white film on inside corner of rabbits eye

Question
My 4 year old female Holland Lop rabbit has snuffles and has visable mucus from her nose, I just noticed that her left eye on the inside corner has a white film that is covering about 25% of her eye! this has happened literally
over the past few days. How can this be treated?
P.S. she is an out side rabbit and has had bouts with snuffles since she was a baby, and was treated by the Vet with antibiotics.Her sister has never had snuffles to my surprise, and they have been inserpartable for 4 years.
Any info would be most appreciated, Thank You, Janie

Answer
Hi Janie,

the white could either be infection in the eye, or more likely it is the nictitating membrane (like a bird's) that you normally do not see - perhaps the infection is pushing it out or it feels better to your bun to have it out like this.

It doesn't sound like your current vet has been able to do anything for snuffles in 4 years.  I would suggest at least doing some looking for a more rabbit-savvy vet.  Go to:

www.rabbit.org/care/vets.html

to find a House Rabbit Society-recommended vet in your area.

I'd get her in quick.  Mucus and such as you are describing requires treatment with stronger meds tailored to specifically what bacteria she is suffering from.  Lots of time vets do not do tests to tell them exactly what the bacteria is, they just prescribe a general antibiotic and if it works, it works, if not, they try a different one.  YOu need a vet to determine exactly what bacteria it is, and what it is resistant to (most likey it is now resistant to what she has been given the last 4 years that hasn't wiped it out) so that a targeted antibiotic will be effective against the bug.

Don't wait very long.  You don't want a respiratory issue to get worse, they have such small lungs.  Plus it's already affecting the sinuses in the head with the eye issue.

Lee