Serious Rabbit Health Concerns

Hi there.

In the last couple of months my near two year old rabbit began drooling and progressively going off food.

Eventually, after a lack of eating I saw a vet who informed me of spurs growing on the back teeth. I had them removed for £42, and was told that the process would repeat at least three times a year if not more.

It's only been three weeks and despite being very happy lately, he has begun drooling again, worse than before, and gone off his food. I simply cannot afford to pay such an amount if it's going to happen so frequently.

Is it possible to simply have the molars removed, or would this just stop him eating completely? He's never really been a big fan of hay.

Admittedly, I should've seen a vet sooner, but is there anything I can do? Otherwise I may need to have him put down.

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks

Hiya - it's not really possible to remove the molars - chances are it would break the jaw, but if this is the first time it's happened I personally think it's waaaaay to early to determine how often it might become a problem.

Do you know if the vet just clipped off any spikey bits or whether they took the whole teeth right back down? My little Santa is a chronic dental bun and hers are best managed by being burred right back down to just above the gum. She has this done about twice a year and that keeps it under control. If you've got a problem again just three weeks down the line I would suspect that either a bit was missed or it was a 'basic' dental rather than full detailed work to get the teeth back to normal occlusion. Sometimes even if frequent dentals are needed initially, it often calms itself down as the bun gets into good eating habits (lots of hay/grass to help wear the teeth correctly) and if the teeth are shaped well during surgery. There are lots of things you can try to get your bun to eat more hay, although he is more likely to try and succeed once his teeth are sorted.

As a starting point I would get the teeth looked at again and ask whether the spikes were just clipped/filed or whether full shaping was done. I suspect the former and also suspect that the problem may resolve better in the long-term if the latter is done.

Whereabouts do you live? Maybe someone can recommend a good rabbity vet who may be able to provide some slightly different assistance to help your bun.
Good luck xxx

Please do not even consider putting your bun to sleep due to molor spurs, if you really can not afford the frequent dentals then maybe it may be best for you to ask a rescue centre if they will take him on and give him the treatment that he needs, afterall he is only young.

Teeth and buns are not a good combination unfortunatly, they are very likely to get teeth problems.