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Clipping of cheek teeth spurs without anaesthesia
- Thread starter Liss
- Start date
daphnephoebe
Wise Old Thumper
We done it a couple times in practice. (The bunnies were going on 10 years and not suitable for a GA).
It normally goes well but depends on your bunnies temperament. Its normally done on an individual basis and if the vet doesn't fell your bunny would cope well they'd advise a GA.
It normally goes well but depends on your bunnies temperament. Its normally done on an individual basis and if the vet doesn't fell your bunny would cope well they'd advise a GA.
MightyMax
Banned
I always have my rabbits' cheek teeth clipped without anaesthetic. It's far quicker - no recovery time, doesn't hurt them. Minimal distress all around and no risk from the GA.
The only drawback is that most vets are not confident with the procedure and need to sedate. I wish more would learn how to do it!
daphnephoebe
Wise Old Thumper
They'll probably take little bun out of the consult room as he'll probably pick up on your stress. But there is no harm in asking. Some of our clients would stay with us, others would prefer not to see.
MightyMax
Banned
I always prefer to see what's going on, and it's done in the consult room anyway
They are just wrapped in a towel and don't get distressed at all!
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
Several years ago I had a lionhead with front teeth that needed trimming every 6 or 7 weeks. She was a good bunny. The assistant would wrap her in a towel and the vet would hold her head as he trimmed the teeth. I could see how hard my vet worked to keep her tongue and lips out of harms way. Even though it was front teeth and done completely in less than five minutes, my bunny showed some signs of stress. Over the years she learned to tolerate it better.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
The topic that can make discussing Religion and Politics seem like having a cosy chat !!
Personally I do not agree with 'conscious dentals' when used as a standard management of dental problems. Firstly, given that it is impossible for even the most experienced Vet to obtain a 100% view of the oral cavity of a conscious Rabbit how can it be possible that just 'clipping off' a spur which can be seen going to ensure that there are not many other problems that are missed. Ones that in the longterm may mean Dental disease progresses when it may not have done so had the initial treatment been carried out efficiently.
Another issue is the stress it causes most Rabbits and the concurrent risk should the Rabbit struggle and panic whilst the Vet has a surgical instrument in the Rabbits mouth.
For a Vet to do or not do 'Conscious Dentals' has little to do with the Vet's 'skills' or lack there-of. But to do with how ethical, effective and safe they believe the procedure to be. My Vet and many Exotics Specialsts feel that Conscious Dentals do not come into any of those categories.
Also, 'clipping teeth' in it's true sense is likely to do more harm than good as it can crack enamel and lead to infections in the tooth roots, tooth root abscesses etc.
It is for the individual Vet/Client to decide what is or is not an appropriate approach to manage Dental problems in Rabbits. As stated personally I do not agree with it and thus far I have not encountered any scenario where-by I have even considered it as an option.
The following links may be useful to take a look at and good luck with whatever you decide to be the most appropriate course of action for your Rabbit.
http://www.manorvets.co.uk/ckfinder/userfiles/files/dental dz(1).pdf
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Rabbit_dentistry1.pdf
http://www.dacross.uk/downloads/dent-rab-tooth-elong.pdf
Best put on a hard hat before reading these !!
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...tals-Some-Thoughts&highlight=conscious+dental
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...-on-with-my-rabbit&highlight=conscious+dental
Bunny Buddy
Wise Old Thumper
This with my vet too, not so much a lack of confidence but making an ethical decision etc. Having seen a couple of posts over the years where the vet's hand has slipped and hit a major blood vessel (one rabbit survived, the other didn't) I just can't bear the thought that that could happen consciously, and I guess it's more likely to happen with a conscious dental. Having seen videos of dental work I'm really not a fan of the idea of conscious dentals but I can see how they would work in extreme cases for some circumstances.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
And I think I would put a fair amount of trust in her opinion !!
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
Bunny Buddy
Wise Old Thumper
Does she? I swear I've had conversations with her when she's explained why not.
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joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
Bunny Buddy
Wise Old Thumper
I know that Santa asked her her view on conscious dentals at the end of the first owners' day but I couldn't even remember my own name at that point so can't remember any details about the answer. I do remember she paused a fair while before answering as, like Jane said it's a bigger subject than politics and religion!!
Frances has also told me that she's never lost a rabbit to GA whilst having a dental unless there's a major underlying condition, so I feel less bothered about the GA aspect given this information.
I had a conversation with Nigel HB this summer where he was telling me about a rep selling some dental burring equipment and it was a big scary piece of equipment (very high tech) and had various speed settings. The rep was giving her sales pitch which included "all the top rabbit specialists are using this on rabbits now" to which she was told rather abruptly, "the top rabbit specialist here won't be using it on rabbits", she clearly had no idea whose practice she was delivering her pitch to :lol:
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joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
I must find out!! Hopefully Santa will bob on this thread & clarify . I'm not put off yet, it's more than just losing a rabbit when s/he is under that I'm concerned about when they have GA.
Bunny Buddy
Wise Old Thumper
I'll ask her on Tuesday if I remember. Though it's a bit bad that we've both been to the owners' day twice and need clarification on this
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
I'll ask her on Tuesday if I remember. Though it's a bit bad that we've both been to the owners' day twice and need clarification on this
Oh yes, please !!! Blame it on me ... in fact, blame it on her ...we both can't remember right? So it can't be us, lol
I was high on sugar & have an attention span of 20 mins at best
Liz47
Wise Old Thumper
Two of my rabbits have had spurs clipped, both done under anaesthetic. Beanos went fine, she was back to normal the day she came home. The vet accidently caught a blood vessel in Gordon, and said he would've died if done consciously and don't perform it that way anymore. Gordon had a slightly hard and longer recovery but was fine within a few days. I personally would try and discuss anaesthetic unless your bun is old or suffers from illness which may make anaesthetic risky. That's just my view, I wouldn't want to scare you and good luck with your bunny.
biscandmatt1
Wise Old Thumper
i've never liked the thought of it myself, and our vets (exotics specialists) also won't do them for alot of the reasons already mentioned
