Rehabber in Florida, just got in a 19lb 2oz buck that is slightly lethargic, head down and appears to be blind. Pupils dilate so optic nerve is intact. Found on side of highway, but the cuts and scapes are several days old and scabbed over so if he was hit it was 3 or four days ago. Good condition overall, not dehydrated or emaciated. Blood panel was normal today, barium xray showed no digestive ruptures, no swelling anywhere, no broken bones. Our vet is leaning toward head trauma of some sort, we had one last year hit the fence and knock himself wobbly and drooly for two days. Giving DEX, B12, and AB's. He does not seem to be able to see anything but possibly giant objects like a house wall. He will wander into a tree but stops as he approaches the walls or anything big and solid. He knows he can't see so he walks very careful and deliberate. When startled he may trot a short distance but then stops and faces where any noise is. If you go to pick him up he will kick and fight. The eyes are not cloudy and look normal. He looks way to healthy to have had an infection settle in them. I think he is head down trying to see the ground and watch for a drop off or incline. I would like to know if anyone has seen this type of symptoms and did they get better????
keep treating with Dex. I'd give some thiamine on the off chance that the blindness predated the injuries...won't hurt.
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
He will get better but it may take as long as a year before he gains partial vision. One of my best yearling bucks had a serious brain injury and was blind over a year. He was a son of the buck in my avatar and a 7/8 sister of Silverstorm. For a month I had to hand feed him everything and gave him water with the water hose by turning it sideways in his mouth and letting it run across his tongue. I tried to keep him in the barn because he would walk into the corners of fences and couldn't get out. The barn didn't work well either. He rubbed his face raw bumping the corners of the barn. I would have to sneak up quietly each time I fed and watered him. He would spook and run into things otherwise. It took a lot of time and patience to keep him alive. He died this past winter at two but had regained enough vision to see me at about 20'. Early on I treated him with DEX, banimine, vitamin K and several anti-biotics. He would have never thrived again if he were rehabbed and put into the wild due to the extent of his brain injury. Brain swelling and extreme pain could cause temporary loss of vision.
Good luck with him
Good luck with him
Joined Jul 2009
1,215 Posts | 0+
Deer Park, Alabama
Thanks guys. We brought him in last night and he is being tube fed right now, he will not nurse or drink from a bowl or anything. Adding thiamine to his diet but will increase it to see if there is change. Will keep everyone up to date with any changes. After spending quite a lot of time with him yesterday I am sure he has been blind for some several weeks due to abrasions on the front of legs, chest and face. We have all the time in the world for this little guy, right now we are just trying to get him up and functioning as normal as possible. This board has been a world of help to us, also would like to thank Mark at Sandridge, Scott Heinrich, and Billy Joe at painted meadows for their patience and support!!!! Hats off to all you guys!!!!
Update, very lethargic and raspy when he breathes. Tube feeding but clamping between syringes and then pulling while the line is full to prevent air. Gave 2cc of 22.7 Baytril at lunch time, will start Lasix this eve when it comes in. I am sure he regurgitated some and then inhaled it. I know they are supposed to be hard to save once they have fluid in their lungs. Is there anything else we can do or a trick of the trade I can try?
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
The buck I posted last about had a broken skull plate. I didn't say he had a puncture also in one of his lower lungs and was blowing bloody bubbles from the hole each time he exhaled. I thought within 24-48 hours he would be dead even if it clotted because of bacteria that probably entered his blood stream and the blood in his chest cavity. The next morning when I peeped in the barn there he lay still alive. His ears were down and his mouth was open. His breathing was very labored but there was no more frothy blood in the corners of his mouth and no puddle of blood under his chest. I could not believe it. One of his eyes was swollen nearly shut. He looked very depressed. Day two he appeared a little stronger so I began to think his blood had miraculously escaped bacteria. I had scheduled five weeks vacation from work during fawning season and could care for the buck twenty four seven. He pulled through. I don't know how. It seems some deer have a very strong will to live and others just want to die in spite of our best efforts. I hope yours has that will to live. I said a prayer for you and him today. I would be giving him ringers often. He is probably in shock. His age and sudden exposure to humans is making things more difficult for you. Sorry, you are doing a very admirable thing trying to save him.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
