Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK. It is estimated that in the UK alone there are around 1.1 million rabbits kept as pets. As very affectionate animals with a lifespan of anywhere between 8 – 12 years they are a popular member of the family for many UK households. Keeping them healthy is everyone’s top priority, so what should you do if your rabbit gets a runny eye?

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Runny eyes in rabbits – what’s the cause?

It’s important to start by saying that it would be impossible to go through every possible cause of a runny eye in a rabbit in this short article – that would require a book! The most important thing to take away from this article is a few of the common reasons a rabbit can have a runny eye, and what action to take to get your rabbit assessed.

1) Dental disease 

Dental disease is sadly a common problem in UK pet rabbits. Rabbits have open rooted teeth. This means their teeth continually grow throughout their life. They were designed this way as their diet involves gnawing on fibrous material which wears down their teeth over time. If they don’t get the appropriate diet rabbits teeth can overgrow. As the tooth roots grow they can interfere with tear production by blocking the nasolacrimal (tear) duct which carries old tears from the eyes and into the nose, resulting in tears building up causing a runny eye.

2) The nasolacrimal duct is blocked

As discussed above, the nasolacrimal duct can become blocked if it is occluded by overgrown tooth roots. It can also become blocked for other reasons including infection, inflammation and conditions affecting the rabbits nose.

3) Something’s stuck 

Rabbits can get things stuck under their eyelids. Common culprits are often pieces of hay or straw. These cause inflammation and irritation in the eye and the result can be the eye watering. You may also see redness and swelling around the eye.

4) The eye is damaged or ulcerated 

Leading on from the point above, if something either stuck in the eye or in the environment scratches the surface of the eye, this can cause a very painful corneal ulcer. Ulcers on the eye cause irritation, inflammation and often infection, which can lead to a runny eye appearance.

5) There is an infection in the eye 

Infections such as conjunctivitis can cause runny eyes in rabbits. Sometimes the infection is the only problem, other times the infection can be secondary to another issue such as a blocked nasolacrimal duct, a foreign body in the eye, dental disease or a corneal ulcer etc. 

6) Abnormal tear production/ breed variations

Some rabbit breeds are known as brachycephalic breeds. This means they have shorter faces. As these variations have been bred into the rabbits over years it can result in anatomical issues. One of these issues can be shallow eye sockets creating a bulging eye look and abnormal tear production as a result. This can result in runny eyes in rabbits.

What should you do if your rabbit has a runny eye?

If your rabbit has a runny eye you should always take them to your local veterinarian to be assessed without delay. Many of the conditions listed above cannot be diagnosed by just looking at your rabbit yourself, they require special equipment to look into the eye and mouth, special dyes to check the surface of the eye and expertise from your veterinarian to assess the rabbit.

Find a local rabbit vet

It is important to know that if runny eyes are left and not treated they can quickly become very serious problems. Eye problems rapidly get worse and can result in total loss of the eye if not addressed fast.

Once your veterinarian has made an assessment of your rabbit’s eyes they may suggest additional tests such as radiographs or procedures under general anaesthetic depending on their examination findings. 

Summary:

  • There are many different reasons a rabbit can have a runny eye
  • Dental disease is a common condition that can cause runny eyes in rabbits, but foreign bodies, infections, nasolacrimal duct blockages and corneal damage are examples of the many other causes of runny eyes in rabbits
  • If your rabbit has a runny eye it is important to take them to your local veterinarian as soon as possible so they can receive the urgent care they need
  • Your rabbit may need additional tests and procedures depending on what the veterinarian finds when examining them

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