Advice needed please

7.5 yr old Alfie underwent dental burring four weeks ago and one molar fell out. He is quite badly maloccluded and his teeth are apparently loose and 'all over the place'. One week later, he developed an ear abscess. This seems to be clearing with daily baytril and metacam. However, this past week he has shown signs of discomfort and stopped eating hay. I am sure it's his teeth as he keeps chewing on nothing, scratches under his chin and sneezes a lot. The vet says he needs an x ray to establish the cause. My vet doesn't do rabbit dentistry and would refer Alfie to an exotics vet. I am worried sick about the stress all this would cause Alfie in terms of carting him off to the vet yet again - would it be best to contact the exotics vet direct? And would they x ray, then do what needed to be done straight away? And does anyone have any idea of costs? I live in East Sussex.

alisongiles66@gmail.com said:

7.5 yr old Alfie underwent dental burring four weeks ago and one molar fell out. He is quite badly maloccluded and his teeth are apparently loose and 'all over the place'. One week later, he developed an ear abscess. This seems to be clearing with daily baytril and metacam. However, this past week he has shown signs of discomfort and stopped eating hay. I am sure it's his teeth as he keeps chewing on nothing, scratches under his chin and sneezes a lot. The vet says he needs an x ray to establish the cause. My vet doesn't do rabbit dentistry and would refer Alfie to an exotics vet. I am worried sick about the stress all this would cause Alfie in terms of carting him off to the vet yet again - would it be best to contact the exotics vet direct? And would they x ray, then do what needed to be done straight away? And does anyone have any idea of costs? I live in East Sussex.

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Hello

Skull radiographs are 100% what I would want done to establish what may be going on regarding tooth roots and also the extent of the ear abscess and whether the two conditions are related .



I do understand that it can be tricky to get a stressy Rabbit who does not travel well to a Specialist. But perhaps in your Bunny's situation it is a necessary ordeal.

The symptoms you describe re scratching under his chin and sneezing a lot do point toward the possibility of problems with the tooth roots (tooth root elongation). This is often a problem when a Rabbit has advanced Dental disease. Of course the Vet you currently consult may be agreeable to treat Alfie symptomatically without diagnostics to obtain a definitive diagnosis, This may include giving on going analgesia, antibiotics and possibly nebulising (to help drain the sinuses). Obtaining a definitive diagnosis (from diagnostics such as radiographs etc) does not always guarantee any additional treatment options other than pain management and infection control. But this approach would be more 'Palliative Care' than any possibility of being curative.

As to costs for a Specialist referral, this can vary widely. An initial consultation can be £60.00 + then there would be any diagnostics/treatment to be added. Costs can easily run into hundreds of pounds.

These links may be useful to read

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

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

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

http://www.tokyovets.com/2017rabbitear3.pdf

Hi Alison

Sorry to hear your little Alfie is poorly.

I second the information Jane has given you. X-rays would be a good start. I recently had the same dilemma as you concerning an abscess behind my little mans eye. I also live in East Sussex and was told my elderly boy would need to be referred to a specialist near Brighton, which is quite a distance for me and I didn't want to travel so far with him. But I searched around and happened to find another lovely Vet nearby who, not only was able to operate on him but had been able to discuss his case with the exotics Vets, Trinity in Maidstone. I wonder if you might be near me? if you don't want to give your location on the forum, please PM me and I will see if I can help in any way.

bunniemum said:

Hi Alison

Sorry to hear your little Alfie is poorly.

I second the information Jane has given you. X-rays would be a good start. I recently had the same dilemma as you concerning an abscess behind my little mans eye. I also live in East Sussex and was told my elderly boy would need to be referred to a specialist near Brighton, which is quite a distance for me and I didn't want to travel so far with him. But I searched around and happened to find another lovely Vet nearby who, not only was able to operate on him but had been able to discuss his case with the exotics Vets, Trinity in Maidstone. I wonder if you might be near me? if you don't want to give your location on the forum, please PM me and I will see if I can help in any way.

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I second the recommendation of any input from Trinity Vets in Maidstone, Especially Mark Rowland

http://trinityvetcentre.com/team

Jack's-Jane said:

I second the recommendation of any input from Trinity Vets in Maidstone, Especially Mark Rowland

http://trinityvetcentre.com/team

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Yep, and I also second that!!.