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Artie U/D may have dental problems ... eating okay for now

Bunny Buddy

Wise Old Thumper
I've just copied this from 'Health' as I'm in panic mode!!!

Hi Artie is a 4 1/4 year old lop who has never previously had any dental trouble. He's always been a good hay eater though in the last few weeks I've realised his hay consumption has gone down a lot.

He ate some SS pellets this morning and a small piece of spring greens at about 12.00 noon or after, which he took enthusiastically. He's been very bouncy and enthusiastic until today when I got home from work and he's not really responding to anything, he's not tooth grinding but definitely not happy, has turned down his favourite foods.

He's had a bit of a problem with a sticky bottom recently which I'm wondering if it could be because he's not eating as much hay and wondering if that's possibly a result of a dental problem?

Any suggestions? I've got a vet appointment at 5.50 but I'm convinced it's dental (his poos when not soft are fairly small, some larger ones) he's not drinking more than usual, wondering if also it could be a stomach problem not dental, want to cover all the options possible to steer the vet (if you get my drift :roll:)

I know he will need painkiller, poss gut stimulant if no blockage - what else should I be aware of?

Many thanks!!
 
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Hi, sounds like he could be going into Statis and the underlying cause could be his teeth. Make sure his vet gives him some painkiller and gut stimulant to tide him over until he can get his teeth done (if it is his teeth). Sorry this is rushed reply as see you going to vet in minute.

Good luck at vet.
 
Sorry I have no helpful advice, and you'll already be out, but just wanted to send some vibes for little Artie. Hope it goes ok at the vets. :)
 
Only just seen this and you are obviously at the Vets now.
Hopefully the Vet will establish the cause of Artie's Anorexia and give appropriate treatment. The symptoms you describe do sound very 'Dental' to me.
Please let us know how you get on

:)
 
Only just seen this and you are obviously at the Vets now.
Hopefully the Vet will establish the cause of Artie's Anorexia and give appropriate treatment. The symptoms you describe do sound very 'Dental' to me.Please let us know how you get on

:)

I'm absolutely convinced it's dental but then that's the only field I'm experienced with so I suppose I just lean towards that anyway!

The vet examined him thoroughly and gut was a bit quite nothing else much to find - she was convinced it wasn't dental as his teeth are really good, with the exception of a small but 'normal' spur (but then that's all Rudy had to show for it when he stopped eating too - and his dental sorted it out).

He's had metacam (which I asked for!) and Maxolon (I presume that's the gut stimulant although she said Metaclopramide)

He's eaten some kale within five minutes of getting home so at least he's eating a little while I work out what's going on.


Something has been troubling him for a few weeks though as definitely in the last week or so he's been eating less hay! I hit the panic button this evening more because he didn't run over to greet me rather than not eating :?
 
I'm absolutely convinced it's dental but then that's the only field I'm experienced with so I suppose I just lean towards that anyway!

The vet examined him thoroughly and gut was a bit quite nothing else much to find - she was convinced it wasn't dental as his teeth are really good, with the exception of a small but 'normal' spur (but then that's all Rudy had to show for it when he stopped eating too - and his dental sorted it out).

He's had metacam (which I asked for!) and Maxolon (I presume that's the gut stimulant although she said Metaclopramide)

He's eaten some kale within five minutes of getting home so at least he's eating a little while I work out what's going on.


Something has been troubling him for a few weeks though as definitely in the last week or so he's been eating less hay! I hit the panic button this evening more because he didn't run over to greet me rather than not eating :?

Some Bunnies are hypersensitive to the tiniest molar spur whereas others will continue to eat normally with huge spurs digging into their cheeks/tongue.
I would not rule out that tiny spur from your list of 'suspects'.
 
Jessica started to produce soft poops and went a bit quiet. When I took her into the vet they didn't think her teeth were too bad, but decided to do a dental anyway, as it was the only thing obvious. She's been fine since. Like Jane says, some are just more sensitive than others.
 
Thanks for your replies. When I look back on the past few weeks it's all I can add it up to, she said his chin wasn't wet and neither were there any signs with his eyes but I guess they would not always be present. There is definitely less poo than normal and smaller. He 'moved home' about 10 days ago, he's always lived in the same corner here before so it would be a big change and he's pooping in the hay rather than always using his litter tray so counting poops has been harder. I know the move hasn't unsettled him.

I'm seeing the same vet again tomorrow, so I hope I can convince her or he eats reasonably 'til Monday when I get more convinced it is dental.

With Rudy different vets have said you can't see all the molars with the ??oscope they use but this vet seems convinced she'd seen all she needed to, maybe there is actually another spur/s she hasn't seen. Though I think the one small spur does sound enough to make him fed up.

I've offered him some SS mash with warm water but he's not keen. I'll find him some more soft food to tempt him. I've got a snugglesafe but as he's 'reasonably' happy I won't warm it up until tonight so he can get the benefit of it during the night.
 
:wave: He's doing okay thank you! My stress levels are down a tad :roll:

He's eating kale quite happily every half hour or so, he's eaten dandelions & grass (collected by torchlight!!) but he's not had things like raisins that he LOVES. When I cuddle him he pushes his nose into my hand so he's not feeling really horrible at the mo (prob thanks to Metacam).

I hope I can convince the vet tomorrow he needs a dental, they do often take a U-turn on the next visit ... At least he's eating a little on his own, but I do want to see him back to the hay munching that he used to do so much of :(
 
I had the same thing last week with Salt.
I thought it was teeth, the same as you, as he didn't look uncomfortable as they often do if they have wind, or tummy troubles. He just refused his food.
The vet checked his teeth and could find nothing problematic although she did say that there are some teeth that are impossible to check without GA (Salt's a nethie, so even less room in the mouth!). She said she would treat for GI stasis and if it didn't improve the situation, then to think about teeth.
Salt had been in boarding the previous week, and the vet said possibly that and the change of weather had unsettled him a little.
Anyway, he only needed the one lot of metoclopramide, and a few goes with the Science Recovery and he was back to normal and has been that way since.
Hope Artie feels better soon.
 
:wave: He ate quite a bit of greens last night (I feel so cruel for limiting them recently due to his sticky bottom). He's even eaten some SS (not mashed) and some chopped carrot. He had a very long cuddle last night as every time I tried to go to bed he started licking and nudging me :roll:

He was skipping round my feet and licking me this morning so he's obviously feeling happy again. He's pooped to, but I'm definitely still very much on the watch out for any changes and I'm strongly convinced that spur or hidden ones are bothering him.
 
If you feel it is his teeth, then I would suggest to explain your reasons to your vet.

My Homer is a dental bun and I kept asking my vet if his sticky bum and general under the weather mood was due to teeth and I was constantly told no - this went on for about 4 months back and forth to vet. One mroning he was flopping around and I took him straight to vet. It was a different one and he suspected teeth. It turned out that he has severe dental problems (X-ray revealed teeth had grown through jaw). Homer had shown no signs of slowing down on his food or dribbling. I should also add that Homer is a very happy bunny now that we are able to "control" his condition.

I am not trying to frighten you but you should tell your vet how you feel and that you want them checked out, as others have said a tiny spur can bother a bunny. If he does have a dental then insist on X-ray so you can make sure everything is OK.

Good luck at the vets.
 
Thanks. If I have no joy from vets appointment this morning, as he seems pretty happy at the mo, I'll be taking him to see FHB early next week, I'm sure she will have better insight into the problem!
 
Yep, second opinions are always a good idea.

To be honest, the usual vet who never spotted the teeth problem in Homer (who is normally very good with bunnies) was on leave when it happened and Homer now sees the exotics specialist there (different branch) and has his dentals done with him consious as he has to have them done each month. So it probably worked out best in the long run for him as there is no one else around here who will do that and there is no way he could have GA every 4-6 weeks.

Good luck at the vets. Hope Alfie is OK.
 
Saw the same vet today and she's not yet ready to do a dental, she wants to be convinced it's the spur that's the problen and doesn't want him to undergo GA unless necessary.

He's had another gut stimulant jab and I've been given some Metacam liquid just in case he needs some more this weekend. I've to go back if there's a problem.

So we'll see where we go. I'm quite happy with her level of caution as he's doing so well, though that could be because of the painkiller. I haven't seen him try to eat hay though since having the painkiller. I strongly suspect he will be back for a dental next week but time will tell.


Could there be a drop in hay consumption because I've swapped him from Excel to Science Selective? Bizarre question I know but I'm trying to cover all angles :?
 
Unlikely the change of food would stop him eating hay. The signs are there that it is probably dental in the fact he is probably finding it difficult to eat hay. Is he throwning his head back when he eats sometimes or put his paws up to his mouth (Homer does this when a dental is due).

Glad he is eating OK at the moment and happy in himself.
 
Is he throwning his head back when he eats sometimes or put his paws up to his mouth QUOTE]

I've just watched him eat some grass and he was kind of throwing his head back but :oops:I can't decide if it is normal or not :oops: it didn't really look out of the ordinary, no paws to mouth though.

Although he's eating, he normally eats like a horse and he's only eating like a very small pony at the moment :lol:
 
WHOO HOO

I've just seen him eat some hay!! He's just been eating some grass that looks quite hard as well AND has had his head in his dish munching SS pellets. :shock:
 
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