Actual 'clipping' is in my opinion an out-dated and barbaric practice. This is also the opinion of leading rabbit vet dentist David Crossley. Not only does it cause extreme pain in most instances but it risks longitudinal fractures of the tooth and root and risk further malocclusion and infection.
Actual 'clipping' is in my opinion an out-dated and barbaric practice. This is also the opinion of leading rabbit vet dentist David Crossley. Not only does it cause extreme pain in most instances but it risks longitudinal fractures of the tooth and root and risk further malocclusion and infection.
There are only a very few occasions in my opinion when this is appropriate - i.e. emergency situations such as an extremely anorexic and ill rescue bun for example where the priority is immediate first aid and getting bun to eat and drink, in these cases experienced rescuers often have no choice.
Our bun had his teeth clipped by a supposed 'rabbit-savy vet' many years ago, it caused him extreme pain - tooth grinding, and brought on a severe and immediate episode of gastric stasis.
Incisor teeth should be 'burred' if there is any reason to reallign or correct tooth length using a special powered dental burr and by an experienced vet only.
In an ideal world I would agree with you, but many buns need their incisors doing every 2 or 3 weeks, so a GA to burr them would be very risky that often.
With all due respect, if you are against conscious dentals for molar teeth, then I can't see how you are in favour of using a power tool on the incisors of an awake rabbit! :shock:
Knowing how hard it is to restrain something the size of a hamster to clip it's teeth, how do you do that to a conscious rabbit without ending up in casualty yourself?
Er because it takes seconds and doesn't require the bunny to be restrained for more than 30 seconds, or the use of any device, all they have to do is hold bunny's mouth at either side and pull the lips back. There is no invasion of pulp cavity so no pain! Molar teeth are a totally different kettle of fish!