lopsided mouth?

[Peterbunny]

Hi,

I noticed earlier that Peter has a very slightly lop sided mouth :? If you look at him from above its like one side of his mouth is higher than the other. It is very slight, in fact so much so that I forgot about it ,as its not noticable unless you see him from above.

He's eating normally (like a horse!), drinking well, jumping around his run as normal. He had his vaccinations about 4 weeks ago and was neutered 2 weeks ago. He lives alone outdoors. He is 5 months old.

Should I be worried?

 

[jazxo]

Hi,

I noticed earlier that Peter has a very slightly lop sided mouth :? If you look at him from above its like one side of his mouth is higher than the other. It is very slight, in fact so much so that I forgot about it ,as its not noticable unless you see him from above.

He's eating normally (like a horse!), drinking well, jumping around his run as normal. He had his vaccinations about 4 weeks ago and was neutered 2 weeks ago. He lives alone outdoors. He is 5 months old.

Should I be worried?

I don't want to worry you because I'm not certain at all but with one of my rabbits I noticed this and it was a dental problem :/ Hopefully someone else can help though

 

[Peterbunny]

I don't want to worry you because I'm not certain at all but with one of my rabbits I noticed this and it was a dental problem :/ Hopefully someone else can help though

Hmmm I've not noticed any problems with him eating, in fact I ordered him some samples of hay and I've not seen him eat as much hay as I have this past week :?

The vet had a quick look at his teeth when I took him for his vaccinations and didnt comment that she saw anything.

Thanks Jazxo xx

 

[jazxo]

Hmmm I've not noticed any problems with him eating, in fact I ordered him some samples of hay and I've not seen him eat as much hay as I have this past week :?

The vet had a quick look at his teeth when I took him for his vaccinations and didnt comment that she saw anything.

Thanks Jazxo xx

Hopefully it's nothing to do with that then! Good luck with him x

 

[Peterbunny]

Hopefully it's nothing to do with that then! Good luck with him x

Thank you TBH I can't be sure that he hasn't always been like this, like I said its very slight, hardly noticable at all. I was planning on booking him in to get his nails cut and as I get a dental check covered by his vet care plan I might as well kill two birds with one stone and get his teeth checked too. I'm sure he will be thrilled, as since he had his neutering done he doesnt seem too keen on the vet :lol:

 

[helgalush]

I also don't want to worry you as it may not be this but we noticed this with Starbuck, the vet said they can get something called Bell's Palsy (a human condition which I think is caused by stress), he seemed fine in himself so we didnt worry, although around the same time the same vet said that she thought his glands were up.....6 months later and what we are actually looking at is a middle ear abscess which has broken through on to the outside of his face and appears as a lump by his ears (and most likely the 'raised glands' that were there before ie they probably weren't raised glands but the start of the abscess/infection).

What has happened in Starbuck's case is that the infection/abscess is pressing on his facial nerve causing it to constrict on that side - I don't know if I am explaining this right - Parsnipbun or Jack's Jane would be able to explain better for you.

 

[jazxo]

Thank you TBH I can't be sure that he hasn't always been like this, like I said its very slight, hardly noticable at all. I was planning on booking him in to get his nails cut and as I get a dental check covered by his vet care plan I might as well kill two birds with one stone and get his teeth checked too. I'm sure he will be thrilled, as since he had his neutering done he doesnt seem too keen on the vet :lol:

That could be very likely! Bless him. Just ask them and I'm sure they'll put your mind at rest.

 

[Peterbunny]

I also don't want to worry you as it may not be this but we noticed this with Starbuck, the vet said they can get something called Bell's Palsy (a human condition which I think is caused by stress), he seemed fine in himself so we didnt worry, although around the same time the same vet said that she thought his glands were up.....6 months later and what we are actually looking at is a middle ear abscess which has broken through on to the outside of his face and appears as a lump by his ears (and most likely the 'raised glands' that were there before ie they probably weren't raised glands but the start of the abscess/infection).

What has happened in Starbuck's case is that the infection/abscess is pressing on his facial nerve causing it to constrict on that side - I don't know if I am explaining this right - Parsnipbun or Jack's Jane would be able to explain better for you.

Thanks helgalush,

Yes I've heard of bells palsy, never would have thought a bunny could get it too Anyway, I shall pop into the vets tomorrow and get him looked at.

 

[helgalush]

In my bunny's case I don't think it is Bell's Palsy strictly speaking as its to do with the abscess pressing on his facial nerve.

Good luck at the vets and hope you can get to the bottom of whatever has caused it in Peter.

 

[parsnipbun]

I was going to mention inner ear abcsess - a common cause of lopsided face - especially in lops.
However the fact you can only see it from above seems odd.

Typically with inner ear abscess it is best seen straight on as one side of the face has 'lifted' due to atrophy of the facial nerves (which run through the inner ear so are damaged by the abscess).

Get a vet to check his ears - and try posting a straight on picture on here.

 

[Elena]

I also don't want to worry you as it may not be this but we noticed this with Starbuck, the vet said they can get something called Bell's Palsy (a human condition which I think is caused by stress), he seemed fine in himself so we didnt worry, although around the same time the same vet said that she thought his glands were up.....6 months later and what we are actually looking at is a middle ear abscess which has broken through on to the outside of his face and appears as a lump by his ears (and most likely the 'raised glands' that were there before ie they probably weren't raised glands but the start of the abscess/infection).

What has happened in Starbuck's case is that the infection/abscess is pressing on his facial nerve causing it to constrict on that side - I don't know if I am explaining this right - Parsnipbun or Jack's Jane would be able to explain better for you.

I wonder if this is what happened with Mischa too, that the lopsidedness was a continual symptom of infection rather than residual.

 

[Peterbunny]

Well strangely the lop sidedness has vanished :? How odd, but definitely today his face looked completely normal.

I'll keep an eye on it and am planning on booking him in for his nails soon so I'll get them to double check his teeth whilst I'm there