Rabbit Chronic Eye Discharge and Dental Abscess Treatment for Queens Patient at Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic

Case Study #31: Rabbit Eye Discharge (Dental Disease)

Patient: Rabbit (Age 4) Location: Queens, NY

A 4-year-old neutered male rabbit from Queens, NY, presented to Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic with persistent ocular discharge from his left eye and a known history of dental issues. His case serves as a crucial lesson for rabbit owners in NYC and Long Island: in rabbits, the eyes and the teeth are inextricably linked.

The Patient: A "Weepy" Eye That Wouldn't Heal The owner brought the rabbit in because his left eye (OS) was constantly wet with thick, mucoid discharge. He had been treated previously with antibiotics, but the discharge always returned.

On physical examination, Dr. Sands noted the discharge but also recognized the warning signs of a deeper problem. In rabbits, the roots of the upper premolars and molars sit directly underneath the nasolacrimal duct (the tear duct). If a tooth root grows abnormally (elongation) or becomes infected (abscess), it pushes up and crushes the tear duct. Tears can no longer drain into the nose, so they spill over onto the face.

The Diagnosis: CT Imaging vs. X-Rays While we suspected a dental cause, we needed to prove it and see the extent of the damage. Dental X-rays are helpful, but they are 2D images of a complex 3D skull. Overlapping bones can hide the true source of the obstruction. To provide 5-star care, we recommended a Cone Beam CT Scan.

The Findings: The CT scan confirmed our suspicions. The patient was suffering from Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction secondary to dental disease. The scan allowed us to see exactly which tooth root was compressing the duct and whether there was an abscess (pocket of pus) involved. Why this matters: Without the CT, we would be guessing. With the CT, we had a surgical map.

The Treatment: Endoscopy and Duct Flushing

Based on the CT results, we formulated a minimally invasive plan involving Video Rigid Endoscopy.

1. The Dental Procedure Under general anesthesia, we used a rigid endoscope to visualize the oral cavity on a large monitor. This magnification allowed us to perform precise occlusal adjustments, reducing the height of the teeth to relieve pressure on the roots.

2. Nasolacrimal Duct Flushing Once the dental pressure was relieved, we needed to clear the blockage in the tear duct. We cannulated the tiny punctum (opening) of the tear duct in the eyelid and flushed it with sterile saline. The Result: We successfully flushed the obstruction, re-establishing the normal flow of tears from the eye to the nose.

Recovery: A Clear View The patient recovered smoothly from anesthesia. He was discharged the same day to his home in Queens. We sent him home with two separate ophthalmic medications to reduce inflammation and prevent infection while the duct healed.

At his follow-up, the difference was night and day. The fur around his eye was dry, the discharge was gone, and he was comfortable. By treating the teeth, we cured the eye.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

My rabbit has a runny eye. Is it conjunctivitis? It is possible, but in rabbits, dental disease is the #1 cause of chronic runny eyes. If the discharge is white or thick or doesn't clear up with drops, you must have the teeth evaluated by a specialist.

Is a CT scan really necessary for a dental check? For simple spurs, maybe not. But for chronic issues, abscesses, or tear duct blocks, a CT Scan is the gold standard. It lets us see the tooth roots inside the jawbone. We are one of the few clinics in Nassau County with this technology on-site.

Is the tear duct flush painful? We perform it under sedation or general anesthesia, so the rabbit feels no pain. It involves inserting a tiny tube into the tear duct to wash out pus or debris.

Do you treat rabbits from Brooklyn? Yes! We see rabbit patients from Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens daily. We are the trusted referral center for complex rabbit dentistry in the region.

Contact Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic: Website: https://www.birdexoticsvet.com/ Phone: (516) 482-1101