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Rabbit choking due to overgrown teeth?

J

jmommy

Young Bun
My rabbit started choking last spring and got her molars trimmed and it resolved the problem. She started choking again October and we got her molars trimmed Oct 26.

She came home and choked that night and then choked Nov 5, Nov 13 and yesterday 2 chokes in a row.

We went to a specialist in the area who said one of the teeth had already grown out sideways on the right side and was poking her cheek. He’s unsure if the choking is related to the teeth but thinks it is because teeth trimming resolved it before.

She is a 5 year old Holland lop and I resolve the episodes by sticking my finger in her mouth making a “sweeping motion” and I never find anything but that resolves it.

She is going in in a week and a half to get that tooth cut down and the rest checked out and possibly some teeth removed.

Does anyone have experience with this related to teeth overgrowth or comments?
 
My Raven has dental issues where spurs on molars poke his cheeks. He needs monthly dental visits, yet he does not choke.
Choking requires prompt vet intervention, do not wait a week.
 
bunny momma said:
My Raven has dental issues where spurs on molars poke his cheeks. He needs monthly dental visits, yet he does not choke.
Choking requires prompt vet intervention, do not wait a week.
Click to expand...
She went after.
What happens at the monthly vet visits that's Raven goes to? Do they use anesthesia? Midazolam? etc
 
jmommy said:
She went after.
What happens at the monthly vet visits that's Raven goes to? Do they use anesthesia? Midazolam? etc
Click to expand...
Yes, they use general anesthesia since his issue is his molars.
He recovers much better now that the vet adjusted his ga protocol because he was sensitive to a sedative. I do not know which one.
 
Do they use the isoflurane gas?
I'm afraid to have a dental procedure on my rabbit because I'm afraid she will die.
 
jmommy said:
Do they use the isoflurane gas?
I'm afraid to have a dental procedure on my rabbit because I'm afraid she will die.
Click to expand...
You need to ask the Vet what specific anaesthetic protocol they use. Whilst no GA can be 100% risk free these days Rabbit anaesthesia is much safer as long as the Vet is Rabbit Savvy. If your Rabbit needs a Dental then the only way to have the essential treatment carried out properly is under GA. Not treating Dental problems would mean ongoing suffering and the Rabbit would eventually starve.
 
My 5 year old Holland lop is supposed to have surgery Friday for a tooth that is sticking straight into her cheek. It doesn't seem to prevent her from eating and I've called the vet (she's currently in his care) to ask if it's absolutely necessary and he hasn't called me back.
I'm worried she will die...
 
Can you give medicines the night of? She's supposed to be on metoclopramide. I read you're supposed to leave them alone for 3 days after.
 
You don’t have to leave them alone for three days ! I don’t know where you read that, but it’s rubbish.

Metoclopromide can still be given after a GA if prescribed by the Vet. It is a prokinetic drug used to improve gut motility by increasing the rate of gastric emptying.

Even though your Rabbit is currently still eating the fact that there is a dental problem already causing a spur to stick into his cheek means that a Dental under GA is essential. If left untreated he will be in constant pain, he WILL stop eating, his GI tract will stop working, causing gut stasis. The fact that he must already have a reduced gut motility given that the Vet has already prescribed metoclopromide indicates that the Dental is essential. Waiting for him to stop eating before doing it makes the risk of a GA much higher. Far better to act promptly to minimise the risk, make recovery time as rapid as possible and to prevent more soft tissue damage the sharp spur will be causing as it sticks into his cheek. This can end up causing far more serious problems. Rabbits hide pain well as they are a prey species. Some Rabbits will carry on eating even when they have huge ulcers caused by molar spurs which must be extremely painful.The risk of him dying under GA are much, much smaller than the risk of him suffering terribly by doing nothing.
 
I have an 8 year old dwarf who gets regular dentals with gas and he does very well. When he was already on metacloprimide, he got it the night before his ga, and resumed it soon afterward.
I also have a 10 year old mini rex who had a dental at seven years old and she did well too.
After the dental some bunnies are lethargic from other sedation they may get before getting the gas, or from certain pain meds given at the vet. It is not uncommon to get pain meds for use at home as any sores/ulcers heal.
Like IM posted above, it is less risky to do the dental before your bunny becomes worse. Several ru members have had bunnies who were in critical condition from stasis, me included.
Sending vibes you can overcome your fear and your bunny will do well.
 
jmommy said:
She did and it went well.
Click to expand...
Just reading through your thread, great to see the dental went well & hope no more are needed in the future.

Boo used to occasionally make a quacking / choking noise when she was a dental bun
 
She just choked again after getting home from her dental today. It's hard because I'm afraid to leave the house as she requires intervention to stop choking and she can't breathe when she chokes. I have to put my finger in her mouth and sweep from side to side near the back of her throat.
 
what a worry. I hope your vet has some ideas about how to manage this. Must be really stressful :(
 
I am sorry she chocked again. What is she eating, drinkng or doing when she chokes? Is she eating fast? Could it be coughing? What litter do you use? Does she have water bottle or bowl? If bottle perhaps water going down incorrectly? Sending positive vibes you and your vet can find a cause and treatment.
 
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