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Possible Hope For Rabbits with Molar Spur Problems

Barney and Tess' Dad

Barney and Tess' Dad

Young Bun
We took Barney in yesterday for his 5th Dental since July! Basically we were asking what was best for him as it cant be a nice quality of life for him if he only goes a few weeks pain free and then has to have 3-4 weeks of uncomfortableness (if thats a word). We were getting upset and the Vet said she would have a word with the local Rabbit Vet Specialist. We left him there and within an hour they rang me up.

Apparently The specialist vet is trialling a new thing where they inject something in the pulp of the tooth that kills the root. So it stops growing altogether. The top tooth continues to grow but it obviously wears down on the bottom tooth still. We got all excited when the vet was telling us as we thought it was the end for Barney.

So any guys who have rabbits with teeth problems hopefully there is hope for us all!!

We booked him in for Wednesday next week, its more expensive as he has to have x rays first to make sure they can do it but when we made the appointment they said they would do the procedure then too! And we get to take him to the experienced rabbit vet.

SMiles all around and big fingers crossed hoping it works!!! :p:p:p:p:p
 
I've never heard of this either (until now). So do they only put the injection into the lower teeth (pulp)? Do they have any case studies?
 
That sounds like what Francis at Harcourt Brown's does. She gave a presentation on it earlier this year at a conference and will be publishing a paper on it shortly I think. My friend was there at the conference. I can't recall if she removes the pulp or the dentine, but it was definitiely to reduce spurs.
 
Thanks peeps. He went in for his post op check tonight.

We asked a few questions but the vet didnt know much about it and said that it was a new procedure that they didnt even know about until the specialist mentioned it to them.

So i'll let you all know wednesday when hopefully this problem will be put behind him and he can live out his bunny years pain free!!
 
Hi,
Unfortunately it's not the miracle cure we all want for every dental case. It is only practical for spurs on the lower molar teeth and is a procedure only a few vets are doing. Good results so far though in cases that I've done so it is a good option for bunnies with a small number of spurs affecting the lower teeth. The surgery involves tunnelling through the jaw bone to the pulp (the live 'core' that produces new tooth) and removing it. This stops the tooth growing so prevent the spur reforming and prevents the need to keep trimming the devitalised tooth.
Marie
 
I have had three bunnies that have had the nerve removed from a problem tooth and solved that problem tooth:D
Bu,t as has been pointed out this can only be done on lower jaw teeth.:cry:
 
What's the recovery like if the jaw bone is being drilled into?

Does it make the tooth more vulnerable in any way?

I only ask because I have a clutch who have lower right side issues only (all related) and I just wondered whether it would be considerable for them. That said, I would think it would be unlikely that a vet in my area would be doing this operation.

Is there any literature published on it?
 
Sky-O said:
What's the recovery like if the jaw bone is being drilled into?

Does it make the tooth more vulnerable in any way?

I only ask because I have a clutch who have lower right side issues only (all related) and I just wondered whether it would be considerable for them. That said, I would think it would be unlikely that a vet in my area would be doing this operation.

Is there any literature published on it?
Click to expand...

Doesn't come up in FHBs list here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=Harcourt-Brown F[au]&dispmax=50
When she gave a presentation on it last summer she had submitted a paper but it hadn't been accepted yet. Can take months to get to publication so hopefully it'll be out soon. My friend was going to bring me the abstract over from the conference so when he does I'll scan it.
 
Sky-O said:
What's the recovery like if the jaw bone is being drilled into?

Does it make the tooth more vulnerable in any way?

I only ask because I have a clutch who have lower right side issues only (all related) and I just wondered whether it would be considerable for them. That said, I would think it would be unlikely that a vet in my area would be doing this operation.

Is there any literature published on it?
Click to expand...

Seems rapid with normal eating and behaviour within 24hrs (all on pain relief though obviously).
The tooth will not have ongoing replacement so will become worn down and eventually become loose and come out. Timescale of this is not known but Frances has been doing this for a couple of years and is pleased with results and had no problems. As this is what eventually happens with chronic dental disease (if abscessation is avoided) then we are simply speeding upthe process to get to a stable state without spurs.
It's odd - I see more problems on the right side than the left, there should be no anatomical reason why!
Where are you, more exotics vets should be doing this since Frances presented this technique at an exotic vet conference last Autumn.
Marie
 
marie_kubiak said:
Seems rapid with normal eating and behaviour within 24hrs (all on pain relief though obviously).
The tooth will not have ongoing replacement so will become worn down and eventually become loose and come out. Timescale of this is not known but Frances has been doing this for a couple of years and is pleased with results and had no problems. As this is what eventually happens with chronic dental disease (if abscessation is avoided) then we are simply speeding upthe process to get to a stable state without spurs.
It's odd - I see more problems on the right side than the left, there should be no anatomical reason why!
Where are you, more exotics vets should be doing this since Frances presented this technique at an exotic vet conference last Autumn.
Marie
Click to expand...


Barneys is left side lower. Hes really happy now he's had them filed down ready for his op. I'm glad about the recovery.. i get worried if idont see himeat.

Yes its a very small world!! Thanks for doing it for him... he'll appreciate it :)
 
So this would be like root canals for bunnies, basically? (ouch...may have a few in my own future) :(

But I can see how it would be very helpful in some cases. I have two that may be needing more frequent dentals and I hate to see them go through it. :(
Is there any chance for this surgery to come to America soon? I haven't heard of it here at all.

And what hope for the upper molars to eventually have this option or is it just too close to the sinus/eye/brain area to even consider? I just think of all the bunnies with abscess/nasal/eye problems that would benefit from such a thing, especially mini lop rabbits.
 
wow this is good news Angel goes in for dentals every 4 weeks now. It got to the point we said if it became less we would have to pts as it just isnt fair on her. She had her dental last week and is still recovering she has to have this all because one tooth. If we could do this and stop that tooth grwoing then she prob would be able to go back to every 3 months or even longer wouldnt that be amazing.
I must go and tell her this new procedure and speak with my vet about it.
Obv angel has dental disease but hopefully it would still be possible nothing like a little hopeful thinking!
 
Well It's tomorrow..... Im hoping he will be ok. I'm sure Marie will do a great job. I've just given him lots of fresh timothy hay, timothy hay with apple and dandelion and more of some chaper hay. he's promised to eat it all up so he is strong for tomorrow (he was only under anaesethic last wednesday or thursday). Barney is looking forward to a relatively pain free mouth (compared to what he is used to)!!
 
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