eye problems kit

[Demamma]

One of my Jersey Wooly kits is having eye problems. It is over 2 weeks old now. now Its siblings opened its eyes no problems at about 8 days the runt opened one eye to a sliver at about 11 days. days The other eye does not open. The eye that does open keeps closing. I have been gently cleaning its eye and putting sterilized water in it and where the other eye should be opening. I am not finding crusties in or around the eye. It's eye that does open is red but looks weird. Really red. Any ideas would be appreciated. I will probably keep this one as a pet. Here are some pictures.

 

[skysthelimit]

I hope you find a solution.
I have a Rex kit like that. I put eye ointment in it, and still it won't stay open. Sadly it's a doe and one of my best looking kits. She will go for meat

 

[Secuono]

Had a litter like that, all were eaten. But two of them had eyes that would not open or kept shutting. In the end, one eye lid kind of grew pinched. It eventually fixed itself, but there was hairloss.
I just kept at rinsing out the eyes, opening the ones that kept sealing and wiping any gunk. I didn't bother with any ointment, just clean water.
I'd soak and gently pry open that shut eye. Sometimes the hair will get gunk near the base of the hairs and keep it sealed, but the outer fur looks clean.

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, we have this problem fairly frequently. It's a real tough one to deal with... If you treat it enough to keep the eye open then it often results in the eyelids being irritated and worsening the problem. I have been considering that it is a Pasteurella problem and that the kits with weaker immune systems develop this problem. It seems to stunt their growth as well... Hard to grow properly when you're feeling lousy with an eye problem.

I think the best solution, for me, would be to cull all kits who exhibit eye problems, but then I think perhaps it would be more practical to remove them to cages and grow them out for freezer camp, even if they do not do particularly well. I still have not come to a conclusion about this. One thing I have noticed, however, is that the eye problems seem more frequent in the fluffy rabbits. The ones with short, sleek fur seem to do better. (There is a touch of Angora somewhere in my rabbits that surfaces now and again.)

 

[Demamma]

The other kits are very healthy. I just am not sure what to do. I figure I have 3 choices. 1. Cull the kit now. 2. Keep cleaning and working to keep the eye open and get other eye open then keep or regime as pet. 3. Leave eyes alone and keep or regime as pet. I hate the idea of culling the kit but do not want to endanger my other rabbits if there is illness. I will look in on it tomorrow and try to decide.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Usually just getting the eyes open by washing with warm water or chamomile tea does the trick, but if not I will use ophthalmic ointment in the affected eye(s). It should clear up with a couple of applications. If not, it may be best to cull the kit, distressing as that will be.

I have been considering that it is a Pasteurella problem and that the kits with weaker immune systems develop this problem. It seems to stunt their growth as well...

I think it may be related to Pasteurella as well, or at least indicates a compromised immune system which makes them more susceptible to it. I have also noticed slower growth.

However, I had one doe kit that had a stubborn case which resulted in scarring of the cornea, but she grew into a nice stout doe, and was the largest of the litter. I am not sure if it would have been as bad if it had not been such a busy week for me and I had been more proactive with treatment.

I gave her to a friend of mine (with full disclosure) to use as a meat doe. She is bred now, so we will see if she exhibits signs of "P" when she kindles.

She is such a nice doe that I am hoping to get a doe kit back from her if all goes well.

 

[ladysown]

From one who has battled eye issues AND has almost eradicated them from her herd.

This is what I personally have found to be the case. Your mileage may vary.

1. IF the eye has not responded to treatment CULL dead. Seriously. Weepy eyes like that are a sign of a poor immune system. Either grow out for food if so inclined or bury it.

2. Treatment.

FIRST OFF: remove or tip on the side the nestbox.

Step one: for no more than three days: gently open the eye several times a day. You can do this by simply carefully opening it. OR by using a teabag OR warm water. Trim all hair away from around the eye.
Step two: up the ante....use ONE drop of penicillin on the eye ball OR medicated eye drops OR some have success with another med that I don't use. Do this once a day. Keep opening the eye. Do this for another three days.
Step three: Cull to a pet home if this bun is better AND the eye does not revert back to a weepy stage once treatment is done. (wait at least one week to monitor)

IF the eye returns to a weepy stage there is something wrong with that kit and it should no longer remain viable for breeding of any sort.

Do not keep for breeding.

Monitor this in your herd.

I had ALMOST eradicated it from my herd. Got a new buck started seeing it again. Buck has since been culled and wonders upon wonders... I don't have it anymore except on random kits.

NOTE, before I did that I tested out my "it's the buck theory".... Bred one doe to two bucks as I knew what she threw from them and the kits from the affected buck....bad eyes, the kits from the old buck....good eyes. So definitely buck related.

__________ Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:13 am __________

i should mention the reason NOT to keep for breeding.

You generally will end up with more kits with poor eyes. I've learned overtime that it matters not the state of cleanliness of a nestbox of kits (unless they are WET).... what matters is the genetics in the kits themselves. Sickly kits that grow up to appear healthy TEND to produce sickly kits. I consider poor eyes a sign of being sickly.

 

[Demamma]

If the kit is not killed it will be kept as pet only. The eyes in the picture look weepy because I just finished soaking them with sterilized water. If left alone I can not see any weeping or crusties just closed eyes.

 

[ladysown]

then one needs to ask...is there a genetic deformity that is causing the kit to keep it's eye closed?

When I look at it I see a thickened circle around the eye which speaks to there having been irritation there. That thickened circle will encourage the kit to keep it's eye closed.