Awww...Angie He looks ok otherwise but the eye may be injured.  That is just the way of things in the wild I suppose.

 Hi Angie, Unfortunately it looks like that rabbit has contracted Myxomatosis.

More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myxomatosis

Warning:  It's not nice reading.

Regards,  Joe.

Angie.  I agree it looks like myxomatosis.I come from Norfolk and this was introduced to reduce the rabbit population.I have just done a search on Google and one of the photos show a rabbit with an eye just like the one in your photo. It is the start of myxomatosis,my brother in law who goes shooting in Norfolk and is quite up on his wild life tells me that myxomatosis is slowly making  a comeback.It never really disappeared but the rabbits got immune to it.This is one reason that I wont eat rabbit,I remember those poor animals just laying around with this disease.  

Thanks guys - I'll give the RSPCA a ring.

Hey Angie unfortunately everyone is right, almost certainly mixy.  We lost about 40 of them round by us this year.  Loads and loads of babies and withing about 5 weeks they were all but wiped out.  Im sure some would find it sad but when I see them like this I tend to help them on their way, otherwise it is a very sad demise.  It's not unusual to see carrion trying to eat them alive so is in my opinion is kinder to give them a quick way out.  Having said that occasionally they can survive it but its very rare indeed.

It saddens me every time to know that we created it without ever giving thought to the future.

And mine - the RSPCA would come out but as I cannot guarantee where it will be they cannot afford the man hours to find it. But if I do see it there is a guy up the road who I think will dispatch it quickly to put it at rest.

I didn't realise it was spread by fleas and mosquitos, this was what the RSPCA said. My first worry was that it could be passed to Ziggy - but I am told dogs can't get it. But for a while we will do a lot more walking where he is less likely to pick up the fleas from the infected rabbit(. And get a new flea collar!!!!

i love rabbits, this is mine we got her at 8 weeks and within 2 days she started falling over and having twitches we took her to the vets straght away and was tod she had a parasite which effects the nervous system and eyes and ears we were both upset seeing her like this and were given only a 50% of recovery it was a long week as she just laid on her side and had 2 feed her 8 times a day but thankfully she pulled through and now is a bloody terror we have 2 chi hua huas and she thinks she is the 3rd to the point she joins in when the dogs are fed

Swelling of the head/genital area is the first sign of the disease Angie then conjunctivitis/blindness, so it could well be that. Saying that, it appears to be munching away quite happily and I have a squirrel in my garden in a similar state.......accidents/fights do happen so maybe you shouldn't be too hasty with the baseball bat and see how things progress! Next stage is the listlessness and loss of appetite.

As someone has already stated the Rabbit Welfare Association recommends that all bunny owners vaccinate against Myxomatosis (from six weeks of age) AND Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) from twelve to fourteen weeks of age. Rabbits should not be vaccinated while pregnant or ill. After the firsit vaccination regular boosters are required. Boosters are given either every 12 months or every 6 months, depending on the risk in the local area.

Vaccination does not guarantee that a rabbit will not contract myxomatosis, there is still a small risk, however, vaccinated rabbits contracting myxomatosis also have a greater chance of recovery.

I've also found the following......

As insects are the main way myxomatosis spreads controlling them is an important way to minimise the risk of infection. It is important to treat other household pets such as cats and dogs for fleas. If you have an outbreak of fleas it will also be necessary to treat the house and carpets. Treatment for mites and lice can be recommended by your vets. Hutches and other living accommodation can be cleaned with anti-mite disinfectants designed specifically for use on animal cages. Hanging sticky fly paper (out of reach of rabbits teeth) can help control fleas and flies. Electronic fly traps can be used inside. Its important not to use fly sprays around your rabbit or other pets.

I am informed by others in the village that there is a lot of myxomatosis around here - so it probably is. If I could isolate it then it would be easier to take some sort of remedy - either final or not, but the chances of me catching a rabbit are pretty thin!!

Years ago we had a rabbit who died of myxy. It's a very unpleasant disease. The dog found a rabbit with this two years ago, near our old house.

Angie, just wanted to check if you received my reply?