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Antibiotics
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In cases where the eye injury is superficial and will heal itself, the veterinarian prescribes antibiotics which are then administered several times a day. The antibiotics prevent infection while the rabbit heals. A pain relief medication may be prescribed along with them to keep the rabbit calm and docile while its eye is healing.
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
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In cases where an infection has set in in the rabbit's injured eye, both an anti-inflammatory medication and an antibiotic medication is used. While the antibiotic fights the infection, the anti-inflammatory medication helps bring down the swelling. Swelling in a rabbit's eye can press on the nerves nearby causing pain or a loss of vision. In many cases, anti-inflammatory medication is administered directly to the eye in the form of eye drops.
Debriding
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If a rabbit's injury has caused there to be dead cells built up around the cornea, the dead cells must be removed in order to clear the way for the healthy corneal cells to regrow. A rabbit who requires debridement is first sedated and then a cotton-tipped applicator is used to abrade the dead cells and clear them away once they are loosened.
Eye Removal
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In cases of severe injury or where the eye injury will never heal, the veterinarian may opt for eye removal. During an eye removal, the rabbit is sedated and given an general anesthetic, and while the rabbit is unconscious, the eyeball is removed and the optic nerve cut. After this removal, the eyelid is sutured shut.
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What Are the Treatments for an Eye Injury in a Rabbit?
Rabbits are hardy animals and their eyes are no different. However, when a rabbit has experienced an eye injury such as a scratched cornea or a problematic infection, you must take the rabbit to a veterinarian. You should never use medicine intended for humans or for other animals on a rabbit, but instead refer to a veterinarian for the proper medication or treatment. There are several ways a veterinarian may choose to treat an eye injury on a rabbit.