Nestbox eye not going away!

[Amy]

My 1 month old still has a bad case of nestbox eye! We were displaced due to no electricity and lots of falling trees (heavy snowfall) for over 1 week, but was able to feed them, just couldn't help the little ones eyes much during that time. I can get the eyes to open with warm water/chamomile tea, but they go right back to being shut again and within an hour they are glued shut again. Poor bunny is obviously blind in both eyes, although he's one of the plumpest ones in the litter.
I guess I need to know what to do next:
Is this reason to cull the baby? Or do I just need to treat it more?
What kind of eye ointment can be used?
I'm about to go to town in an hour, so if I can pick something up when I'm there.
Thanks in Advance, Amy

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sorry to hear you had severe enough weather that you were unable to be home. I hope all else is well at your homestead.

I would try to buy some ophthalmic ointment. Make sure it does not contain steroids, since they inhibit healing. Terramycin or Gentomycin should help. I am unsure whether they are available OTC, if you have a friendly relationship with your Vet they may prescribe it for you.

It is doubtful that the eyes will heal enough for the kit to ever see, but if you are raising for meat you can grow the kit out for that purpose. I would not breed it or sell it as a pet.

If it develops other symptoms, such as sneezing, I would cull it immediately.

 

[jollysrabbits]

I Agree with MSD, and the problem with most animals that are blind from birth is they tend to be very skittish and there can be accidents (biting, running away and bumping into things) so again meat ok, breeding or pet I would say no.

 

[Amy]

Luckily we have 2 litters of 8 kits, so plenty to choose from for breeding (we might keep back a doe) He seems to get around fine, definetly gets plenty of food in his belly. We are breeding for meat so not a problem there.<br /><br />__________ Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:11 am __________<br /><br />I picked up a bottle of Vetericyn wound and infection care. Anybody use this stuff? The lady said you can use it for any animal for any wound or infection,by increasing white blood cells. Safe to use on the eyes, mouths, etc. Only problem was the price, but I think it'll last a long time.

 

[garden lady]

Luckily we have 2 litters of 8 kits, so plenty to choose from for breeding (we might keep back a doe) He seems to get around fine, definetly gets plenty of food in his belly. We are breeding for meat so not a problem there.

__________ Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:11 am __________

I picked up a bottle of Vetericyn wound and infection care. Anybody use this stuff? The lady said you can use it for any animal for any wound or infection,by increasing white blood cells. Safe to use on the eyes, mouths, etc. Only problem was the price, but I think it'll last a long time.

I have used it. It seems to help with the watery eyes, but Snickers got it again, so I am not sure what is causing it. The nestbox eye with a younger it I used the tea and Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment. The kit was 2 weeks and only 1 eye and healed in 2 days.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I picked up a bottle of Vetericyn wound and infection care. Anybody use this stuff?

Yes- it is like magic! :wizard: I use it on myself even. According to one of the sales reps, the standard formulation is used in the eyes of dairy cattle on a daily basis.

You will be very happy with it- its versatility can't be beat.

 

[Amy]

I looked for the Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment, but didn't see it...do you have to get it from a vet?
Well, already the eyes looks soooooo much better! They are even staying open longer, and don't look irritated anymore.
I have noticed, when wiping the gunk out, that there is a hair attached on the inside of the eyelid...is this normal? Maybe that's causing it??

 

[skysthelimit]

The ointment is in a small box somewhere near the bag balm. The other stuff is easy to handle, but expensive so I never buy it. I lose things, lost the bottle of Blukote after day 2 so I take it easy. I hear it's great stuff, so at some point I will get some.