Eye diseases in rabbits: names and symptoms, treatment and prevention

Eye diseases are quite common among rabbits. Therefore, it is important to identify the disease in a timely manner and properly treat the beast. If rabbits are allowed to develop eye disease or injury, the likelihood of death increases. Of course, you need to trust the treatment of animals to specialists. But owners need to know the symptoms, the causes of common diseases.

Possible eye diseases in rabbits and methods of their treatment

When treating eye diseases in pets, it is important, first of all, to determine the cause of the disease. After all, based on this, treatment is prescribed.

Cataract

The disease leads to partial or complete loss of vision. Symptoms are manifested in the form of clouding of the eyeball. The disease usually affects adults. Encephalitis transferred at an early age can also provoke clouding of the lens.

It is difficult to stop the development of cataracts, more often they resort to surgical intervention.

Glaucoma

Increased pressure inside the eyeball causes visual impairment, which gradually leads to blindness. It is impossible to completely cure an animal. As maintenance therapy, drugs are prescribed that reduce intracranial pressure.

Corneal occlusion

The disease is not common and is believed to affect predominantly young males. Symptom - connective tissue grows on the cornea. It is possible to eliminate the defect only surgically, in the future, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

Conjunctivitis

The most common disease that manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the cornea, swelling of the eyes. The main causes of the appearance are allergies, mechanical damage to the eyes. Symptoms of the disease: lacrimation, eyes fester. Treatment is prescribed after determining the cause of conjunctivitis. If the eyes are swollen and festering, they take tests for bakposev to prescribe an antibiotic.

Keratitis

Symptoms of the disease: blurred eyes, photophobia, purulent discharge. The cause of the disease is inflammation of the cornea. Keratitis causes severe pain, so rabbits often refuse food, show aggression, and do not sleep. The course of treatment consists of antibacterial ointments, solutions of antiseptic drugs.

Exophthalmos

The main symptom of the disease is that the eyeball increases significantly, which prevents the animal from blinking. As a rule, the cause is a dental abscess that develops behind the eyeball.At the first sign of illness, you need to carefully examine the teeth and gums of the rabbit. Unfortunately, the animal can only be cured by surgery - the eyeball is removed.

Dacryocystitis

The disease is most often caused by eye lesions with rhinitis, conjunctivitis. Or dacryocystitis can be caused by infections of the teeth, gums, and manifests itself in suppuration of the eyes. If the cause is dental problems, then, first of all, you need to stop the focus of infection in the mouth cavity.

Corneal ulcer

Injury or erosion of the cornea provokes the appearance of ulcers, which are divided into several types:

• non-healing;
• infected;
• sterile;
• progressive.

A corneal defect is easy to spot. It is recommended to do surgical removal of dead tissue, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

Uveitis

Eye injury or infection can be the cause of the disease. Symptoms: constriction of the pupil, spots on the cornea, lacrimation, animals avoid lighted places. The main prescriptions are antibacterial drugs, corticosteroid drugs, drops or ointments.

Myxomatosis

Signs: subcutaneous swelling of the eyelids, ears, sometimes the entire head. Myxomatosis spreads rapidly among animals, with little or no treatment.

Distributors of the virus are mosquitoes, flies, so it is important to eliminate the centers of their reproduction. They are also disinsection of premises, he althy animals are vaccinated.

Epiphora

The disease occurs due to blockage and inflammation of the tear ducts. The reasons for the appearance of epiphora are different:

• genetic defects in the formation of the nasolacrimal ducts;
• malformation of the eyelids;
• disturbances in the germination of dental roots.

Treatment is prescribed based on the cause of epiphora. In the case of dental roots, the teeth are simply removed.

Blepharitis

Inflammation of the eyelids (lower or upper) is usually caused by the ingress of harmful chemical solutions into the eyes, mechanical damage. Sunburn can also trigger the development of blepharitis. In a neglected state, ulcers form on the eyelids, pus is released. When the first symptoms appear, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs (drops, ointments) are used.

Entropy of Ages

Advanced diseases (blepharitis, keratitis) sometimes cause the eyelids to turn inside the eye. Naturally, the eyelashes at the same time injure the mucous membrane, inflammation of the eyes begins. Sometimes entropy is a birth defect in a rabbit. The entropy of the eyelids cannot be eliminated by therapy alone, a surgical solution is required.

Eversion of eyelids

The disease manifests itself in the form of swollen eyelids, hanging down. Associated symptoms:

• conjunctival exposure;
• lacrimation;
• or drying out of the mucosa.

Restore the shape of the eyelids through surgery. During the rehabilitation period, the animal is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. If an infection is additionally detected, antibiotics are prescribed.

Prevention of eye diseases

It is known that it is easier to prevent the onset of a disease than to treat it. Basic preventive measures when keeping rabbits:

• a complete diet enriched with vitamins and minerals;
• cage cleaning;
• keep animals in a place protected from direct sunlight and drafts;
• periodic inspection of pets.

It is also important to keep animals and cages free of harmful chemicals. Vaccination helps to prevent the emergence and spread of infections. If you experience any warning signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. It is impossible to protect pets from all diseases or accidental injury. However, disease prevention, timely vaccination, and proper care of animals significantly reduce the risk of the emergence and spread of diseases.

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