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Conscious dentals

Jazzy B Bunny

Wise Old Thumper
Now that my jazz has been diagnosed a dental bun I am looking for a vet that's willing to do them with out a GA. Does anyone know of one in Plymouth?
 
Personally I dont agree with attempting to do a Dental on a Rabbit without sedation.

I have spoken to several Bunny savvy Vets about this recently, including 2 specialising in Rabbits and Rabbit Dentistry. The general consensus is that conscious Dentals are 'not best practice' as it is completely impossible to do a thorough job. It is stressful for the Rabbit and potentially dangerous as their is a very vascular area at the back of a Rabbits mouth. One slip and the Rabbit could bleed to death :cry:
The risk of a GA is far less than the potential to do harm in attempting to carry out a Dental proceedure that cannot possibly be thorough and therefore possibly exacerbating an existing problem.

I hope one of our RU Vets will feel able to comment on this as I know that my words are only those of an 'Bunny Care-Giver

:)
 
Thanks for that jane. My vet did explain the prcedure to me, but having read about others having it done without GA I thought it was a better option.. I guess I'm wrong. I'm just so scared if losing him:(
 
Its really not something i would do. i find that with the right anaesthetic protocol dentals are really not a problem. they are quite quick generally and a better examination is done. the risks associated with damage to the sensitive structures of the mouth are very significant if this procedure is carried out in the concious animal. It is very stressful even in "hypnotised" rabbits. In fact blood samples from hypnotised rabbits show them in fact to be very stressed. But back to the point if you want a proper examination carried out win the safest manner, do not go for a concious dental
Goodluck
 
How often does Jazz need dentals doing? If it's an infrequent thing, there isn't really much point looking for a vet who will do conscious dentals because chances are that they won't be near to you, so any savings will be lost through added time and petrol.

If it becomes a frequent thing, then it is something you should look into.

I fully believe that my Abby would be dead by now without conscious dentals. There is no way she would be able to go under GA every 2 weeks, and would either have died during a GA dental or have been PTS. She had already got to the point of needing monthly dentals when I transfered her to my current vets (who do conscious dentals) and I'm so glad I did because it has bought us an extra year of time with her already :)
 
He had his 1st dental 3 weeks ago and he's showing signs again :( he's due a vhd jab 2nd march so I'll get the vet to look at him then. I can't afford it at the moment as it's £140 a time :(
 
He had his 1st dental 3 weeks ago and he's showing signs again :( he's due a vhd jab 2nd march so I'll get the vet to look at him then. I can't afford it at the moment as it's £140 a time :(

£140 Eeek! :shock: :shock: That is waaay more than you should be paying...more like emergency vet prices!!
 
We use a vet who does conscious and without this we couldn't keep the dental buns that come in..the high cost of GA dentals is the reason some rescues have no option but to pts dental bunnies:cry:

The two vets I know of who do them without GA charge between £10 - £20 a time..a big difference to £140

and we have lost one bunny soon after a conscious dental although doubtful the dental casued the death:?

but have heard of approx 9 people in the last 15 months who have lost bunnies as a result of GA dental.we also lost a bun ..little Stella..after a GA dental:cry:

So I'm in favour of them!
 
How often does Jazz need dentals doing? If it's an infrequent thing, there isn't really much point looking for a vet who will do conscious dentals because chances are that they won't be near to you, so any savings will be lost through added time and petrol.

If it becomes a frequent thing, then it is something you should look into.

I fully believe that my Abby would be dead by now without conscious dentals. There is no way she would be able to go under GA every 2 weeks, and would either have died during a GA dental or have been PTS. She had already got to the point of needing monthly dentals when I transfered her to my current vets (who do conscious dentals) and I'm so glad I did because it has bought us an extra year of time with her already :)


have you ever watched it done? What do you suppose would happen if the lingual artery or the buccal artery were damaged during the procedure. These arteries lie in close proximity to the cheek teeth and fatal bleeds can occur. Under anaesthesia these can be dealt with. If this happened in a concious rabbit, it would drown in its own blood (dont mean to sound barbaric but it has happened). I would think subjecting a rabbit to the stress and risk of this procedure monthly would be morally questionable.... but thats just me
 
have you ever watched it done? What do you suppose would happen if the lingual artery or the buccal artery were damaged during the procedure. These arteries lie in close proximity to the cheek teeth and fatal bleeds can occur. Under anaesthesia these can be dealt with. If this happened in a concious rabbit, it would drown in its own blood (dont mean to sound barbaric but it has happened). I would think subjecting a rabbit to the stress and risk of this procedure monthly would be morally questionable.... but thats just me

The rabbit has a gag inserted to hold the mouth open and the teeth are done with either a manual file on it's own or a combination of bone ronguers (sp?) and the file.

I'm not questioning your theoretical knowledge at all, but I do know that a rabbit is more likely to die under GA (especially an ill rabbit as many dental bunnies are) than having a conscious dental from a competant vet who has carried out the procedure countless times.

I'm not advocating that vets do conscious dentals if they don't want to, or don't feel able to do them without causing harm, but it is a good option for some rabbits like my Abby
 
have you ever watched it done? What do you suppose would happen if the lingual artery or the buccal artery were damaged during the procedure. These arteries lie in close proximity to the cheek teeth and fatal bleeds can occur. Under anaesthesia these can be dealt with. If this happened in a concious rabbit, it would drown in its own blood (dont mean to sound barbaric but it has happened). I would think subjecting a rabbit to the stress and risk of this procedure monthly would be morally questionable.... but thats just me

Yes - my vet was confident enough to carry it out infront of me and whilst it did make me flinch I wouldn't have had Shayla for the time I did if she'd had to undergo a GA every month as with all her internal damage there is no way she would have survived. It's a personal choice and unfortunately insurance doesn't usually cover them so the reality of cost has to be considered too.

We have a baby bun in rescue at the moment who needs his doing every month and we will be using the concious route as, like Jill says, we wouldn't be able to afford GA every month but whilst the option is there we want to give him as long and happy life as possible.
 
If he needs it every month, I think I'll go down the conscious dental route.. He's had so many GAs already I hate it when he has one! :(
 
The rabbit has a gag inserted to hold the mouth open and the teeth are done with either a manual file on it's own or a combination of bone ronguers (sp?) and the file.

I'm not questioning your theoretical knowledge at all, but I do know that a rabbit is more likely to die under GA (especially an ill rabbit as many dental bunnies are) than having a conscious dental from a competant vet who has carried out the procedure countless times.

I'm not advocating that vets do conscious dentals if they don't want to, or don't feel able to do them without causing harm, but it is a good option for some rabbits like my Abby

Why dont you stick your kitten down a wellie boot and castrate it while you are at it. Sorry I dont agree. I have many clients who prefer me to do a proper job every month (and i do it at a reduced fee) with less stress to the rabbit. Believe me I get sent the rabbits others do not want to treat due to age illness etc since i run a referral centre and i anaesthetise all the dentals and to date touch wood have not lost one. You clearly think its ok to put your rabbit through this and so I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree
 
Why dont you stick your kitten down a wellie boot and castrate it while you are at it. Sorry I dont agree. I have many clients who prefer me to do a proper job every month (and i do it at a reduced fee) with less stress to the rabbit. Believe me I get sent the rabbits others do not want to treat due to age illness etc since i run a referral centre and i anaesthetise all the dentals and to date touch wood have not lost one. You clearly think its ok to put your rabbit through this and so I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree

There's no need to take that sarcastic attitude :? :shock:

If you're local to me, then I might bring rabbits to you if you have never lost one under GA.

Believe me, I know my own rabbits (more than any vet) and they are not in pain or stressed after a conscious dental. The only time they appear stressed is if I have to drop them off in the morning for a whole day at the vets for a procedure under GA.

If you have never seen a conscious dental, I don't see how you can be so sure that it causes distress to the rabbit anyway? :?
 
Why dont you stick your kitten down a wellie boot and castrate it while you are at it. Sorry I dont agree. I have many clients who prefer me to do a proper job every month (and i do it at a reduced fee) with less stress to the rabbit. Believe me I get sent the rabbits others do not want to treat due to age illness etc since i run a referral centre and i anaesthetise all the dentals and to date touch wood have not lost one. You clearly think its ok to put your rabbit through this and so I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree

Do you have buns come it who have it done under GA every month?
 
Why dont you stick your kitten down a wellie boot and castrate it while you are at it.

I've had buns kick up more of a stink about having their nails clipped than I ever have with a bun having their teeth done - I really hope you're not quite so sarcastic with your clients should they disagree with you at any point! :roll:
 
Why dont you stick your kitten down a wellie boot and castrate it while you are at it. Sorry I dont agree. I have many clients who prefer me to do a proper job every month (and i do it at a reduced fee) with less stress to the rabbit. Believe me I get sent the rabbits others do not want to treat due to age illness etc since i run a referral centre and i anaesthetise all the dentals and to date touch wood have not lost one. You clearly think its ok to put your rabbit through this and so I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree

If you disagree with someone, then fine, disagree but there is no need to take that attitude with Amy. Amy loves her rabbits and the care she gives them could never be questioned. She knows exactly how her rabbits behave and react to teatments.
 
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