Tooth extraction

I've been reading about molar extractions and now I'm even more confused about it all!

Kerbie is 9 years old, a snuffle bun and has had 2 dentals since being with us. He has never been a big hay eater despite having several different types on offer, if he does 'eat' hay then he just picks it up, breaks it and moves onto the next. He used to just eat readigrass but now even that is a no no for him.

He is eating his pellets and fenugreek crunchies, albeit slowly. He gets a small handful of veg but will only eat a bit less than half of it, if that.

The emergency vet we saw told us he needed a tooth extraction as his tooth was dead, infected and there was pus. He went in and our usual vet said she couldn't see any infection, no redness, no pus and the tooth wasn't dead but may be a problem in the future. His most recent check up (with what she could see) was his teeth looked fine. He is going back for a check up with the plan of putting him under at some point and having another look.

His tum is soft and he is still bright and moving around fine. I'm completely blind with this.. With everything else I've had a basic idea of what needs to be done etc, but I literally haven't got a clue..



Anyway.. Are molar extractions as painful as I have read about? And jaw breaking? And the one above needs removing too?

Kerbie is a very stressy rabbit anyway so this whole thing is not going well for him, he's bad enough recovering from a check up. I don't know what to do It all sounds horrible ..

I found this on here too, are cheek teeth molars?

Cheek tooth extraction is possible, but unlike incisor extraction it is not a practical solution for cheek tooth problems. Cheek tooth extraction tends to be quite traumatic as the teeth become elongated and deformed preventing simple removal by elevation. Removal of more than one or two teeth in one session is likely to result in peri-operative fatality due to the level of stress (4).

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Molars are cheek teeth. Extraction of a molar that is not already lose is a major procedure and one that I would only want a very Rabbit savvy Vet to do. If Kerbie's 'problem tooth' is not lose or diseased I am not sure why the Vet has suggested it be removed :?

This is like the problem we had with Dexter. If they had tried to take the molar out earlier it might have been fatal so we were waiting until he stopped eating before trying to extract it. Very difficult!

Jack's-Jane said:

Molars are cheek teeth. Extraction of a molar that is not already lose is a major procedure and one that I would only want a very Rabbit savvy Vet to do. If Kerbie's 'problem tooth' is not lose or diseased I am not sure why the Vet has suggested it be removed :?

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That's why I'm so 'blind' about it all tbh, I'm not sure, after all I have read, why it would be something to be done. My bf is listening to the vet and getting annoyed at me but guy feeling and research is telling me it's a big no no! The emergency vet is having some pull on this apparently as a senior vet but I don't trust her at all.

Do you think an X-ray will help bring some answers?

tonibun said:

This is like the problem we had with Dexter. If they had tried to take the molar out earlier it might have been fatal so we were waiting until he stopped eating before trying to extract it. Very difficult!

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All I've read have been that extractions aren't to be done unless it's really needed. He isn't better at all and is currently going backwards again but I have no idea what is wrong

Aly&Poppy<3 said:

That's why I'm so 'blind' about it all tbh, I'm not sure, after all I have read, why it would be something to be done. My bf is listening to the vet and getting annoyed at me but guy feeling and research is telling me it's a big no no! The emergency vet is having some pull on this apparently as a senior vet but I don't trust her at all.

Do you think an X-ray will help bring some answers?

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I would have thought that Xrays would be essential prior to attempting to pull a molar tooth. In what way is the tooth a problem if it is not lose/diseased ? Extracting a molar tooth as a 'treatment' for recurrent spurs is generally not advised by most Rabbit savvy Vets. If you lack confidence in the Vets involved could you request a referral to a specialist ?

Coltsfoot has had almost all his molars extracted - as they were so appalling - it has been difficult with some - the vet has adopted a 'technique' with them now he knows Coltsfoots mouth - but I would not recommend it unless necessary.

Jack's-Jane said:

I would have thought that Xrays would be essential prior to attempting to pull a molar tooth. In what way is the tooth a problem if it is not lose/diseased ? Extracting a molar tooth as a 'treatment' for recurrent spurs is generally not advised by most Rabbit savvy Vets. If you lack confidence in the Vets involved could you request a referral to a specialist ?

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Thank you xx The vet we usually see has said about an X-ray, but since the emergency vet saw him it has on his notes that an extraction has been discussed, even though I'm not happy with it because we don't know why he would need one. And my bf keeps saying "well what else could it be" and I'm pretty close to going ape poo on him..
He's in tomorrow morning so will get him in for an X-ray and say a definite no to extraction unless there is proof it is needed.
He has just eaten some parsley and was eating some grass when I closed the door. Will be moving him into our bedroom to keep a closer eye on him tomorrow, unless that freaks him out too much!

parsnipbun said:

Coltsfoot has had almost all his molars extracted - as they were so appalling - it has been difficult with some - the vet has adopted a 'technique' with them now he knows Coltsfoots mouth - but I would not recommend it unless necessary.

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Thank you, xx We've been told his 'bad' tooth isn't dead or anything so I don't know if it would be the thing agitating him. It would be a lot easier if he could just tell me!

I wouldn't consider anything as drastic as molar extraction without a set of x-rays and the input of a very experienced rabbit vet. If there is any doubt by one of the vets or your gut feeling is not to extract, I would defer the decision. X-rays need doing first anyway. If he us still eating and maintaining weight, there may be less invasive alternatives, eg
- a long course of antibiotics (usually injected penicillin based ones - you can be taught how to do them at home) if tooth root infection is suspected
- pain relief / anti-inflammatory (eg metacam)
- food can be modified to make it easier to eat eg by grating or finely chopping greens, grass, carrot, apple, etc. and by soaking pellets to make them softer.

If you get some x-rays done (and any regular dental work while he is under anaesthetic), they can be sent off to a rabbit specialist for advice, even if you never actually go to that vet. This will give you a better indication of the problem and possible options and their cost, etc. I had this done for two of my rabbits and ended up going to see Frances Harcourt-Brown. The costs for the initial advice were nominal (I think the letter following the look at the posted x-rays was free, first consultation and treatment were along the same lines as my regular vet charges for the time we had).

I would always follow gut instinct as well. Get more information until you are happy with any proposed treatment.

Thank you all very much, I'll be taking this in with me! I *think* there is a very good rabbit vet in Birmingham.. Not sure, will look into that now. There is another vet surgey we used to use very close to our usual vets, but even though the main vet is very experienced, I don't really trust him.. when we took on Leo we went with his old owner there and he had a very bad case of mites and we were given shampoo to bathe him in :?

Aly&Poppy<3 said:

Thank you xx The vet we usually see has said about an X-ray, but since the emergency vet saw him it has on his notes that an extraction has been discussed, even though I'm not happy with it because we don't know why he would need one. And my bf keeps saying "well what else could it be" and I'm pretty close to going ape poo on him..
He's in tomorrow morning so will get him in for an X-ray and say a definite no to extraction unless there is proof it is needed.
He has just eaten some parsley and was eating some grass when I closed the door. Will be moving him into our bedroom to keep a closer eye on him tomorrow, unless that freaks him out too much!

Thank you, xx We've been told his 'bad' tooth isn't dead or anything so I don't know if it would be the thing agitating him. It would be a lot easier if he could just tell me!

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My vet won't even attempt a molar extraction herself, and she's very rabbit savvy! I feel in your shoes I would like an X-ray and an expert opinion. If he's not eating hay or readigrass then an evaluation of the state of his teeth vis a vis grinding long strand fibre would be helpful so you know what to expect with dentals in the future.

While they are sedating him for an X-ray, make sure they don't try and whip that molar out!
Good luck tomorrow xx