Update on my Dust Mop

[Bad Habit]

Well, the dust mop is reaching the end of her quarantine period. She's been healthy, very feisty, except the one problem. Her eyes. They are not good.

Sometimes when I check her over, she's got white crusts, other times it's wet eye snots. One eye is worse than the other, and there is often irritation. I've never checked her eyes and had them clear.

I'm pretty sure that it's from her hair getting into her eyes. She's had no signs of illness other than the eyes, and she does have that hair constantly in her face. I put her hair in a top knot last night, and washed her eyes very well, so we'll see how she is when she gets home.

What are the chances that the hair in her face is causing irritation and it's not the dreaded p word?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

What are the chances that the hair in her face is causing irritation and it's not the dreaded p word?

I'd guess slim to none.

 

[Dood]

:yeahthat:

The fact that the discharge is white makes me think so. Could you pluck or trim the hair to rule out irritation from hair, or maybe put it up in pony-tails but I would worry about a rabbit eating the rubber bands.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

maybe put it up in pony-tails

She put her hair up yesterday.

 

[Bad Habit]

Oh, I should have mentioned, most of the time, I actually find hair in her eyeball, with the wet white eye snot on it. I mean, it looks like completely normal eye snots, like the cat and dog and even I get. And while around the eye I had to wash is a little funny looking because of the wash, there doesn't seem to be any eye snots since I put it in the top knot. Mind you, that's only since last night. I'm going to keep an eye on her, and if she is snot free until Sunday, then I will probably declare her "cured."

Does eye gunk from pasteurella tend to settle in one specific place?

 

[Oceanrose]

I have an English Angora doe who does this. Her eyes get weepy, and I end up cutting off her facial furnishings. Not sure if it's how her hair grows (it does seems to grow into her eyes), or what. My other EA doesn't do this. Just personal opinion on what to do, my doe will live out her days here. IMHO, this doesn't warrant culling an otherwise symptom free rabbit. But that is just me. Others will have different opinions.

 

[Bad Habit]

I have an English Angora doe who does this. Her eyes get weepy, and I end up cutting off her facial furnishings. Not sure if it's how her hair grows (it does seems to grow into her eyes), or what. My other EA doesn't do this. Just personal opinion on what to do, my doe will live out her days here. IMHO, this doesn't warrant culling an otherwise symptom free rabbit. But that is just me. Others will have different opinions.

This is exactly what I was hoping for, to hear from someone with a fiber breed Thanks for taking the time!

Have you bred your doe who has this issue, or do you intend to? Or is this something that would indicate not breeding?

I'm going to be breeding the Dust Mop to Dobby. He's got a lot less hair than she does.

 

[Oceanrose]

Have you bred your doe who has this issue, or do you intend to? Or is this something that would indicate not breeding?

I'm going to be breeding the Dust Mop to Dobby. He's got a lot less hair than she does.

I haven't bred her, mainly because of her age. If I did, this is something I would certainly watch for in her kits, and try to eliminate. With Laurel, when I get the hair off of her face, the weepy eye goes away. If I don't watch the hair, it comes back. I was just out there today cleaning her up, and combing out her cheeks.

 

[Bad Habit]

Thanks again. I'll update in a day or two, how she does.

 

[MaggieJ]

Keep her in quarantine, do not breed her yet, trim the hair around the eyes (more effective than tying it up) and keep your fingers crossed. If you are vigilant about your isolation protocols, you can afford to grant her a bit of time. Warm (not hot!) chamomile or black tea (like orange pekoe) make a soothing eye wash. Just be sure not to rub the eye when applying... Just use a cotton ball and apply as a compress.

 

[Bad Habit]

Oh no, had no intent of breeding her until quarantine was over, just explaining why I don't think so much hair should stop her from breeding, provided that is the reasoning. I'm breeding both does at the beginning of January.

I'll try the tea compress. I usually just flush her eye with contact lens solution. I have a syringe specifically for that, the vet gave it to me for the dog. He gets really runny eyes, because he's so bug eyed. I often have to flush his eyes.

Her eyes look SO MUCH BETTER already though. I mean, I know it's only been a night, but the redness has gone down, she looks just about normal in colour. It'll take some time for the hair to grow back in the corners of her eyes, but man. She looks happier with it pulled back. I might just take a few photos with her hair down, and then clip it all off. Provided I can get someone to help me hold her still. She's still rather nervous, and I tied her hair up because I wasn't likely to poke her eye out if she struggled.