Jessica’s dental 3 y/o

Just had the phone call from the vets updating us on Jessica’s dental today. She only had her last dental in February and today she was back in with really bad spurs, a cut to her tongue and ‘teeth all over the place’. The vet said she isn’t sure how long term this could be, forgetting the financial side but more so the affect the anaesthetic is having on her kidneys.

She said the next step would be xrays to see what her roots are looking like, whether they are all over the place or look ok. She also mentioned a referral to a specialist at Exeter but said she didn’t think they could do anything to help poor Jess that they couldn’t already do themselves.

I’ve ordered some dental food that was recommended to another forum member with a dental rabbit - that should arrive soon. I’ve also gone out today and bought a variety of hay and have a sample of oat hay coming. We’re planting trays and trays of grass but obviously having to wait for it to grow.

Can I have opinions on what you would do in this situation?

She’s such a happy little girl and it breaks my heart how bad her teeth are getting in such a short time, especially being so young. We really are trying so many different hay types but she’s shown little to no interest so far.

I would definitely go for an xray, preferably coincided with her next dental so she wouldn't be sedated exclusively for her xray.

I have a dental bun, Fabala, though by watching her behaviour you wouldn't know it. The vet practice we go to includes xrays in all dental ops (for any species) as standard, so Fabala had hers then. It gave the vet invaluable information prior to the actual dental and made her actually not operate one side of her mouth when otherwise she may have done. One side of Fabala's mouth her teeth are pretty fragile so we can't risk having it touched. Another vet we see there said that he is much happier doing dentals at the practice we are at now as opposed to the one we first met both the vets we see at. It's because, he says, so many clients opted out of the xrays at the previous surgery due to cost. So when carrying out dentals, he had much less information than he was used to be able to using during the procedure.

I haven't been through many dentals with my dental bun as yet, but I do know that rabbits often can and do have long and happy lives, even with the condition. But I also understand the desire to want to maintain it with as few anaesthetic procedures as possible and to be thinking about long-term quality of life.

Thanks for your reply.

It’s good that your vet does the xrays as standard, it would be good if all vets did that. We had an X-ray done back in Feb but I think that was of her abdomen as they thought they could feel a lump.

I will definitely ask for the X-ray when she’s in next. I’ll find a way to afford the treatment as I just want the best for her. We’re also going to ask about the referral and what they could do at the specialist vet, along with the X-ray obviously. It just worries me how bad her teeth were again in just 2 months.

You may find it helpful to have a read through these links

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Differential/Rabbit_dentistry.pdf

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/AcquiredMolarAbnRabbits.htm

https://www.vetstream.com/treat/lapis/freeform/dental-malocclusion-overgrowth

http://www.medirabbit.com/Radiography/anatomical_lines.pdf

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/me...urse/3-complications-of-dental-procedures.pdf

I agree with TLC that xray would be beneficial. I'm really sorry Jessica is struggling. Some dental buns just can't eat hay at all. Grass is really good if she can manage it - maybe you could pick grass, brambles etc while you're waiting for yours to grow

I have a dental bun too, would echo what others have said and go for the xrays to see if it shows anything specific. Is it the cunipic food you have ordered? I've decided to give that a go with mine, he seems to really like it!

Thanks for all your replies. I think I had in mind to go ahead with the X-ray next time she has to go under.

Jacks- Jane- I’ve read those links you posted. They are really helpful in understanding what’s going on as I’m finding it all quite daunting with how serious it is really. I’m worried that it’s something wrong with her jaw thats making it difficult for her to eat hay as she’s SO fussy (we have 6 different types of hay and still would only pick tiny pieces) but I suppose we’d only find out with the X-ray.

Orenoko- yeah that’s the food. Ours came on Saturday and she seems really impressed with it so far and almost clears the plate of it which is a good sign! Do you mix it in with hay?

Sarah298 said:

Thanks for all your replies. I think I had in mind to go ahead with the X-ray next time she has to go under.

Jacks- Jane- I’ve read those links you posted. They are really helpful in understanding what’s going on as I’m finding it all quite daunting with how serious it is really. I’m worried that it’s something wrong with her jaw thats making it difficult for her to eat hay as she’s SO fussy (we have 6 different types of hay and still would only pick tiny pieces) but I suppose we’d only find out with the X-ray.

Orenoko- yeah that’s the food. Ours came on Saturday and she seems really impressed with it so far and almost clears the plate of it which is a good sign! Do you mix it in with hay?

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I have been mixing it in with hay, it seems to go down well, although it's too early to tell if it will make a difference. My boy is also really fussy with his hay, he's slowly gone off every type of hay he used to like and will only eat hay cookies now! I think because he has some facial paralysis he can't feel the hay in his mouth. Have you tried hay cookies as well? I also try fibafirst as well, they seem to go down well.

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Orenoko said:

I have been mixing it in with hay, it seems to go down well, although it's too early to tell if it will make a difference. My boy is also really fussy with his hay, he's slowly gone off every type of hay he used to like and will only eat hay cookies now! I think because he has some facial paralysis he can't feel the hay in his mouth. Have you tried hay cookies as well? I also try fibafirst as well, they seem to go down well.

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I haven’t tried the cookies as I wasn’t sure how well they would be at wearing down teeth. But thinking now even if I could get her eating hay with those she might then start eating more normal hay. Will pick some up today and give them a go, thanks .

Sarah298 said:

I haven’t tried the cookies as I wasn’t sure how well they would be at wearing down teeth. But thinking now even if I could get her eating hay with those she might then start eating more normal hay. Will pick some up today and give them a go, thanks .

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Hay cookies are the only hay my boy will eat now, I have to break them apart for him but he loves them. Hope Jessica likes them too!

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