Kit with NBE--the lid is damaged? Mercy cull?

[EnglishSpot]

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to post, I don't have four hands which is what is needed for me to do that.

I have a kit with prior nest box eye, which I cleaned up and it has mostly recovered. However.... as much as one tries to do the right thing, something else may pop up.

The kit in question scratched his eye during the NBE episode. When I look at the eye now, the front top lid is swollen from about halfway across the eye towards the nose. Upon close examination (which is difficult because I'm starting to need bifocals) I see the eyelid from the middle of the eye towards the kit's back is okay BUT is pinched/folded and disappears. I pulled at the eyelid in case it's flipped under and trapped by eyelashes--it's not, from what I can see. I think I see where the eyelid was torn and healed itself in a fold. However, the swollen section of the eyelid is bare since it's been scratched at and I'm pretty sure that's not tucked under either, it's just a major irritant since it's probably not blinking in rhythm with the back. The "okay" section of the lid has a fold of the eyelid that sticks out since it healed wrong.

There was a little bit of pus in the corner of the eye today and since I think the lid is damaged, would it be merciful to cull it now, rather than waiting? It's a meat mutt and I'm inclined to give it mercy, but it's eating well and only grinds it's teeth when I'm messing with the eyelid.

Opinions?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

How does the surface of the eye itself look? Is it moist? If the eye shows a red ulceration (as opposed to white scarring from the NB eye), that would indicate an ongoing issue and painful condition to me. If, however, it appears pretty normal I would think that it would be okay to grow the kit out.

Another deciding factor is the age of the kit. If it is really small still with a lot of growing to do, I might be inclined to cull just so I didn't have to continually monitor the eye. It is quite possible that it will have more issues in the coming weeks. Is the time and effort worth the meat?

 

[MaggieJ]

:yeahthat:

I agree that the degree of pain (as best you can tell) and the age of the rabbit are factors in your decision. If you decide to delay culling, keep a close watch for signs of increased discomfort. If it starts acting unhappy -- inactive, not eating well etc. -- I'd cull it for sure.

 

[Zass]

Nest box eye..
The few kits I've had with it all displayed what looked exactly like what I'm pretty sure you are describing here.

I see the eyelid from the middle of the eye towards the kit's back is okay BUT is pinched/folded and disappears. I pulled at the eyelid in case it's flipped under and trapped by eyelashes--it's not, from what I can see.

Not sure if it was caused by the infection, or...a deformity that makes the eyelid fail to protect the eye and thus allows it to become inflected?

I started culling NBE right when I saw it with the mutts, because even with the initial NBE was healed their slightly misshapen eyes still looked uncomfortable.
Thankfully, only one mutt doe here ever produced the NBE kits, and I haven't seen it since she was culled. :shrug:

 

[EnglishSpot]

MSD, the eye is normal and there isn't any ulceration in the cornea itself. I've been applying neomycin ointment to it in case it was a case of eyelid that has crusties stuck to it misshaping the lid.

I think I may wait a few days and see if the eye continues to get infection boogery and cull if it does.

Interestingly, this is a kit from the buck I culled a week or so ago for eye issues after the rabbitry scare. <br /><br /> -- Thu Feb 11, 2016 9:17 am -- <br /><br /> I culled the kit today since it was acting pretty miserable and from the way it avoided it's littermates and just had a hunched over unhappy look. May it rest in peace.

I will cull all Lid-damaged NBE kits from now on.