Can rabbits really see well in the dark or do they struggle at night?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely behavioral in nature and it may be just while she realizes it is you. You can check in with your veterinarian for an eye exam to make sure that it is nothing that has to do with her vision. Otherwise, this may improve with time. Best of luck!

Rabbits, like most mammals, need a light/dark photoperiod. The amount of light and dark changes with the seasons In the wild, rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk while spending most of the day safe in a burrow underground. Some light or light cycle is needed to prevent stress. A low wattage bulb on a timer may provide enough light so that Pierre is not in constant darkness, which is not healthy.

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.

Hello! What a fun research project! The area centralis is the portion of the retina that has a very high concentration of photoreceptors for increased resolution and high visual acuity. It is similar to the fovea in humans. Dogs and cats have similar retinal anatomy. They have a higher concentration of "rods" as compared to "cones". Rods allow subtle detection in light changes and improved vision in low light. This is why dogs and cats can see much better in the dark as compared to their humans! Since both dogs and cats were once considered predators, they needed improved dim light vision to catch their prey. I hope this helps! I'm happy to provide a consult if you need more detailed information.

Hi and thank you for your question. The color of the eyes sounds normal for this age, some bunnies retain it for life. As to eyesight this may be tricky to access. They don't always react to hand movements. What you could do is place thumper in an unfamiliar room with some obstacles on the floor and try to see if he avoids them before he can actually feel them. As I said, it can be tricky. Obviously, a health check at your vet is also recommended.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As long as your bunnies are indoor only and are protected by either windows and/or screens, they are safe! If your bunnies are going to be outside, they need to be strictly supervised, so that a cat does not attack them. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could have been a birth defect perhaps if it has been going on this entire time. Diarrhea can be observed with gastrointestinal parasites for example. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check on the possible cause of the diarrhea so that it can be treated and why his eyes are not apparent. Good luck!