Hello everyone. I'm new (joined just a few minutes ago) and am not sure if anyone can help me, but have to try somehwere...
I have a very poorly rabbit, aged 4, who had her incisors removed 3 years ago. She has never eaten hay despite various types, lengths etc being offered which I'm sure contributed to her dental problems. She has had problem after problem with her teeth, including two mandibular abcesses (both removed successfully although they had pentrated the bone) and she has shown tremendous spirit and fight each time she has had to deal with surgery.
She went to have yet another lump under her jaw checked (this time thankfully not attached to bone) and we were advised to have it removed. Whilst under anasthetic she was checked over more thoroughly and was discovered to have extensive dental issues with her molars. Some were removed straight away and the rest will be removed at a later date when she has healed from this operation. The abcess beneath her jaw hasn't been removed as it was not deemed important with everything else thats going on.
My main concern is this: what am I going to feed her??? We fed her pellets and very small pieces of chopped veg etc when she had molars but her droppings have frequently been wet and nasty smelling. The vet assured us it was 'just her' and that we had to live with it. We're more than happy to keep going this way since she is still very active, naughty and as much fun as she ever was. Her coat is in very poor condition and we groom her twice a week to keep her clean and tidy but again it must be down to her poor diet. We've been back and forth to vet to make sure she is otherwise healthy and until this latest check, she was fine.
I'm sorry to go on so long and demand so much of your time but I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have had a totally toothless bunny or those of you who have a any ideas about what to feed her and how. I know some of you would advise putting her to sleep and it's not something I'm dismissing, but as I've already said - she has shown such fight and determination I'm just not prepared to give in until she does. Needless to say, I would never sit by and let her suffer.
Please, anyone. Can you help?
I have a very poorly rabbit, aged 4, who had her incisors removed 3 years ago. She has never eaten hay despite various types, lengths etc being offered which I'm sure contributed to her dental problems. She has had problem after problem with her teeth, including two mandibular abcesses (both removed successfully although they had pentrated the bone) and she has shown tremendous spirit and fight each time she has had to deal with surgery.
She went to have yet another lump under her jaw checked (this time thankfully not attached to bone) and we were advised to have it removed. Whilst under anasthetic she was checked over more thoroughly and was discovered to have extensive dental issues with her molars. Some were removed straight away and the rest will be removed at a later date when she has healed from this operation. The abcess beneath her jaw hasn't been removed as it was not deemed important with everything else thats going on.
My main concern is this: what am I going to feed her??? We fed her pellets and very small pieces of chopped veg etc when she had molars but her droppings have frequently been wet and nasty smelling. The vet assured us it was 'just her' and that we had to live with it. We're more than happy to keep going this way since she is still very active, naughty and as much fun as she ever was. Her coat is in very poor condition and we groom her twice a week to keep her clean and tidy but again it must be down to her poor diet. We've been back and forth to vet to make sure she is otherwise healthy and until this latest check, she was fine.
I'm sorry to go on so long and demand so much of your time but I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have had a totally toothless bunny or those of you who have a any ideas about what to feed her and how. I know some of you would advise putting her to sleep and it's not something I'm dismissing, but as I've already said - she has shown such fight and determination I'm just not prepared to give in until she does. Needless to say, I would never sit by and let her suffer.
Please, anyone. Can you help?