Any Dental Experts about? - Update No Dental Issue

I've made a few posts to facebook and had a few random ones on here but wanted to start a new thread to see if anyone has experience of dental buns/ issues?

Short story of the problem

Jigsaw had 4 dentals last year more or less on a quarterly basis, this year he had one at the beginning of January fast forward to the 3rd Feb he was off his food again so I took him in for another dental, about 5 days later he still wasn't back to normal so went in for an overnight stay for the vets to try and get him going, he came home again but still wouldn't eat much, at the weekend I took him back as I was concerned that he still isn't eating.

His blood tests came back clean but his X-rays showed a potential abscess in his jaw area but they weren't 100% sure about it, he stayed there all weekend and came back home yesterday with Metacam & Zantac along with me having to syringe feed him. He's still not back to normal he is eating the odd random things and when he attempts to eat hay he does eat a few strands but then chops the rest up and drops it. I'm more than likely booking him in for another appointment tomorrow

The plan as it stands now is

Short Term - See how he goes on over the next couple of days, (it will have been a couple of days by the time I ring up tomorrow) if there is no improvement he will need an injection every other day (penicillin?), to help treat the potential abscess if it is indeed one. They will show me how to administer it to him at home rather than bringing him in.

Medium Term - Keep on with the treatment above along with continuing dentals, follow up X-rays to see if the problem area is changing, they can compare future X-rays to the ones that have been done today.

Long Term - Refer him to a specialist in rabbit dental care to have his teeth ground down to just above the gum line, the hope is that doing this would mean his teeth grow back in a better alignment then what they are now, apparently this treatment has shown improvements in some rabbits.

What am after is just some help and advice from people who might have been in the same situation with their rabbits, I've been reading around the internet on various cases but it always help to see if someone else has any thought. Does the plan above seem right, should I be asking for anything else, other treatments etc?

He's lively and strong so that's not an issue as such but I'd sooner get him fixed before he goes downhill as I know rabbits can take a turn for the worse, he's pretty stubborn too so isn't going anywhere soon.

Another short term thing to look at would be how you can alter his diet temporarily to keep his digestive system functioning well while you get to the bottom of the issue.

You could try softening him pellets, just add a little water and they'll go mushy. You could also try some porridge (rolled) oats, again soften with water. These a very tasty and if you find he'll eat them also good for mixing other things into (softened pellets etc.).

Another thing to try is fresh grass- sometimes they'll eat this over hay, introduce it gradually but they do like it. If you can find them fresh dandelions often go down well too. Same with fresh herbs like basil/parsley.

If he's got a bottle then swapping to a bowl for drinking can be more comfortable.

There is a product called fiberplex (goo in a tube) that's good if there are issues with eating/digestions.

Painkillers are a good idea too, often it hurts to eat rather than they can't physically do it, so that can encourage eating.

My instinct would to go straight for the referral to specialist especially as I'd want a firmer diagnosis regarding the abscess. I also say this based on how near you are to THE rabbit dental expert ie Harrogate. ... or even just sending the x-ray to a specialist for their opinion on the likelihood of an abscess being present.

Thanks for the reply Tamsin

I do have some softened pellets which he either ignores or eat, I also put some dry ones down which he has finally decided to eat tonight instead of the softened :roll: I gave him some porridge last night which I'm pretty sure he ate some of as it seemed to be lower down in the bowl than when it started so will try some more tonight

He's got loads of herbs and bits of veg which he eventually eats, I hadn't thought of the grass or dandelions so will try some of them on him tomorrow, will have to go for a walk to find some :thumb:

Bunny Buddy said:

My instinct would to go straight for the referral to specialist especially as I'd want a firmer diagnosis regarding the abscess. I also say this based on how near you are to THE rabbit dental expert ie Harrogate. ... or even just sending the x-ray to a specialist for their opinion on the likelihood of an abscess being present.

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Thanks I will go armed with that when he is at the vets for his next follow up appointment

Pellets softened with a little water with some tiny bits of hay mixed in (I use the alfalfa cubes crumbled and soaked with the pellets). Also get some Fibreplex-I put it on top of the softened pellets/hay mix and Fiva eats it quite happily.

You could also try Fibafirst sticks as they crumble easily and Fiva manages them without a problem.

I have heard of people steaming hay to soften it.

Hope that helps xx

Loftyfiva said:

Pellets softened with a little water with some tiny bits of hay mixed in (I use the alfalfa cubes crumbled and soaked with the pellets). Also get some Fibreplex-I put it on top of the softened pellets/hay mix and Fiva eats it quite happily.

You could also try Fibafirst sticks as they crumble easily and Fiva manages them without a problem.

I have heard of people steaming hay to soften it.

Hope that helps xx

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Where abouts are you? My vet is really good an an expert with rabbits dentals

I'm in West Yorkshire, will see what the vets mention about specialist as I've seen one I'd want to use in Harrogate

Bunny Buddy said:

My instinct would to go straight for the referral to specialist especially as I'd want a firmer diagnosis regarding the abscess. I also say this based on how near you are to THE rabbit dental expert ie Harrogate. ... or even just sending the x-ray to a specialist for their opinion on the likelihood of an abscess being present.

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This what I would do. ASAP. Jaw abscesses can be nasty. You can ask your vet to ring FHB for advice and / or a referral. She is there Tues / Wed / Thurs. I take the x-rays and notes with me, or your vet can post them to her. You will get a quote and an idea of the work she intends to do if she has the x-rays first. The usual thing is to see her on a Tues, leave bunny there for op on Wed and collect on Thurs if all is OK.

There would be a fee for the referral (£80?) but the general rates on top of this are about the same as my usual vet and I always had plenty of time to discuss things with her.

I would also ask for some pain relief if you haven't got any (eg metacam - oral, twice a day) in the meantime. It can make a huge difference.

Thank you all, he's eaten pellets and veg overnight which is a relief, I'm still giving supplementary syringe feeds too.

He has Metacam just once a day at the moment, 1ml around 9pm and 0.8ml of zantac every 8 hours.

I've watched him trying to eat hay this morning but it's the usual chop it then leave it action.

I'm checking on him at lunch time when i can get out of work and will ring to get him an appointment

Got some Septrin to give him daily at 1.8ml, it smells really nice

Anyway got him a referral to FHB so just waiting for contact from them to get him an appointment,I was offered somewhere in York but I said I'd sooner have Harrogate as I've had recommendations, they were fine with that.

You have to ring FHBs to make the appointment. If your vet has been in touch, they will be expecting your call. They will give you an appointment taking into consideration the travel time. It takes me an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half to drive from the Brighouse end of Bradford avoiding peak traffic times. Make sure the notes and x-rays are there (or take them with you) or they will have to be repeated and cost extra.

Shimmer said:

You have to ring FHBs to make the appointment. If your vet has been in touch, they will be expecting your call. They will give you an appointment taking into consideration the travel time. It takes me an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half to drive from the Brighouse end of Bradford avoiding peak traffic times. Make sure the notes and x-rays are there (or take them with you) or they will have to be repeated and cost extra.

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Thanks will give them a ring tomorrow then to see what appointments they have

Good luck with the consultation.

You will be really glad you did it. There is a lot of reassurance in getting an expert opinion and a clear plan of what to do. You would have to search very hard to find someone with more knowledge or experience in this particular field.

Bunny Buddy said:

Good luck with the consultation.

You will be really glad you did it. There is a lot of reassurance in getting an expert opinion and a clear plan of what to do. You would have to search very hard to find someone with more knowledge or experience in this particular field.

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Thanks,

I'm taking him over on the train its only about 1.5 hours then a 15 min walk to get there so thats not too bad and it will be worth it if I can get my boy back to his usual self

He really could do with 2 doses of metacam each day as it only lasts 12 hours.

We've just got back from the vet check up with Fiva-vet is really pleased with him. He can't believe his weight and he can't feel the capsule from the abscess which he would have expected to have felt Its still an on going process but considering how ill Fiva was it just goes to show that a good quality of life can still be achieved.

I hope you get on well at the specialist and can get your bunny sorted quickly xx

Bunny Buddy said:

My instinct would to go straight for the referral to specialist especially as I'd want a firmer diagnosis regarding the abscess. I also say this based on how near you are to THE rabbit dental expert ie Harrogate. ... or even just sending the x-ray to a specialist for their opinion on the likelihood of an abscess being present.

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I would do this as well -

there are also dental experts in Cambridge, and Edinburgh

It is possible that either the jaw has been burt whilst doing the dental (this is quite common) or that the teeth were not 100% dealt with and there is still a small spur of some kind.

The not knowing about an abcsess is worrying - I would not give penicillin 'on the off chance'.

PS just seen you are going to FHB - you cant get better than that!!! She is brilliant.

I picked up his x-rays from my vets so am armed and ready for the referral on Tuesday, Jigsaw has perked up loads after the last few days, he's nearly back to been my normal boy with the exception of not eating much hay if any at all.

Poo output is pretty good they aren't massive but they ain't tiny either

FHB is the best. She's made an enormous difference to our dental rabbit Scarlet. We went on referral from our vets in York. Good luck.

RedFraggle said:

FHB is the best. She's made an enormous difference to our dental rabbit Scarlet. We went on referral from our vets in York. Good luck.

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Thank You,

I've messaged Fluffers & honeybunny on here to see if any of his siblings or parents have any dental issues, I also have his brother Scooter who doesn't have any problems so maybe its not genetic or anything and just luck of the draw?

I'm armed with loads of info and read a fair bit now on dental bunnies so hopefully I'm ready for any suggestions that come out of his appointment.

Have you left you rabbits overnight with them before? I know they told me she she's the rabbits on a Tuesday and does any operations on a Wednesday morning, I forgot to check with them if that meant he stays in overnight or does he need bringing back the following morning?

I can ring them to check tomorrow at least:thumb: