Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > Netherland dwarf rew blind?

Netherland dwarf rew blind?

22 10:53:35

Question
I am new to rabbit ownership.  A friend gave us her ruby eyed albino
netherland dwarf doe, 11 months old.  She is so sweet and wonderful.  
However, the pupils of her eyes remain the same regardless of the light or
closeness of any object.  Do you think she is blind?  How do you tell with
REWs if they have blindness?

Answer
Rabbits with red eyes (and even rabbits with a red glow to the eyes) process light differently than rabbits with full pigmentation of the eyes. They can still see quite well, but their process of the actual light is different. You may occassionally notice her swaying back and forth. This is normal for rabbits with red eyes (or a red glow in the eyes), as it helps them to focus the light, and thus see things a bit better. If you see her doing this, you know she can see, as that means she is focused on something and is trying to see it better.

Also, rabbits that are blind or even partially blind will generally be easily startled if you come up behind them or from above them and touch them.