Advanced dental disease

[melissa242]

Our bun had a dental last year when she stopped eating suddenly, during this they x rayed her and found on her right side her tooth roots were elongated. She had a molar removed, with an abscess which was drained and then she was on a long course of antibiotics. She has been on metacam ever since and had seemed to do okay on this. A few months ago her husbun passed away suddenly and she seemed fine in herself at first but then started noticeably sneezing more so we took her to the vets and the signs pointed to a respiratory infection. Treated her for this but it wasn’t effective and we were going to do 2 things which was a CT scan and get a culture. She had the CT scan a few weeks ago and we got the results last week which confirmed she has advanced dental disease, abscesses surrounding multiple teeth, infection and osteomyelitis. Due to the severity of it and being across all 4 arcades, surgery isn’t an option. She is on daily depocillin injections, metacam (higher dose), gabapentin and maxitrol eye drops as her eye had been slightly leaky.

My main question is, what is the general experience with this? I know she doesn’t have a long life ahead of her (she is 9) but can she get a good quality of remaining life or are we prolonging her eventual suffering? The secondary question is she is on gabapentin, one of our other bunnies was on gabapentin and didn’t react well to it on a very small dose. She has been okay for a few days and then yesterday she was very flat, not mega interested in her favourite foods. Not GI as she’s eating and we are syringe feeding her as she hasn’t eaten hay since starting on any of the meds. I think it’s a gabapentin reaction, does this get better as it takes time? I feel like the trade off for some pain relief with this is not worth it.

She means so much to me and I want to do what is best for her

 

[Shimmer]

I had 2 rabbits in a similar situation many years ago. They were both on metacam and depocillin for the rest of their lives, and both were older rabbits. They lived about another 18 months, with a decent quality of life. They were happy pottering around outside, and both maintained their weight with additional feeding. The rabbits don't seem to really bother about their specific condition as long as they are getting appropriate care. When they went downhill, it was quite sudden and severe - so it was very obvious that they were losing the battle in their last couple of days.

I can't remember using gabapentin, so can't comment on that.

 

[melissa242]

Thank you for that, I hope she gets the same. We’ve come off the gabapentin today because she really has not been great on it, so hopefully she picks up. She had been doing really well on metacam recently so hopefully with that and depocillin that will help. Thank you, I really appreciate your experience

 

[bunny momma]

My late bunny was on gabapentin and medicam for bone cancer and she did well. We did time her meds so she got them hours apart so she never got them both at the same time. I am not sure if that was necessary, yet she did well on that regimen for six months until her cancer progressed and her qol declined.

Sending lots of positive vibes for your bunny.

 

[melissa242]

My late bunny was on gabapentin and medicam for bone cancer and she did well. We did time her meds so she got them hours apart so she never got them both at the same time. I am not sure if that was necessary, yet she did well on that regimen for six months until her cancer progressed and her qol declined.

Sending lots of positive vibes for your bunny.

Thank you so much Sorry about your bunny, it’s awful that they go through these things