Teeth Need Removing? :( U/D he passed away during op

I very recently adopted Marmaduke, a lionhead from a rescue (I won't name). He's around two years old.

Foolishly I neglected to check his teeth before I took him home, but very quickly realised that he had a serious problem. His front teeth jut outwards and are very long and his top teeth aren't much better length wise. He was unable to eat very well at all, shunning pellets completely and only eating a very small amount of hay...managed to tempt him with some kale though! His teeth were so long he couldn't even use a water bottle the poor thing.

We thought it best to take him to a vet ASAP, so off he went this afternoon where he had his teeth burred. The vet advised us that ideally his teeth needed removed. At a cost of £180, without medication or £200 with. My eyes nearly fell out of my head! :shock: I only adopted him a few days ago! I'm gutted, but obviously I'll cough up.

I just feel the rescue should have informed me of this before I adopted him. I would have perhaps made a different choice, as bad as that sounds. I paid a significant donation for him too. More than if I'd bought a completely healthy rabbit from say a breeder (which of course I don't condone - all my buns have been recues).

Should I say anything to the rescue? Or does anyone know if I can get any help towards the costs as £200 in one go is a big blow I wasn't expecting so soon - it's actually a whole months rent for me!

Also does anyone have any experience with a bun with their front teeth removed? Does it affect them in any way?

I haven't had experience of tooth removal, but I'm sure someone else will come along with some advice on that.

Regarding the rescue, I would certainly contact them to let them know what has happened. I help with the rehoming for my local RSPCA, and I know that if a bunny had a serious problem so shortly after going home we would feel terrible and would want to help in any way we could. You would hope that they would have informed you if the bunny had dental issues, but dental problems can come on very quickly as well.

Do you know what your vet meant by the price for the procedure 'without meds'? Would that be the meds they would send you home with?

Just as an aside ... I wouldn't be happy using a vet who was prepared to send rabbit home without medication, which I assume would be pain relief.

My sister had a bun who needed her front teeth removed. It was not a one off either I'm afraid. Fluffy had a few of these operations as the tooth will grow back and for fluffy (and I think other buns like this) they come back at the wrong angle forever more. If totally honest with you, my sister said she would never put a bunny through this constantly again.

If it were me I think I would mention it to the rescue and see when the teeth where last checked.

Babsie said:

Just as an aside ... I wouldn't be happy using a vet who was prepared to send rabbit home without medication, which I assume would be pain relief.

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I agree if that's what the vet meant. Would definitely be worth checking with them exactly what that price difference means.

I think you should contact the rescue but just be aware that most rescues won't help with the cost at your vet they would most likely want you to use the vet they use and do the treatment themselves. That's what the rescue I work at would most likely do anyway!

I am quite shocked that they did rehome a bun in that state actually :? Although I suppose the teeth may have been gradually worsening and somehow they just missed it :?

I have known several 'gummy' bunnies, owned one of them myself. They get on fine without teeth, they can eat anything small enough to fit in their mouth and back to their molars, so veggies need to be sliced, but that's about the only difference!

Straight after the op, you'll need to work hard to get bun eating, it is very very sore and eating will hurt, you will also need to keep checking for peg teeth that sometimes grow back! Though on my girly the teeth never came back, nor did they on haribo, snowball however has some very cute peg teeth that will most likely be removed next week.

I never even knew teeth could grow back after being removed! :shock: Every day is a school day!

And I think the vet was just explaining the breakdown in costs regarding medication (pain relief). I'd never ever put a bun through something like that without some sort of pain relief. Imagine going to the dentist and getting your teeth out without at least some paracetamol after!

I've always been really happy with my vet and they are much more knowledgeable about rabbits as they specialise in small animals/exotics. They did both my girls spays and are always really thorough with check ups and not rushing you out the door like some others I've visited since moving to Manchester.

I don't expect any help from the rescue to help with costs, I'd just hate the same thing to happen to someone else that might be less financially able to deal with the situation than I am so I think I'll give them a ring in the morning and see what they say.

Thanks for the advice!

When we got poppy she had weepy eyes, the rescue had had her checked over but they said to us ti contact them if there was an issue still. They said to us their vet would do dental for same price as they would do it through them. It was really helpful. You never know

Epica said:

I don't expect any help from the rescue to help with costs, I'd just hate the same thing to happen to someone else that might be less financially able to deal with the situation than I am so I think I'll give them a ring in the morning and see what they say.

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We had the same thing with Scarlet. York RSPCA didn't tell us she was a dental bun despite doing her 3rd dental in between us reserving and collecting her. I complained on precisely that ^^ basis. She is running at a total of £1930 in 23 months for vets bills. Rehoming an animal with ongoing needs without checking the new owner can afford it is downright irresponsible.

i have a 6 year old grey and white holland lop.from the age of between 2 and 4 he was having to go the vets every month to have his front teeth trimmed.i never ever thought i would have had them removed because i was too scared that something would go wrong while he was under anaesthetic or just wouldnt eat afterwards.but i just thought he must be soo scared going to the vet,everyone around him,holding his mouth open to cut his teeth,and he could just move a tiny bit and be injured.so i decided to have them tooken out,he was in the vets for 10 hours,when i brought him home he didnt eat all night so took him to vets next day and got stuff to syringe feed him,i did that for 2/3 days,the next day i opened his bed door and he jumped straight out and was soo lively,he is much more happier and healthy.i would reccomend having it done,just be ready to put the time and care in afterwards and always encourage him to eat and drink.

Well we took the plunge and arranged the op for yesterday and took him in to the vet. We got a phonecall a few hours later - he apparently reacted badly to the anaeshetic and there was nothing they could do.

I'm devastated. The guilt I feel is...there are no words. I thought I was doing the right thing. The last thing I said was "I'm just really worried, take good care of him!". "He was in perfect health other than his dental problem. I just can't believe this has happened. We'd just about finished bonding him and Daisy (after her last friend died in September).

When we got to the vet to pick him up no one explained anything to me. The receptionists just handed him over in the carrier and we had to carry him all the way home over two buses and a total of about an hours travelling time. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

I just don't know what to do anymore. He lived in our bedroom...he was part of our family. The trust I have with vets is now shattered and I can barely even look at Daisy without bursting into tears.

I can't get my head around how such a perfectly happy, healthy rabbit can be with us one minute and then snatched away.

I don't think I'll ever forgive myself. Mostly for putting Daisy through the pain of another loss. And I'm in bits.

Aww I'm so so sorry poor bunny , but don't blame ya self you was only doing what was going to be best for your bunny in the future, but sadly bunny didn't make the GA, as for them not explaining anything to you and just handing over the carrier with your bunny inside is disgusting did they not ask you if you would like your bunny cremating and his ashes back , I would be ringin them up today to see the vet Binky free little bunny

What a poor wee soul. Sleep tight angel xx

Hugs for you. I recently lost my Inca and the pain is still raw but it does subside and get a bit easier.

I am so so sorry, you must be heartbroken, but please don't blame yourself, you were doing what was right for him.

Binky free little fella xxx

God, I'm so sorry

Binky free little one xxx

thats so sad, im so sorry to hear it please dont blame yourself, you had both bunnies best interests at heart and marmaduke was lucky to have you for the time he did xx

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

I didn't get any sleep last night. I've just tossed and turned. We slept in yesterday, but we woke up JUST in time to get to the vet. I wish we'd just slept in 30 minutes later and he'd probably still be here. I'm just so full of questions but I'm not quite ready to ask or hear the answers yet.

I don't know how to explain it but it felt wrong to leave him there yesterday, but against my better judgement I left him there. There was no 'specialist' to speak to. Just a nurse who told me he'd "be fine".

I've had to call in sick to work today, I just can't face anyone. I burst into tears every bloody 5 minutes and my eyelids are all puffy and raw. I think it's mainly just guilt, I can't help it One thing I'm pretty sure of is that I don't want to own rabbits ever again.

Oh no, I'm so sorry You did the right thing, please don't feel guilty. I'm sorry the vets weren't more supportive. Binky free Marmaduke xx

So very sorry to read of you untimely and very sad loss. I lost a rabbit having the same op last year, he had however been with me 18 months before the op. My experience was made far easier by the vet wanting to understand why he hadn't coped with the GA (he'd had two previously), and she wanted to do a PM as she never loses a rabbit to a dental unless there is an underlying condition. It helped so much finding out what was wrong with him. I'm so sorry you just got your bunny handed back without explanation - I've had that in the past and I know the pain it causes. It's been a horrible experience for you, I hope in time you can find another bunny for Daisy as you certainly sound like the perfect home for another needy bunny.

i am very sorry for your loss. and i am sorry for the lack of care from your vets and their assistants. and for your bus journey - i do the 'two buses, two hours' thing myself so i know what it is like and can imagine your distress travelling with marmaduke's remains.

i am absolutely with you on the 'no more rabbits' view. they get into your heart very quickly but are so vulnerable that there are endless ways in which they might leave you broken-hearted.