Wonky teethy pegs!

As some of you may know, my little Gaspode has wonky bottom teeth so her top ones grow overly long. Gaspode had hers cut on 11th Feb and already they're twice as big as they were when before she got them cut. One of the bottom ones is so bad that you can see it poking when she has her mouth shut.

She was 2 months old yesterday and I seriously want to look into getting them taken out permanently. I don't want her to be in too much discomfort and she doesn't like anyone touching her mouth, so cutting every 3 weeks is going to be a nightmare. I'm not too happy about doing them myself either.

Greebo, Gaspodes's brother, also has malocclusion but his is a simple case of the teeth not meeting to grind down (wolf teeth), whereas Gaspode's are quite severly mishapen.

Does anyone know when it's safe to have the teeth taken out? Or can it be done at any age?

Several people on here have buns with no from teeth due to this problem and I am sure that some of the rescues have experience of this. I am sure one of them will be along shortly with more knowledge than I have (that won't be difficult!!) :lol: :lol:
I know that you have to chop up veg very small for them and pull grass as then cannot nibble and graze but apart from that, I don't recall reading about any other issues.

LOL Thanks, you have helped coz I didn't even think about the chopping up of veggies to be honest! :? They're too young for them yet...
Needless to say, Henry and Max will not be having another litter to stop it happening again... Poor Henry pies goes in for his chop soon!

Do you have any dental vet specialists in your area? I would have a chat with them about possible solutions and mention that you are considering extractions.

Probably only a vet would be able to decide whether the buns are old enough to undergo the op - I think it is more the individual bun than the age that is the deciding factor, but as they are young I should think they would adapt quicker to the change!

I think 2 months may be a little young they would probably say 4-6 months being the earliest.

Caz

Thanks Caz! I was thinking that she'd be much too young, she's only little too, so to put her through that might be too much of an ordeal.
I don't really trust my vet, so I'm going to go to another one which has been recommended to me by Kirkby Pet Rescue, and we'll see what they say about her.
Thanks again!
Ang xx

Yep, I imagine they'll probably say not until 4 months+ to allow her to grow abit. There more sensitive to stress as babies

Tam

She is probably a little too young at the moment. We have removed front teeth at our small clinic. It a very simple operation and rabbits gums harden up quite quickly and get back too munching on carrots in no time. :lol: Its also alot less stressful than having them cut every few weeks and as they will start growing faster and thicker.

I would think a suitable age to have this done is 4-6 month old depending on her size. Any vet should be able to perform the operation as its becoming quite a common operation to do. Also ask your vet to check her back teeth as sometimes these might need rasping down and it is better to have it all done at once.

Well I hope she gets on ok, :thumb:

Amanda :wink:

Thanks guys, you've been alot of help. She's just over the size of my hand just now, so much too small for taking them out... I get worried taking them to the vets to get them clipped, never mind surgery! :lol:
They are the most precious things in the world to me so I can't bare to see them in pain or nervous!
It's weird coz both parents have lovely teeth! Damn those recessive genes! :?
The male vet at our practice isn't a very good 'people person' and he seems dismissive about my questions regarding neutering, i.e. how many done a year, how many lost, etc. So I'm changing, even though the female vet is lovely! She had Max cuddled up like a baby last time we were in! :lol: They've had the back teeth looked at and they supposedly look fine, which is one good thing!
I'll give you an update in a couple of months to let you know how she gets on... for now, I'll book at teeth clipping for both of them! :roll:
Ang xx
PS. Here they are when they were a month old...


*beams proudly* I love my babies!

When you book an apointment you should be able to ask for a particular vet

The piccys are gorgeous!!

Tam

OMG!! A baby bunny in a cup!! OMG!! That is SOOOOOOOOOO gorgeous!! Look at their little hands!! :lol:

I have been fostering Sweet Pea for the last couple of months, I am a volunteer for a rescue, Sweet Pea had his front teeth extracted when he was about a year old, he is now 2 years and he manages really well. A while ago I asked people on this forum for advise about additional things which needed to be considered when caring for a front toothless bunny, you can read what was said on http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2831

The care Sweet Pea needs is almost the same as a normal toothed rabbit just that additional attention needs to be made to ensure that he has not got a knotted coat particualry on his tummy and ankles as his ability to groom himself is hampered, he may get dried currents attatched to his 'skirt' and he needs to be checked to ensure he is cleaning himself properly. I have put Sweet Pea on the Science Selective Diet as he is unable to pick up and chew a lot of the food items in 'normal rabbit mix', his fresh fruit and veg has to be sliced up into mouthable slices and I cut his hay into shortish lengths.

I hope all goes well with Gaspode

Janice

Animal Rescue and Care

That topic was really good, thanks for linking it up for me... :thumb: I've read the whole thing, even though I'm supposed to be doing an essay that's due tomorrow! :?
Hee hee! Greebo is in the glass, Gaspode is in the cup. I like putting them in funny places and taking photos...

We were asked to take a 12 week bunny from 'the pet store that shall not be named'.
She had her teeth taken out at 14 weeks as they had been repeatedly clip by the said store and were better out than in.
She coped fine but as you say better get the vet to judge as to when would be best.

Good luck they cope just fine.

Just to throw my 2 pennies worth in. Harley's top front teeth are malocluded and have been since he was little. I got him from 'that place' as a free to good home due to his teeth. My vet has been reluctant to take them out as the bottom ones are fine (they meet up with his peg teeth) and she has managed to persaude her bosses to get the eh drill thing can't remember what its called so she can just slice through his teeth rather than clip them and risk shattering his teeth. She can also shorten his peg teeth at the same time. He is very well behaved when he has it done though. We were surprised this month when we went in and his teeth hadn't grown as much as usual and were looking pretty straight. I think whats happened is that he took an interest in willow balls, I need to let one of the other rabbits chew off a bit of it 1st and then he'll nibble on the chewed off strands.
Is willow balls safe for little bunnies? I imagine they would be, might be worth a try just after he's had his teeth clipped/burred. If your vet clips, it might be worth looking for a vet that burrs rather than clips as it may cause the teeth to shatter or split.
Good luck with them, they are both very very cute, I want a baby bunny now :lol:
Angela

Oh thank you for all your help! I'll see what they're both like at 3 months then and decide from there.
The problem we have with Gaspode is that her bottom teeth stick outwards, one diagonally, so they'll never meet her top ones. Also my vet uses that diamond cut drill thingy... I didn't get to see him do it (don't really trust vets that don't show you what they're doing) so I don't know exactly what he did. He doesn't like the idea of clipping as he says that it's considered 'bad practice' now. I definately don't want to do it myself as I'm scared I'll shatter them or hurt the buns. They also 'buck' against me if I even try to look at their teeth, so I don't fancy trying to keep them still to clip teeth! :?
I might try some willow balls anyways coz they're always destroying their toys, one more thing to tear to bits won't hurt! :wink:
Ang xx

The fact that you didn't see your vet dremmel your bunnies teeth may be more of a safety action to protect your rabbit rather than not wanting to let you see what the vet is doing. When using one of them you need to consider the movement of the rabbit and any distraction to the operator of the equipment on the impact on your rabbit. If you move you may distract the vet who could be distracted for a second or if the rabbit moves due to trying to escape as he/she sees someone they know you could end up with an injured rabbit.

At least you have a vet who uses 'modern day techniques' and doesn't continue to clip teeth.

If you can't trust your vet ask about and use someone else. Animal rescue centres are often a good place to get advise on good local vets as they get some animals admitted to their centres with complex problems.

omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i can not believe how gorgeous he is look how he fits in your hand and looks so perfect aahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote]

Yeah, I just don't trust the guy. I know a few people who don't like him too. I called Kirkby Pet Rescue last week and the lady there knows all about rabbits, so she's put me onto a good one.
Thanks Birdiebun! They are so cute! I'll miss them when they go!

gosh yes it would kill me to see them go too so cute!!! I hated it when we had to rehome our 3 baby guinea's but luckily somebody we know took all 3 together, they only wanted 2 but I phoned and begged them and it paid off