bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
It is best to keep her eating regularly and monitor her closely, especially her poo. If she is active it will also help to keep her digestion moving.
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Frequent dental issue
- Thread starter Jemi
- Start date
She needs to keep eating. If that means more pellets and herbs like corriander, then that's what she needs. You could try softer hay or other leafy greens, but she must eat. If she is unable to eat hay / grass, then you need to give her an alternative. Just providing hay which she is unable to eat due to dental issues isn't a viable option. Keep an eye on her weight and poo output as well - then you can judge if she's managing to eat enough. Not eating enough will lead to other problems, so keep on going with what you are doing.
Don't give up - you are doing a good job. Many people don't notice when their rabbit has a dental problem and just leave it to suffer 
. You care and have actively done things to help her. Not being able to eat hay isn't the end of the world if you manage what she can eat and monitor her - which is what you are doing.
. You care and have actively done things to help her. Not being able to eat hay isn't the end of the world if you manage what she can eat and monitor her - which is what you are doing.I am trying to give her soft cut of grass. Looking for them . I am able to feed her grass at midnight . She eats for 10 minutes. But her main meal is consisting of softened pellets . I will bring Versele laga cuni sensitive . Also considering to buy supreme selective next time 
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.Xray report from her last vet visit came today . One of her tooth root has elongated under her eyes and causing pressure she will start her pain medication soon . Vet said surgery should be done if saliva starts coming from her mouth . Frequent surgeries are harmful for her long run so they are taking their time . With the less chewing and all , her spurs will come back soon this time I am afraid
she will start her pain medication soon . Vet said surgery should be done if saliva starts coming from her mouth . Frequent surgeries are harmful for her long run so they are taking their time . With the less chewing and all , her spurs will come back soon this time I am afraid
InspectorMorse
Wise Old Thumper
Elongated tooth roots are painful, so that would explain why she won’t eat hay or grass. The condition is chronic and so it will be a case of managing the symptoms. Good analgesic cover being essential. She might never be able to eat enough hay/grass to prevent the crowns of the teeth becoming too long and spurs developing. So her diet will need to be adjusted to insure that she eats what she can to prevent secondary gut stasis. It will be important for her to have regular examinations by a Rabbit Savvy Vet.
InspectorMorse
Wise Old Thumper
Whilst frequent GAs are certainly not ideal it is possible for some Rabbits to cope with them for a while. It’s impossible to say how long as every case will be different. Also, one has to consider the quality of life. If the Rabbit is needing dentals every 6-8 weeks and they take several days to recover each time then it might not be ethical to continue treatment that is never going to cure the problem. Sometimes the rate of tooth regrowth does slow down, so the time between dentals can be longer.I am just so afraid of her being under anaesthesia every two months . Do their survival rate decrease with each surgery ? She is so happy and healthy . I really don't want to lose her in between the surgeries
A Rabbit Savvy Vet will adjust the GA protocol and take extra precautions to support renal function when treating a Rabbit needing frequent GAs. Did the Vet say which tooth has root elongation ?
InspectorMorse
Wise Old Thumper
What Country are you located in ?
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
I hope the vet has started her on regular pain meds so you can see how she does with the pain meds. If she has Medicam it also helps with inflammation.
It sounds like she did well with the ga during her prior dentals for her to recover in one day. She is young and that will also be in her favor for successful ga in the future.
Take it one dental at a time and modify her food offerings as necessary to keep her eating.
It sounds like she did well with the ga during her prior dentals for her to recover in one day. She is young and that will also be in her favor for successful ga in the future.
Take it one dental at a time and modify her food offerings as necessary to keep her eating.
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I could have taken some more time before the 2nd dental . I just did the 2nd one just after 6 weeks she could go on with eating soft foods for a few weeks . Also her eyes were not that weepy at that time and spurs were not that elongated yet . She was playing and active . I didn't realise she would need dentals so frequently and hurried. Vet advised this time if saliva starts coming from her Mouth and food intakes and activities become less , she will be taken to surgery at that time not before that
she could go on with eating soft foods for a few weeks . Also her eyes were not that weepy at that time and spurs were not that elongated yet . She was playing and active . I didn't realise she would need dentals so frequently and hurried. Vet advised this time if saliva starts coming from her Mouth and food intakes and activities become less , she will be taken to surgery at that time not before that
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InspectorMorse
Wise Old Thumper
You are doing all you can. With Dental disease some of it can be attributed to genetics. You say that your Rabbit is a New Zealand White. This breed is primarily bred for meat (I could have taken some more time before the 2nd dental . I just did the 2nd one just after 6 weeks
) and therefore not for longevity. Once poor genetics comes into the gene pool then problems will occur in all Rabbits from that breed line. So you should not blame yourself for the situation you are now in with regards to your Rabbit’s dental problems.You mentioned that your Vet does not have any other GA protocol other than the one already used. This makes me wonder if the Vet has a vast experience in Rabbit anaesthesia. If not and if there are no other specialist Vets where you are located then your current Vet could reach out for some specialist advice to other Vets in other Countries
I found this, not sure if it’s helpful
Africa&AsiaVets
www.rabbitvet.net
I think her pain tolerance is getting less with surgeries . After her 1st dental she could pick up grass easily and chew them . But after the 2nd one , she mostly chews while laying and the grass has to be on her level so that she doesn't have to pick them up . Stronger pain medication than the current ones will be risky for her if continues for a long time, I was told . The risk is not mainly the anestesia rather her pain management as she starts bouncing back to health soon after surgery but the pain starts coming back soon after
