Yesterday morning had a doe fawn born to a two year old, first time momma. The momma looked pregnant, but did not look like she was ready to fawn. Momma was natural bred and is one I bottle fed, so she is very tame. The fawn was just over 4 pounds and developed completely except her eyes are closed except for a little bit in the inside corner of each eye. What would cause that? Is that a premature birth? Will the eyes open at some point? We picked her up to bottle feed as she is too small to reach the udder. We know she nursed at birth b/c we saw her nursing. Any ideas?! Thanks!
Joined Apr 2009
1,485 Posts | 0+
Vaughn, MT 59487
I've always said you will see something different the longer your in the deer business. I've been doing this thirty years and never had one like that. I had a fawn with a crumpled up ear born last year and we call him Vango.
It would seem to me you should try to open the eyes by putting up and down equal pressure on the lids. If they open a little each day you try this that would be great. I think as you open the eyes they would need a chance to heal the eye lid as this might be rip tissue damage. Either way I would put eye ointment in it's eyes. If this doesn't work you will have to have a Vet make the eye opening. I would think the sooner the better.
Maybe like puppies they will open as they get older on their own but I don't think this is the case. This all really is a guess on my part.
It would seem to me you should try to open the eyes by putting up and down equal pressure on the lids. If they open a little each day you try this that would be great. I think as you open the eyes they would need a chance to heal the eye lid as this might be rip tissue damage. Either way I would put eye ointment in it's eyes. If this doesn't work you will have to have a Vet make the eye opening. I would think the sooner the better.
Maybe like puppies they will open as they get older on their own but I don't think this is the case. This all really is a guess on my part.
Thank you! We have put drops and an eye ointment (non steroidal) on/in the eyes. She is very weak, so if we can get her stronger, we'll get the vet to work on her eyes.
use steril eye drops to moisten her eyes and one time when you look at her one eye will be open then soon the other, sometimes fawns are a little slow...just like deer farmers
