Elena
Wise Old Thumper
Hi all,
Obviously I know tooth-grinding is a sign of pain but can it be something a rabbit starts doing for other reasons?
Smudge seems to have started doing this mainly at times he expects food! We have found out this week he probably has tumours on his chest (nothing we can do - just palliative care - he’s 11 so a terminal illness isn’t so unexpected). So he’s now on metacam but he’s still tooth-grinding but he’s also quite active and seems otherwise happy. It’s almost like a habit he’s got into when he wants food, treats or fresh hay. I don’t hear him doing it at night.
I feel so conflicted, because all his other body language is pointing to him being comfortable and not in pain but he’s still doing this tooth grinding. They did do a dental as he’s very wet under his chin but there was very little in the way of spurs - which then led the vet to do a dental X-ray to check the roots (also fine) and the discovery on his chest. Might be abscesses but blood tests showed no sign of infection so vet is leaning towards cancer.
Sorry, this is a ramble. Even though I’ve had terminal rabbits in the past I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen tooth-grinding due to pain before, only the happy thing they do when being fussed. I’m so confused by him right now! Even when he’s had stasis before and been in obvious discomfort he hasn’t done this.
Just want to do the right thing by him and make sure he’s not suffering.
Obviously I know tooth-grinding is a sign of pain but can it be something a rabbit starts doing for other reasons?
Smudge seems to have started doing this mainly at times he expects food! We have found out this week he probably has tumours on his chest (nothing we can do - just palliative care - he’s 11 so a terminal illness isn’t so unexpected). So he’s now on metacam but he’s still tooth-grinding but he’s also quite active and seems otherwise happy. It’s almost like a habit he’s got into when he wants food, treats or fresh hay. I don’t hear him doing it at night.
I feel so conflicted, because all his other body language is pointing to him being comfortable and not in pain but he’s still doing this tooth grinding. They did do a dental as he’s very wet under his chin but there was very little in the way of spurs - which then led the vet to do a dental X-ray to check the roots (also fine) and the discovery on his chest. Might be abscesses but blood tests showed no sign of infection so vet is leaning towards cancer.
Sorry, this is a ramble. Even though I’ve had terminal rabbits in the past I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen tooth-grinding due to pain before, only the happy thing they do when being fussed. I’m so confused by him right now! Even when he’s had stasis before and been in obvious discomfort he hasn’t done this.
Just want to do the right thing by him and make sure he’s not suffering.