What is Conjunctivitis in rabbits?
Conjunctivitis is common in domesticated rabbits. In this, your rabbit starts to rub his eyes with his front feet, and his eyes get watery. This condition is often linked to primary issues such as dental disease, blocked tear ducts, or immune suppression. You can treat it if you know the cause. You can cure it by using some of the antibiotic eye drops for rabbits.
Conjunctivitis is also called a weepy eye which is quite common. Up to 30% of pet rabbits develop conjunctivitis. Your bunny may have irritation, redness, discharge, and more.
General information and causes
Eye infections (commonly known as conjunctivitis) are a common problem in domesticated rabbits. They are usually caused by bacteria and grow due to basic problems such as:
- Toothache – Tooth decay is a more common cause of eye problems than rabbits because the roots of the teeth grow close to their eyes and tear ducts.
- Injuries or sores on the eyes
- Dacryocystitis (inflammation of the tear duct)
- Something stuck in the eye / under the eyelid (i.e., grass, grass, or sawdust)
- Unusual eyelashes irritate the front of the eye
- Myxomatosis virus can cause conjunctivitis but fortunately, we can prevent this deadly virus by vaccinating.
Symptoms
Symptoms of eye infection/conjunctivitis include:
- Redness and swelling
- Pain (blinking or teasing)
- Crying / squeezing or tingling in the eye
- Weight loss
Treatment
The treatment of your rabbit will depend on what caused their infection, but may include:
- Antibiotic eye drops for rabbits
- Artificial tears keep the eyes wet while healing.
- Relieving pain that eliminates inflammation if their eyes are very sore or swollen.
- Always wash your rabbit’s eyes to remove any discharge.
- Most importantly, to prevent complications, your veterinarian will want to investigate and treat the cause of your rabbit’s eye infections (especially if they keep coming back).
How to give eye medication to your rabbit
Eye problems in rabbits are common. Tears immediately wash away any eye treatment so eye drops need to be given several times a day. This means you will need to learn how to give it treatment at home.
Antibiotic eye drops for rabbits
Antibiotic eye drops are used to treat bacterial infections in eyes of rabbits. If it is necessary to treat an infection in rabbits, these medicines should only be prescribed by a veterinarian who is well versed in the rabbit drug. Bacterial infections can occur anywhere in the body. The best way to determine which type of disinfectant will be most effective in fighting certain infections is to take a sample of infected tissue (for example, a small part of an abscess wall, or a surface swab of the affected area), and send it to a laboratory for culture and sensitivity testing.
In some cases, the infection may occur in an area that is difficult to reach, such as in the respiratory tract, urinary tract, inside the eye, intestinal tract, or bone. In this case, the veterinarian may need a “best guess” about which antibiotic is best for treating the problem.
Gentamicin eye drops for rabbits
Gentamicin is a topical aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat certain viral infections. You can also treat end-stage glaucoma (increased eye pressure).
Its use in cats, rabbits, and dogs to treat eye infections and glaucoma is sometimes an ‘external label’ or ‘extra label’. In these cases, follow the directions and warnings of your veterinarian carefully as their directions may be very different from the ones labeled.
Benefits of antibiotic eye drops for rabbits
Following are some benefits of antibiotic eye drops for rabbits:
- Eye drops of antibiotics to cure any germs.
- Artificial tears keep the eyes wet while healing.
- Relieving pain that eliminates inflammation if their eyes are very sore or swollen.
- Always wash your rabbit’s eyes to remove dirt.
- Most importantly, to prevent problems from returning, your veterinarian will want to investigate and treat the cause of your rabbit’s eye infections (especially if they keep coming back).
Overview
Eye infections are a common problem in domesticated rabbits and often occur as a result of a basic problem such as tooth decay or eye damage.
Eye infections are usually easy to spot because they cause red, painful, and itchy eyes.
Never delay treatment for an eye problem, book a consultation with your veterinarian as soon as you notice any symptoms. Or use some of the mentioned antibiotic eye drops for rabbits.