Blind Rabbit Question

[kenman]

I have a NZ doe who has recently gone blind. She is a week away from kindling and I would like to get this litter from her. Has anyone ever tried to have a blind doe have and raise kits?

 

[mekasmom]

I had a little doe from the sale barn that had one blind eye from pink eye. As soon as I got her, we started her on PennG, but it was too late. She lost her sight completely in one eye. The other eye was also infected, but I don't think she was blind in that one.
She had ten bunnies a month later. It worked out fine. But she did have some sight in one eye.

I would just keep the doe, and give it a try. You won't be out anything by trying.

What made your rabbit go blind? If it is pinkeye, you need to treat it now before the babies come. And watch the babies for symptoms too.

 

[kenman]

That's the crazy thing, I have no idea what happened. She shows no sign of infection, injury, or anything out of the ordinary. A couple weeks ago I noticed her patting her front feet when she moved in her hutch, like they were sore. I looked her over and could see nothing wrong. I attributed it to the wire making her feet sore. Then a few days ago I looked at her for several minutes and noticed that she wasn't moving her head from side to side and her eyes looked blank. When my daughter watered her, she reached in and the doe never flinched, moved or even acknowledged my daughters hand was in the hutch. I put my hand in front of her face and she never knew it was there. I then realized her foot patting was her way of dealing with blindness. I just hope she can find her way in the nest box to have babies and then back to it to care for them.