Difference Between Ordinary and Pasteurella Conjunctivitis in Rabbits

1 Ordinary vs Pasteurella Conjunctivitis

I. Ordinary Rabbit Conjunctivitis

Cause: ordinary conjunctivitis means inflammation from bacteria other than pasteurella.

Signs: the rabbit usually doesn’t sneeze, or only when eating/drinking. It secretes eye crusts or white pus, tears constantly wetting the corner fur with clear tear marks; eyelids swell, the eye rim reddens, it’s photophobic and keeps eyes half-closed.

Treatment:

1. Use tobramycin eye drops, available at pet pharmacies; apply 6 times daily.

2. If tearing is excessive, flush with saline (sodium chloride) once daily.

How to flush the eye:

Lift the upper eyelid fully and pull it back, flush the inner tissue with saline until clean, then release. Then flush the lower lid by pinching it outward and injecting saline into the gap with the eyeball; much pus washes out—stop when the water runs clear. Dry and smooth the surrounding fur with a tissue.

Why flush: severe eye disease produces much discharge; if not flushed it can block the nasolacrimal duct or inflame it, complicating treatment—so flushing is necessary when discharge is heavy.

II. Pasteurella Conjunctivitis in Rabbits

Cause: conjunctivitis from pasteurella multocida infection, usually after rhinitis—the bacteria move from the nose to the eye.

Signs: constant sneezing, frequent tearing with milky discharge, damp corner fur, usually no eyelid edema, slight rim redness.

Treatment:

1. Inject ceftiofur sodium (animal-specific) intramuscularly or subcutaneously for 7 days.

2. Tobramycin eye drops, 6 times daily.

3. Daily eye flush with 5% povidone-iodine diluted 1:200, same method as above.

A reminder:

Most pasteurella conjunctivitis is secondary to rhinitis; if the rhinitis isn’t cured, the eye won’t heal—treat the rhinitis at the same time.