What to do if a rabbit's eyes become inflamed and festering
The organs of vision in domestic eared ears should be wide open, shiny and mobile: the viewing angle of a rabbit is much higher than that of a person, and therefore the owners should take seriously the problem when the rabbit's eyes fester.
The rabbit's eyes fester
If you find such a problem in a rodent, you should immediately contact a specialist. There are many reasons why eyes fester in rabbits.
Where is the pus in the rabbit's eyes
Pus may indicate an infectious disease, draft, or mechanical injury to the eye. Affect the health of the eared and the conditions of detention. Small debris and dust can cause inflammation, sometimes from this and the rabbit's eyes fester.
To prevent this, you need to clean up your pet's cage more often and review the food. If the infection has already occurred, you can rinse the affected area with herbal decoctions or tea.
Causes of sour eyes in rabbits
The most common cause is eye injury. The rabbit can accidentally run into a twig or blade of grass, after which it begins to furiously comb its face with its front paws. If dirt gets into the eye, inflammation will begin and, as a result, the release of pus. First aid provided on time will be able to save from this. The damaged eye should be examined and washed with a decoction of herbs. Chamomile or calendula, which are famous for their antibacterial properties, will cope with this.
Do not allow the rabbit to comb its face, because sepsis can begin from contamination of the wound and the animal will die. In some cases, you should even purchase a special collar for animals, which is sold at any pet store.
The second reason why a rabbit's eyes turn sour is an infectious disease. A pet can pick up the virus during a cold or allergy, so you should carefully monitor the conditions of keeping a decorative friend. If a rabbit has a stuffy nose, it sneezes often and is not active, then most likely the rodent has blown. Along with colds, unpleasant eye infections can come to visit. Among them, there are three most common:
- conjunctivitis;
- keratitis;
- myxomatosis.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a disease associated with internal inflammation of the eye. Mechanical trauma, allergies, otitis media or colds contribute to the onset of the disease. It follows that the cage should not be in a draft, and the feed must contain dust and sawdust. The most common symptoms of conjunctivitis are:
- redness of the white part of the eye;
- strong discharge of pus and ichor;
- swelling of the eyelids, inability to open the eyes;
- baldness in the corners of the eyes.
Conjunctivitis is treated with medication and frequent washing of the affected area with herbal decoctions. If symptoms have been noticed in a pregnant rabbit, you cannot treat the animal on your own, it is important to see a doctor right away.
The disease itself is not dangerous, but due to possible stress, the rabbits can die. Pain and discomfort weakens pussies.
Keratitis
Keratitis and conjunctivitis are considered paired diseases, but the former is still much more dangerous. Keratitis can also appear due to eye injuries or colds, but most often it affects the eyeball if the treatment of conjunctivitis is delayed.
This disease is associated with inflammation of the cornea and covers the eye with an impenetrable drag, narrowing the visual horizons of the animal. Eye drops do not get under the film and cannot be removed by rinsing. At this time, the infection begins to progress rapidly: a large number of ulcers are affected by the protein and pupil. If you do not intervene in time, the sore eye can leak out in a few days. Also, the eyelids swell and the eyes stick together from the dried crust.
If abnormal red dots on the surface of the eye become noticeable, you should not try to treat the animal, you should immediately consult a doctor. At this stage of the disease, only surgical intervention will save rabbits. The symptoms of keratitis are not very different from conjunctivitis: cloudy discharge from the eyes appears, the eyelids swell and bright reddening of the cornea forms.
An unpleasant consequence of keratitis can be a thorn, which will remain with the rabbit for life. That is why you should contact a veterinary clinic at the first suspicion of a similar disease: it is almost impossible to distinguish diseases by symptoms on your own. To prevent disease, it is necessary to carefully examine the organs of vision of rabbits and carry out eye prophylaxis.
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is an acute infectious disease that is on the list of the most dangerous for rodents. The causative agent of this infection is the Poxviridae virus, which spreads through the circulatory system of living organisms. The carriers of miscomatosis can be:
- insects and parasites;
- infected individuals;
- inventory or cage where the sick animal was kept.
The disease has two forms: edematous and nodular.
With the edematous form of myxomatosis, there is an increased discharge from the eyes, acute purulent conjunctivitis, and edema of the nasal cavity. A bump full of fluid may appear on the animal's body, most often on the face or back. The rabbit has apathy and poor appetite, he is not able to keep his ears. Such individuals live no more than a week.
The nodular form of myxomatosis is easier to carry, and there is a 50% chance that the rabbit will be able to survive. During illness, the face of the animal is affected by the so-called nodules, which then dissolve. The next prominent symptoms are a stuffy nose, hoarse breathing, purulent discharge from the eyes, and wet fur.
Treatment of acute myxomatosis is often not considered productive.
It is important to remember that a disease can easily cause an epidemic and destroy an entire herd. Sick rabbits should be removed from healthy rabbits immediately and the cells should be disinfected. A sick individual with an acute form is not treated; it is more humane to dispose of the animal immediately.
If the pet has a nodular form of the disease, then you can try to cure the rodent. In the early stages, the disease can be overcome by antibiotics, but the chances of recovery are extremely small. Only good immunity can save a rabbit.
Treatment of eye diseases in rabbits
There are many ways to cleanse your pet's sore eyes. First, you should pay attention to the condition of the affected area. If the animal's eyelids are stuck together, then they should be soaked before instillation or rinsing. To do this, apply a damp cotton swab to the closed eye. Sometimes a 3% boric acid solution is used for this purpose. A cotton swab should be used to rinse the eyes themselves. It must be thoroughly impregnated with a decoction or a medicinal solution, after which, with smooth movements from the ear to the bridge of the nose, wipe off all the secretions. The water used as the basis for the solution must be boiled. Rinsing should be done at least 3 times per knock.If the rabbit's eye is too festering, then it is better to leave the flushing to specialists, otherwise there is a risk of accidentally damaging the diseased eyeball.
As for solutions and decoctions for eye treatment, if they are acidic, then some of them are readily available and can be used without a doctor's prescription:
- Furacilin - 1 tablet per 250 g of water.
- Sodium chloride saline solution up to 1%.
- Chamomile decoction - brew 1 tbsp. l. dry herbs in boiling water, after which the dried flowers of the plant are added.
- Tea - pour boiling water over one packet and leave to infuse for 12 hours.
- Plain boiled water.
If the disease continues to progress, then most likely the pet will be prescribed a number of such drugs:
- Albucite;
- Tsiprovet (Tsiprolet);
- Futsitalmic (dissolves the hymen on the cornea, is indispensable in the first stages of keratitis);
- Tetracycline ointment (strong antibiotic ointment);
- Levomycetin.
Timely treatment can save the animal's eyes, and in some cases, life - you should not postpone a visit to the veterinarian. All medications must be given in a dosage prescribed by a specialist or written on the package of the drug.
It is impossible to independently determine what kind of infection struck the eyes of the fluffy, why the eyes of rabbits become inflamed and fester. Therefore, if the rabbit's eyes are noticeably festering, it is better to immediately turn to a professional who can determine the diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
Prevention of eye diseases in rabbits
Any risk of contracting the disease can be significantly reduced if preventive treatment is carried out.
To prevent cases, the rabbit's eye festers, it is enough to follow simple maintenance rules and a number of sanitary standards. Compliance with them will not make you wonder what to do, how to fix the situation. The rabbit's cage should not be in a draft or near poisonous substances with a pungent odor (paint, air fresheners, perfume). Another rule is that you should clean your pet's home 2 times a day.
Balanced food and herbs will not only replenish the necessary complex of vitamins, but also strengthen the rodent's immunity. Complementary herbs should be reviewed to avoid allergies or poisoning. The eyes of the rabbits should be rinsed every week. The body of the young in the first days has not yet matured and is susceptible to similar diseases. Adults are examined once a month. This necessary set of rules will allow the rabbit to remain sighted and healthy for a long time.