Help. Any ideas what could be wrong??

[dbowes]

Hi,

We are really concerned about our Jaspy.

He has a tooth root condition (and associated infection) that's he's been coping with. In fact he's just come off antibiotics after a huge reduction in his sneezing

In any case he's otherwise been fine.. eating, flopping out etc until the other day when he seemed odd (lots of biting, excessive cleaning) and gradually became less interested in his food.

Took him to the vets and he had a full x-Ray and the vet was able to rule out any gut or kidney stones and gave him a thorough checkup. They did file his teeth but the vet didn't think they were that bad. In fact she said his teeth visually were in quite good shape. Unfortunately the tooth root issue has got worse tho.

The plan was to monitor him and see if he perked up in case it was just a slight tooth spike.

He came home yesterday and like before his checkup we got him to eat with lots of encouragement.

This morning he seemed to be worse. Wouldn't touch his pellets but did have a bit of spinach and hay.

What's really odd about that is hay is usually the first thing to go when he's ill and for him to choose spinach over other foods we tried is quite strange.

He's back in the vets tomorrow. I gave him some metacam and we'll hit him with the recovery food if necessary tonight.

I know it could be his tooth root condition but he has coped with that for a while and the vet didn't think that would affect the act of eating.

In some respects, I.e the way he is lying about as normal, he seems ok but something is clearly wrong.

Any ideas? Any thing I can suggest to the vet. I'm concerned as not sure what else the vet can do as she was pretty thorough the first time. We may just get referred but really concerned about how long that will take.

Any advice is very welcome.

Thanks,
Dan

[Jack's-Jane]

Hi,

We are really concerned about our Jaspy.

He has a tooth root condition (and associated infection) that's he's been coping with. In fact he's just come off antibiotics after a huge reduction in his sneezing

In any case he's otherwise been fine.. eating, flopping out etc until the other day when he seemed odd (lots of biting, excessive cleaning) and gradually became less interested in his food.

Took him to the vets and he had a full x-Ray and the vet was able to rule out any gut or kidney stones and gave him a thorough checkup. They did file his teeth but the vet didn't think they were that bad. In fact she said his teeth visually were in quite good shape. Unfortunately the tooth root issue has got worse tho.

The plan was to monitor him and see if he perked up in case it was just a slight tooth spike.

He came home yesterday and like before his checkup we got him to eat with lots of encouragement.

This morning he seemed to be worse. Wouldn't touch his pellets but did have a bit of spinach and hay.

What's really odd about that is hay is usually the first thing to go when he's ill and for him to choose spinach over other foods we tried is quite strange.

He's back in the vets tomorrow. I gave him some metacam and we'll hit him with the recovery food if necessary tonight.

I know it could be his tooth root condition but he has coped with that for a while and the vet didn't think that would affect the act of eating.

In some respects, I.e the way he is lying about as normal, he seems ok but something is clearly wrong.

Any ideas? Any thing I can suggest to the vet. I'm concerned as not sure what else the vet can do as she was pretty thorough the first time. We may just get referred but really concerned about how long that will take.

Any advice is very welcome.

Thanks,
Dan

As tooth root elongation progresses it can become VERY painful. I suspect that pain may be an issue for him. As well as not eating much, a Rabbit in pain may also start grooming themselves excessively and/or licking 'odd' objects such as the floor or walls/window panes. Fur pulling can also occur.

Whilst Metacam is a good anti-inflammatory it's analgesic properties are often not enough when dealing with bone pain. Controlling bone pain may require additional analgesia such as Tramadol. Perhaps you could discuss this with your Vet ?

[dbowes]

I suspect you may be right. He gnawed a corner to death and has been at other things which he's never shown any interest with before

I will suggest that to the vet - thanks.

I was hoping this was a separate less severe issue but probably not

Do you know what options there are other than managing the pain? When the vet mentioned it when he was first diagnosed she said removal was an option but very risky and perhaps not worth the stress to him. That seemed way off but here we are!

[Jack's-Jane]

I suspect you may be right. He gnawed a corner to death and has been at other things which he's never shown any interest with before

I will suggest that to the vet - thanks.

I was hoping this was a separate less severe issue but probably not

Do you know what options there are other than managing the pain? When the vet mentioned it when he was first diagnosed she said removal was an option but very risky and perhaps not worth the stress to him. That seemed way off but here we are!

How tooth root elongation is managed is really judged on a case by case basis. Yes, in some cases extraction may be an option. But if it is the molar teeth (cheek teeth) that are effected and/or if there are several teeth involved extraction may not be advisable. I would certainly only want a Specialist/Rabbit Savvy Vet to embark on such a procedure as it is major surgery.

Sometimes keeping the crowns of the molar teeth short with regular Dentals under GA and long-term pain relief can be a way of managing the condition. As Dental disease progresses the teeth stop growing and at this stage reducing the crowns should stop as they wont regrow and the Rabbit may be unable to eat much as a result. Another reason to have a Specialist/Rabbit savvy Vet onside from the outset, one who knows exactly what to do and when.

This is a very good article about Dental Disease

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_..._dentistry.pdf

[dbowes]

Thanks will have a good read of the article

It is his molar teeth affected. That side of his face is swollen/contracted from a previous ear infection. Not sure if that has contributed or cause the problem.

Our vet seems quite knowledgable but I suspect we may be referred. It's not good really as he gets really stressed with travelling

[Jack's-Jane]

Thanks will have a good read of the article

It is his molar teeth affected. That side of his face is swollen/contracted from a previous ear infection. Not sure if that has contributed or cause the problem.

Our vet seems quite knowledgable but I suspect we may be referred. It's not good really as he gets really stressed with travelling

I know all too well that scenario with some Rabbits, unfortunately. That's why any decisions about what 'could' be done and what 'should' be done needs to be made on an individual case basis, taking EVERYTHING into account, not 'just' the clinical findings xx

[Kermit]

My girl Hollie has elongated tooth roots and had an abscess last year. We treated that, but she has been on continual Metacam since then to keep her eating and pain free.

It's three of Hollies teeth that are affected.

I would consider trying daily metacam and see if that helps any. I find that it has worked well for Hollie and she has been on it since last May.

[MightyMax]

I suspect you may be right. He gnawed a corner to death and has been at other things which he's never shown any interest with before

I will suggest that to the vet - thanks.

I was hoping this was a separate less severe issue but probably not

Do you know what options there are other than managing the pain? When the vet mentioned it when he was first diagnosed she said removal was an option but very risky and perhaps not worth the stress to him. That seemed way off but here we are!

It's very difficult to say whether what you are seeing is related to the tooth problem or not. From reading between the lines of your first post, I feel that by focussing on just the tooth issue you may be missing something else.

If I had your misgivings, I would talk with the vet about your concerns, and if he feels a blood profile would eliminate some likely scenarios, then I would go with that.

Think very very carefully before you let a vet grind the molar crowns down short. This is rather frowned upon by rabbit specialists because of the damage it can do. I have seen firsthand the serious and long term damage it can cause.

Good luck Dan, you're trying your best!

[dbowes]

Thanks kermit, he's on metacam now and that can only be helping but doesn't seem enough. Will see what the vet says later

[dbowes]

Thanks mightymax. You've summed up my thoughts really. Because we know he does have a tooth root issue it could be diverting attention from something else. I'll see what the vet says first, interested to hear her thoughts without me prompting her but will enquire about blood test and also stronger pain killers as Jane suggested.

He wouldn't eat this morning so gave him recovery food but he did then nibble on some hay.

It's all really stressful and depressing at the moment. Hopefully we'll come away from the vets feeling more positive!