Medirabbit

Differential diagnosis for a runny eye in rabbits

C. Wayne Wright

Left: Infected closed rabbit eye, due to pain

Right: Same eye, after open, and showing conjunctival infection

Differential diagnosis

Traumatic causes:	Foreign body in the eye, e.g. straw dust in the eye
	Fighting
	Excessive rubbing

Viral causes:

Bacterial causes:	Bacterial conjunctivitis
	Preseptal or orbital cellulitis (infection caused by bacteria (usually streptococci); can lead to tissue damage and blood poisoning if untreated)

Fungal causes:

Special eye conditions:

Dental causes:

Eyelid disease:	Entropion, or edge of the eyelid that turns inward toward the eye.
	Ectopion
	Distichiasis, or abnormal growth of an eyelash from the meibomian glands along the eyelid margin.
	Blepharitis
	Meibomian cysts or chalazion
	Basal cell carcinoma
	Squamous cell carcinoma

“Mechanical” causes:	Compressive optic neuropathy
	Corneal abrasion or ulceration
	Dacryocystitis
	Dry eye syndrome, due to a hindered production of tears.
	Obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct