Thoroughly confused

Bust is back from his dental today that was about 10 weeks too early. Yesterday I was told he had an ear infection which was why his face was droopy. Now he hasn't got an ear infection, but thickening of his cheek and it is not an absess. I was asked could he have gotten an electric shock from chewing wires (which is a definate no) and if he has had contact with wild rabbits. He has to go back in 10 days after a course of Septrin 2ml twice daily for 10 days because he has been sneezy. Any ides what is wrong with him? Very, very worried now

is his diet compose of 90% hay? especially the hay stem?

No he won't eat a lot of hay he plays with it and snatches it out my hand but won't eat a lot of it at all

Your bun's diet must compose of 90% hay. They need a huge amount of fiber. The remaining 10% is pellet, green, fruits and some treats.

The hay is also necessary as it helps them wear off the on growing molars in their mouth. If your bun doesn't have hay stem daily, eventually his molar will overgrow, then you need to have teeth surgery. Hay stem greatly reduce the growing of molar (teeth)

If there is more than say 7% pellet, then your bun will eat the pellet, not the hay. As they love pellets. So you need to control and downsize the pellet and focus primarily on hay, especially hay stem. You always give an unlimited amount of hay at all time, far more than enough that should last for days, then refill them when they run low.

To make matter worse, your bun will have other problem, such as GI stasis, that's a guarantee, I had a bridge bun Little Happy who was just like that. You need to gradually downsize his pellet supply, and increase his hay intake.

Take a bundle of hay and hold it in front of his mouth, he will bite off some of it, and eat some of it. Off than that, at ALL of his usual spot that he sit around, put a bowl of hay there. In my house, I have 5 pot of hay in various part of the house, all favorite spot of my bunnies

I always make sure he has plenty of fresh hay every day, even though he hardly eats it. Buster has had molar spurs for must be 3 years now, that usually need doing after about 4 to 5 months, I don't know what happened this time. Buster refuses to eat any hay at all from me, sometimes I catch him eating some on his own. Only problem is, because he is a dental rabbit, should I be taking food away from him if it risks him not eating at all? He has only just come out from GA this afternoon so I can't start that yet anyway. Why do you think his cheek has thickened? Thank you xxx

Please does anyone know why his cheek seem thickened and why would the vet as me if he has chewed a wire or seen any other rabbits?

I dont know anything about why his cheek would thicken but if it was my bun there is no way i would be cutting down on his pellets if its all he will eat . If he does go back to eating hay then you could try to reduce them . I have had a rabbit that no matter how much i tried to get him to eat hay he would not ! I was told by my vet that there is no way they will starve .... well he would have ! I really tried but there was no way he would eat it and there is no way you can force them , the downside of it all was that he was eventualy put to sleep

Hay you tried different types of hay? The hay experts do sample packs, he might like one of those.

One of my rabbits had what I thought a fallen in/pulled up side of his face. When I took him to the vet, they thought it was the other side that was swollen.

In the end, it turned out that I was right and that one side was pulled up, the other side (which the vet thought was drooping) was actually the normally side. The reason for it was a damaged facial nerve that paralysed one side of his face and resulted in muscle wastage (hence the fallen in/pulled up appearance), the damage was probably done during a fight with another rabbit (possibly a kick to his face).

Sunny never had any problems really other than a dry eye on the paralysed side (as he couldn't close it properly) which was treated with artificial tear drops.

Here's a picture of Sunny... does your bunny look anything like this in his face?

Yeah he does, I put up a pick on Hugo's There's thread about facial drooping because that evening my vet thought it was through an ear infection. He hasn't had any trauma to his face apart from 4 years ago. His face actually looks worse since the GA yesterday

I would reduce pellet 25% per week until it is down to 2 to 3 teaspoon, which is the amt. that most of us feed them.

For the time being, I would get some sweet hay mixed w/ timothy hay, I can't remember the name, you either have to wait for some1 else to reply or post a mesg. at Rabbit Chat.

I would also hold a bundle of hay just in front of his mouth, and he will chew it, some will get down to his stomach.

At the moment I'm having trouble trying to get him to eat anything at all because of his teeth/face problem.

I would also hold a bundle of hay just in front of his mouth, and he will chew it, some will get down to his stomach.

He'd either put his face to the floor; or hop off and ignore me! :roll:

I've been bedding him on Timothy and giving him meadow hay with chamomile/dandilion in case he might like to eat it

Why do you think his face is swollen? Thanks xxx

You're right. YOu need to fix all the dental problem first, then go back to what I suggest. At this pt., I would do a complete x-ray check of his teeth, fix any or all dental problem once and for all.

I don't know why his check is swollen, you need to get a rabbit specialist vet to fix his teeth and he can answer your question. He is not eating properly clearly due to the present dental issue.