10 year old bunny - dental op - advice needed please

Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I've visited this wonderful forum & everyone was so helpful last time.
I adopted my gorgeous Nala from Windwhistle warren 9 years ago, so she's 10 years old
4 years ago she had the spurs on her molars filed down... I was told this might have to happen every 6 months to a year... she did not react well to the operation and became very poorly ... thankfully she pulled through and has not had to have any dental work since
She just went for her vaccinations & check up this morning - & I'm so upset to learn that the spurs on the right side have grown quite a bit more & the vet has recommended we do something asap.
She is absolutely fine in herself, very happy & healthy, eating fine at the moment...
I'm just so scared because of her age and how she reacted to the op last time...
What would you do?

Nala's Mummy said:

Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I've visited this wonderful forum & everyone was so helpful last time.
I adopted my gorgeous Nala from Windwhistle warren 9 years ago, so she's 10 years old
4 years ago she had the spurs on her molars filed down... I was told this might have to happen every 6 months to a year... she did not react well to the operation and became very poorly ... thankfully she pulled through and has not had to have any dental work since
She just went for her vaccinations & check up this morning - & I'm so upset to learn that the spurs on the right side have grown quite a bit more & the vet has recommended we do something asap.
She is absolutely fine in herself, very happy & healthy, eating fine at the moment...
I'm just so scared because of her age and how she reacted to the op last time...
What would you do?

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I'm sorry to hear that the spurs are back.
This is tricky one and I had something similar with one of my rabbits recently and I was scared to put him through a GA. My vet was good and highlighted that it would be better to put him through a GA whilst fit and well rather than waiting until he became poorly again when a GA may no longer be an option for us.
Could you discuss it in more detail with your vet now you've had time to process the news? Would an alternative drug (to sedate / GA) be an option if she reacted to the drugs used last time? My vet reassured me explaining that they were using a GA drug that was reversible, so if she detected any problems she would bring my rabbit back around quickly.

Perhaps make a list of the pros and cons and then discuss it with your vet?

I hope that helps, it's not easy being a rabbit carer, but I'm sure you'll do the best for her - the fact that you're questioning it shows how caring and considerate an owner (bunny slave ) you are.

I would get it done. You don't have much choice - the alternative is to let the spurs continue to grow, which will cause her pain, ulcers and cuts in the mouth, and eventually to stop eating, which will then cause gastro-intestinal stasis, at which point you'll have a very sick bunny that will then have to have a dental and fight stasis at the same time.

If you get it done now, at least you're giving her the best chance possible by her being in good health before the anaesthetic. I would talk to your vet first though - there are different types of anaesthetic and there is a type where you can bring the bunny round quickly if they start to struggle. Our vet recommended it recently for our elderly bunny, but that was for an X-ray not a dental, so ask your vet what would be best. Your vet can also consult with or refer you to a specialist if they are not sure - depends where you are but John Chitty in Andover is the specialist down south.

Lots of older bunnies go through anaesthetic fine, there is always a risk but it's important to weigh that risk against the consequences of not treating the problem. I hope your bunny is okay and that she's feeling better soon xx

Nala's Mummy said:

Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I've visited this wonderful forum & everyone was so helpful last time.
I adopted my gorgeous Nala from Windwhistle warren 9 years ago, so she's 10 years old
4 years ago she had the spurs on her molars filed down... I was told this might have to happen every 6 months to a year... she did not react well to the operation and became very poorly ... thankfully she pulled through and has not had to have any dental work since
She just went for her vaccinations & check up this morning - & I'm so upset to learn that the spurs on the right side have grown quite a bit more & the vet has recommended we do something asap.
She is absolutely fine in herself, very happy & healthy, eating fine at the moment...
I'm just so scared because of her age and how she reacted to the op last time...
What would you do?

Click to expand...

I'd first make sure that I was confident that my Vet was very experienced with Rabbit anaesthesia and that he/she was up to date on the latest information about the best drug protocol for Rabbits, especially those who are elderly and/or health compromised. Also that the Vet would take additional precautions to support an elderly Rabbit during and after the GA/Dental

I'd then request that the Vet ran a full blood profile to assess my Rabbit's major organ function, especially renal function. If all was found to be OK I would opt to go ahead with the procedure.

A bit of further information here :

http://www.canonburyvets.com/news/2015/01/05/rabbit-anaesthesia-the-gold-standard

Good luck with whatever you decide to do xx

I think this is a really difficult one. Did you talk about her bad recovery last time with the vet? Was it at the same practice?

Nala's Mummy said:

Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I've visited this wonderful forum & everyone was so helpful last time.
I adopted my gorgeous Nala from Windwhistle warren 9 years ago, so she's 10 years old
4 years ago she had the spurs on her molars filed down... I was told this might have to happen every 6 months to a year... she did not react well to the operation and became very poorly ... thankfully she pulled through and has not had to have any dental work since
She just went for her vaccinations & check up this morning - & I'm so upset to learn that the spurs on the right side have grown quite a bit more & the vet has recommended we do something asap.
She is absolutely fine in herself, very happy & healthy, eating fine at the moment...
I'm just so scared because of her age and how she reacted to the op last time...
What would you do?

Click to expand...

I would be very happy to discuss this with you. I feel I will be able to help you here

Do PM me if you'd like that .....

As others have mentioned, it needs doing as it will only get worse, and she is in good health - so better now than when it affects her eating / weight / health and it becomes a greater risk. A blood profile would be useful first to ensure all is as expected.

Discuss everything with your vet and the nurses until you are happy with the procedure. Do you know why she had a poor recovery last time? What could the vet do to mitigate it happening again?

I've had a 9 year old undergo regular dentals with no issues, despite having only one functional lung - so age alone shouldn't be too much of an issue.
I find it helps if I know what time they are expecting to operate as it saves worrying for hours before.

I hope all goes well.

Shimmer said:

As others have mentioned, it needs doing as it will only get worse, and she is in good health - so better now than when it affects her eating / weight / health and it becomes a greater risk. A blood profile would be useful first to ensure all is as expected.

Discuss everything with your vet and the nurses until you are happy with the procedure. Do you know why she had a poor recovery last time? What could the vet do to mitigate it happening again?

I've had a 9 year old undergo regular dentals with no issues, despite having only one functional lung - so age alone shouldn't be too much of an issue.
I find it helps if I know what time they are expecting to operate as it saves worrying for hours before.

I hope all goes well.

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I'm glad that it's not just me who has to know what time my Rabbit's procedure will be done !

Nala's Mummy said:

Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I've visited this wonderful forum & everyone was so helpful last time.
I adopted my gorgeous Nala from Windwhistle warren 9 years ago, so she's 10 years old
4 years ago she had the spurs on her molars filed down... I was told this might have to happen every 6 months to a year... she did not react well to the operation and became very poorly ... thankfully she pulled through and has not had to have any dental work since
She just went for her vaccinations & check up this morning - & I'm so upset to learn that the spurs on the right side have grown quite a bit more & the vet has recommended we do something asap.
She is absolutely fine in herself, very happy & healthy, eating fine at the moment...
I'm just so scared because of her age and how she reacted to the op last time...
What would you do?

Click to expand...

Just dropped you a PM - speak soon

Thank you so much for all of your replies... so helpful & comforting. It is such a difficult decision but at the end of the day I know what I have to do, I'm just so nervous to put her through it all again. Ultimately I know it's the best thing for her.

Jack's Jane - I found your link particularly helpful thank you - interestingly I researched my vet and that was his last practice where he was the senior surgeon before he has opened his own on my road https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rolandsabin

Nala's Mummy said:

Thank you so much for all of your replies... so helpful & comforting. It is such a difficult decision but at the end of the day I know what I have to do, I'm just so nervous to put her through it all again. Ultimately I know it's the best thing for her.

Jack's Jane - I found your link particularly helpful thank you - interestingly I researched my vet and that was his last practice where he was the senior surgeon before he has opened his own on my road https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rolandsabin

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It's always nerve wracking with this kind of stuff.

Great that you've such a good vet - Roland Sabin is ace

Nala's Mummy said:

Thank you so much for all of your replies... so helpful & comforting. It is such a difficult decision but at the end of the day I know what I have to do, I'm just so nervous to put her through it all again. Ultimately I know it's the best thing for her.

Jack's Jane - I found your link particularly helpful thank you - interestingly I researched my vet and that was his last practice where he was the senior surgeon before he has opened his own on my road https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rolandsabin

Click to expand...

Glad it was useful

Thanks for your PM - I have replied