Why is my bunny's eyelid popping out and bloody? Is it cherry eye?

I am so sorry to hear that Blanco isn't feeling well! With what you are describing, I would be concerned about a few things with Blanco's eye. When the third eyelid is protruding and if the eye seems to be pushing out of the skull more than on the other side, this can mean that either the eye itself is big (and therefore sticking out more from the skull) or that there is something pushing the eye out (such as a mass behind the eye). Rabbits can get diseases within the eye that make them bigger than normal. They also can get abscesses (mostly related to their teeth), cancers, and other diseases that can grow behind the eye. There is also a cancer in their chest that they can develop, called thymoma, that also can result in the eyes being pushed further out than normal, but that usually affects both eyes, and not just one. I would recommend getting Blanco seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The reason for this is that I don't want his eye to dry out, as sometimes it can be hard for them to blink when their eye is protruding more than normal. You can purchase an over-the-counter tear gel to help with this until you can get to the vet. A couple of brands that I recommend are Optixcare and GenTeal. Please ensure that it is the gel only, with no additives for allergy relief or anything else as these can be irritating to rabbits' eyes. When at the veterinarian, they will evaluate the eye to ensure that it hasn't gotten too dry. They will assess it to see if there are excessively high pressures, and check to see if it is indeed too large. If they suspect that it may be something behind the eye, they may recommend diagnostics, such as imaging to look at the area and blood work to evaluate for systemic health and infections. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I hope Blanco feels better soon!

Hi there. For a good answer to this you really need a sedated eye exam at your veterinarian's office. (If you can upload a few photos it helps us get a better idea too). They will make sure the cornea (the surface part of the eye) is intact and that there are no ulcerations, etc. to repair a prolapsed eyelid or "cherry eye" you will need surgery to either remove the membrane or to tack it back into place-I'm not sure which would be a better option without seeing your pet in particular. Likely you will be given antibiotics as well to keep the eye free of infections. I hope this helps!

Thanks for reaching out about Shila. There is suspect that trauma or infection is affecting the eye. Try gently wiping with a warm wetted washcloth to determine if any thick white discharge is noted. This is an infection. Since rabbit eyes are large and situated laterally on the head, it is not uncommon that the eyes become scratched or worse while sticking their heads into bushes, etc. Any chance of a predator (cat, other) encounter? A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. They should be able to examine the eye and present a treatment plan. Good luck.

Thank you for the picture, and I hope that we can get Sophie feeling better soon! I like your idea of taking her into the vet on Monday when they open, as swollen eyes can be painful, and eye injuries can be serious. Until then, I would recommend keeping the area clean, and trying to keep hair from going into the eye, as it can scratch the cornea (front of the eye). You can also apply an over the counter tear gel (such as GenTeal or Optixcare) 3-4 times daily. Please try to get one of these two brands, and make sure they are just the year gel without any additives in them. This will help to keep the eye lubricated until Monday. Please do not apply any other medications to the eye, and don’t give any human medications to your rabbit, as many of them are harmful to them. If you feel that the eye is worsening tonight or tomorrow, I would recommend trying to find an emergency clinic that see rabbits.

Hi, and thanks for your question. That is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

it sounds like he has an infection so he should be examined by a vet for treatment. Your vet can determine the severity of the injury to his eyes and prescribe medications to help. He may need an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory to treat an infection.

Hi there, There is a slight glare in the photo so it's hard to tell what the middle part of the eye looks like, but it is normal for schlera to be visible. I would recommend comparing to the other eye to tell if it's bulging. If you bunny begins to have any discharge from that eye, she should be seen by a veterinarian. I hope that helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.