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PLEASE HELP Dental problems and not eating:Vet suggested potential PTS

Naomi1988 said:
Have now tried to get in with 3 different vets and all are fully booked or on holiday. We've booked him in with a practice with a rabbit expert about 30 minutes away so hopefully that wont be too much of a trek. I obviously don't want to put him through too much but want to make sure we've given him a good chance. thank you all for the help and advice <3
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I have known Rabbits refuse to eat with just the tiniest spur. So it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the spur identified is causing a problem, even if it does not appear to be effecting the cheek or tongue. Also, there might be more going on with the crowns of the teeth at the very back of his mouth that cannot be seen during a conscious examination.

Tomorrow I would ask the Vet about this scenario and if risking a GA/ Dental now would be a better option than pushing him on for another week of syringe feeding and him not eating for himself. I think he is likely to be better placed to withstand a GA now rather than in a weeks time. I would ask for a blood profile to be run first, to check his major organ function.

Just my unqualified thoughts, I am sorry that Ian is not getting better x
 
InspectorMorse said:
I have known Rabbits refuse to eat with just the tiniest spur. So it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the spur identified is causing a problem, even if it does not appear to be effecting the cheek or tongue. Also, there might be more going on with the crowns of the teeth at the very back of his mouth that cannot be seen during a conscious examination.

Tomorrow I would ask the Vet about this scenario and if risking a GA/ Dental now would be a better option than pushing him on for another week of syringe feeding and him not eating for himself. I think he is likely to be better placed to withstand a GA now rather than in a weeks time. I would ask for a blood profile to be run first, to check his major organ function.

Just my unqualified thoughts, I am sorry that Ian is not getting better x
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Thank you, I will do. They seem good as the receptionist booked me in for 5.30 then rang back after speaking to the vet and they got us in in the morning in case he needs admitting and then she has the day to keep an eye/intervene in some way if needed. So that's a promising sign. I think at this point it might be that we're running out of options outside of a GA and I don't want to wait a week for him to have that if it's going to happen. Plus the vet we'd see might not be back if he's unwell (I rang to ask if they knew when he was due to be in and they said they don't know when he'll be back). In a way I hope they admit him tomorrow to reduce the amount of trips through there and so we hopefully get some answers sooner, even though I know it'll be risky. But I'll probably just go with what the vet recommends at this point.
 
Sending lots of vibes. I would risk ga before making a decision on PRS. As IM said, teeth may be worse than they are seeing.
 
bunny momma said:
Sending lots of vibes. I would risk ga before making a decision on PRS. As IM said, teeth may be worse than they are seeing.
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Thank you, I think you're right. I'm struggling to feel hopeful knowing that in the best of circumstances he'll probably need a dental every 6 weeks and he didn't respond very well to the GA last time. It's feeling like best case scenarios are still not looking great for him long term. But maybe there is an underlying thing that is possible to sort and he will be able to recover better in future. I just don't know :(
 
Naomi1988 said:
Thank you, I think you're right. I'm struggling to feel hopeful knowing that in the best of circumstances he'll probably need a dental every 6 weeks and he didn't respond very well to the GA last time. It's feeling like best case scenarios are still not looking great for him long term. But maybe there is an underlying thing that is possible to sort and he will be able to recover better in future. I just don't know :(
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Tell the Vet you see tomorrow that Ian struggled to recover after his previous GA. The Vet needs to request details from the previous surgery who carried out that procedure. This will enable the Vet tomorrow to use a different GA protocol should the Vet decide to go ahead with a Dental.
 
Sorry that Ian is still struggling, but you are doing your absolute best for him. I hope that you get some answers tomorrow, or a plan for the way forward. I will be thinking of you both xx
 
Pets mum said:
Sorry that Ian is still struggling, but you are doing your absolute best for him. I hope that you get some answers tomorrow, or a plan for the way forward. I will be thinking of you both xx
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Thank you both. I've requested for his history to be sent to the vet so hopefully she should have all of his notes before we speak (the receptionist said 'I'll do that now'. Thank you all again for all of the support and suggestions. It means a lot <3
 
InspectorMorse said:
Tell the Vet you see tomorrow that Ian struggled to recover after his previous GA. The Vet needs to request details from the previous surgery who carried out that procedure. This will enable the Vet tomorrow to use a different GA protocol should the Vet decide to go ahead with a Dental.
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This is the advice I was given and took with Raven who gets minimal ga for his dentals now.
Also, he may benefit from getting fluids to help him clear ga quicker.
 
Thank you all. We saw the rabbit specialist and she thinks the problem is that he can't actually chew properly anymore because his teeth are so old and so many are now missing. She said that there's unlikely any more we can do and agrees with the other vets that we're approaching the end. She's given us some cisapride and has booked us in tomorrow for a full body scan (he did have an Xray in April, it turns out, but we might find something different now) but she says she suspects it will more likely just provide us peace of mind to know it's time to let him go. :(
 
Naomi1988 said:
Thank you all. We saw the rabbit specialist and she thinks the problem is that he can't actually chew properly anymore because his teeth are so old and so many are now missing. She said that there's unlikely any more we can do and agrees with the other vets that we're approaching the end. She's given us some cisapride and has booked us in tomorrow for a full body scan (he did have an Xray in April, it turns out, but we might find something different now) but she says she suspects it will more likely just provide us peace of mind to know it's time to let him go. :(
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I am sorry the update is not more positive. Ian is lucky to have such a dedicated care giver x
 
I'm also really sorry to read your update. The decision to PTS is an extremely difficult one, but I do agree with your vet that you will feel more at peace with it if you know that there is nothing more you can do.

Ian is a very lucky bun to have you advocating for him.
 
I'm really sorry to hear your update, but you and the vet are covering every angle. So in the sad event that you have to let him go, then at least you will know that you tried everything. Ian is a very lucky bunny to be in your care. Thinking of you both, give him a little nose rub from me xx
 
Our little Ian Boo has gone :(. The radiographs showed his teeth were worse than we thought. No infection but in a very bad way (old age related) with no chance of improvement. He only had one tooth that looked ok. His general condition and gas had worsened too so the vet said it was time. I'm absolutely heartbroken. 3 months ago I had 2 happy healthy bunnies and now I have none. Going into their room is going to feel impossible. Thank you all for all the support and guidance, I don't know how I'd have gotten through these last few weeks without it <3
 
Naomi1988 said:
Our little Ian Boo has gone :(. The radiographs showed his teeth were worse than we thought. No infection but in a very bad way (old age related) with no chance of improvement. He only had one tooth that looked ok. His general condition and gas had worsened too so the vet said it was time. I'm absolutely heartbroken. 3 months ago I had 2 happy healthy bunnies and now I have none. Going into their room is going to feel impossible. Thank you all for all the support and guidance, I don't know how I'd have gotten through these last few weeks without it <3
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I really am so, so sorry :cry:

RIP Ian xx
 
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I'm sorry it was time to say goodbye to your beloved boy. Losing 2 bunnies in a short time frame is hard - I lost Joey in January & Mouse early March this year. You'll be in my thoughts & I hope the forum can support you in any way that helps. We "get it" at least

Sweet dreams Ian:love:
 
I'm so very very sorry. You did absolutely everything to help him, no one could have tried harder. Sleep tight little Ian xx Huge hug for you too xxx
 
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