush and/or prescribe antibiotic/anti-inflammatory ophthalmic ointment to try and get the ducts to open on their own via reduced inflammation of the tear duct lining.  (We found that our runny-eyed Vash has his fur and face back after only two weeks of a triple-antibiotic + dexamethasone ointment!)

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

www.rabbit.org/vets

The runny/mushy stool is very likely a side effect of the pain/stress being caused by the dental problems probably at the root of the runny eyes.  The main causes of this problem (cecal dysbiosis) are incorrect diet:

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

and dental problems, as described above.

You can read more about cecal dysbiosis, its causes and treatments, here:

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

Hope that helps!

Dana