Caring for working dogs
Rabbit Care: Understanding Cataracts
Jose Reid
Damage to the protein structure in the lens of your rabbit's eye can cause the protein to clump together and form an opaque film, known as a cataract, which prevents light reaching the retina at the back of the eye. The retina processes light and sends it to your rabbit's brain where it's converted into the images your rabbit sees. So when a cataract is present, complete or partial loss of vision occurs. A cataract generally gets worse as time goes on, but your rabbit doesn't have to live with sight loss. Here's what you need to know about cataracts in rabbits.
Causes And Symptoms
Cataracts are often congenital in rabbits, but it can also be caused by a bacterial eye infection that causes cell damage. Free radicals can cause oxidation to occur in the lens if your rabbit is deficient in nutrients that neutralise or remove free radicals, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and the antioxidant glutathione. Additionally, high blood sugar levels can cause cell damage and degrade the protein structure within your rabbit's lens.
Aside from your rabbit's eye appearing cloudy, symptoms of cataracts include visual disturbances, which could include clumsiness or withdrawal from play, and a clear or mucus-tinged discharge from the eye. Your rabbit's iris may also be swollen, and small white bumps can develop on the iris.
Diagnosis And Treatment
A cataract is diagnosed by examining your rabbit's eyes with an ophthalmoscope, which allows the vet to see the extent of damage to the lens. Vets will use blood tests to establish the underlying cause of the cataract, and if a bacterial infection is present, a blood test will allow your vet to prescribe treatment that will be effective against the strain of bacteria that is present.
Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause and removing the damaged lens. Your rabbit may be prescribed antibiotics, or your vet may recommend a change in their diet. Anti-inflammatories can also be prescribed to ease your rabbit's symptoms. Surgery to remove the damaged lens can be carried out as a day case procedure, and a laser is used to break down the lens before the fragments are suctioned out of your rabbit's eye. Your rabbit's lens will spontaneously regenerate after surgery, so there's no need to insert an artificial lens into the lens holder. Improvement in their sight will occur in the first few days following the surgery,.
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We've always had a large property and our dogs are working dogs. They like to have freedom to run around and play with each other as well as helping us round up the sheep at the end of the day. We don't coddle the dogs by any means, but we do care for them deeply and want them to stay healthy. Sometimes our dogs do get into scrapes and do some silly things, like last year when my older dog ate some baited meat from a fox trap, and do need vet care. This blog has some tips on getting veterinary care for your beloved animals.