Rabbit dental costs

[Hanny]

Hi, I'm a uni student who has come back over the summer and have noticed my rabbits teeth are really overgrown and crooked since I left. I think this is due to him being an older male dwarf rabbit (apparently at risk) and having less hay. I have been calling vets near me and I got an estimation of £150 for front teeth and £500 if under GA for molars too (which I'm suspecting).
I'm a student so really struggling with costs and was wondering if this is a decent estimate or if anyone has any suggestions for vets in the Leeds Bradford area.

 

[InspectorMorse]

All Vets Practices set their own fees. They can vary a lot. £500 does seem to be high for a full Dental. But it would depend on exactly what needs to be done. For examples would skull radiographs be needed to assess the tooth roots, jaw bone health etc

Have you checked on here for a Rabbit Savvy Vet?

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rabbitwelfare.co.uk

 

[Shimmer]

I know the cost of everything has gone up, including vet bills. However, I would want a dental rabbit to have a full examination - there's not much point in skimping when you know there's definitely an issue - even if you don't know the extent of those issues. Front teeth can be burred fairly easily (Never get them clipped as it can cause damage to the root structure). Molars can only be seen and dealt with properly while under GA - in which case I would want a skull Xray as well (to see if there's an issue with tooth roots as well as crowns).

With rabbits, the tooth roots continue to grow along with the tooth above the gum. The roots can cause pain and issues eg with tear ducts as they grow longer and affect other structures. Even small spurs on the molars can cause damage to the soft tissues of the mouth and prevent the rabbit eating properly. If caught early and dealt with, it could just be a one-off procedure - especially if it's been down to a diet with less long fibres (ie grass / hay) than usual.

Having had serious dental issues with some rabbits in the past, I think you really need to know the full extent of what you are dealing with. Ring a few vets to see how experiencd they are with rabbit dentals (some rarely see rabbits) and get a quote from those with relevant experience. There are some specialists in the Leeds / Bradford / Harrogate area. I've not had to use their services for a few years, so I'm not up to date with who to recommend. I could suggest some places to start if you don't get any specific recommendations.

I wouldn't touch anyone who suggest clipping teeth or not using a GA. Rabbits get stressed very easily and it's a difficult enough job to do a dental in such a tiny space - you want it doing properly by someone who knows what they are doing as it makes a big difference on the frequency of future dental procedures.

 

[Hanny]

I know the cost of everything has gone up, including vet bills. However, I would want a dental rabbit to have a full examination - there's not much point in skimping when you know there's definitely an issue - even if you don't know the extent of those issues. Front teeth can be burred fairly easily (Never get them clipped as it can cause damage to the root structure). Molars can only be seen and dealt with properly while under GA - in which case I would want a skull Xray as well (to see if there's an issue with tooth roots as well as crowns).

With rabbits, the tooth roots continue to grow along with the tooth above the gum. The roots can cause pain and issues eg with tear ducts as they grow longer and affect other structures. Even small spurs on the molars can cause damage to the soft tissues of the mouth and prevent the rabbit eating properly. If caught early and dealt with, it could just be a one-off procedure - especially if it's been down to a diet with less long fibres (ie grass / hay) than usual.

Having had serious dental issues with some rabbits in the past, I think you really need to know the full extent of what you are dealing with. Ring a few vets to see how experiencd they are with rabbit dentals (some rarely see rabbits) and get a quote from those with relevant experience. There are some specialists in the Leeds / Bradford / Harrogate area. I've not had to use their services for a few years, so I'm not up to date with who to recommend. I could suggest some places to start if you don't get any specific recommendations.

I wouldn't touch anyone who suggest clipping teeth or not using a GA. Rabbits get stressed very easily and it's a difficult enough job to do a dental in such a tiny space - you want it doing properly by someone who knows what they are doing as it makes a big difference on the frequency of future dental procedures.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I have booked him in to see the vets because I tried to look at PDSA or RSPCA help but they were full or I couldn't get through. When I phoned them they said it would be £500 for front and molars done under GA (I was very specific about asking) which I understand and have managed to be able to fund via loans. However, when I went in to see if I could get an earlier appointment they completely changed what they said and said it would be £450 minimum, just for the front teeth when before they said £90 then £140. Is this reasonable? And yes, I'd love any suggestions, even if a bit old.

 

[joey&boo]

I live in East Lancs but have my bunnies registered at Crab Lane in Harrogate. They are not bunny specialists but they are savvy (heather & ruth) & the surgery was previously owned by UK's 1st rabbit specialist - so they have good things in place & a lot of experience. I've a dental bun & never paid anywhere near what you've been quoted

 

[Shimmer]

I live in East Lancs but have my bunnies registered at Crab Lane in Harrogate. They are not bunny specialists but they are savvy (heather & ruth) & the surgery was previously owned by UK's 1st rabbit specialist - so they have good things in place & a lot of experience. I've a dental bun & never paid anywhere near what you've been quoted

They would definitely be on my (very) short list. Well worth the trip, and I never paid more than my standard vet for specialist dental work by FHB (now retired).

 

[William]

I live in the US but I hope people can give good vet suggestions based on their experiences

I agree that sounds high, and it's also tough since you need someone very experienced with doing rabbit dentals. And expensive doesnt necessarily mean they know what they’re doing.

Rabbits are so delicate both physically (the damage an unexperienced vet could do) plus they’re easily stressed and fightened so dentals can be a risky thing. Good luck finding a good vet!

 

[Hanny]

I live in East Lancs but have my bunnies registered at Crab Lane in Harrogate. They are not bunny specialists but they are savvy (heather & ruth) & the surgery was previously owned by UK's 1st rabbit specialist - so they have good things in place & a lot of experience. I've a dental bun & never paid anywhere near what you've been quoted

Thanks so much for the recommendation. I called them but they didn't have any price estimations. If possible would you be able to give estimations on how much it cost when you took your bunny, no worries if not. Sorry, I'm just trying to get some kind of estimation.

 

[joey&boo]

Thanks so much for the recommendation. I called them but they didn't have any price estimations. If possible would you be able to give estimations on how much it cost when you took your bunny, no worries if not. Sorry, I'm just trying to get some kind of estimation.

I'll message you

 

[Shimmer]

It's almost impossible to give a quote for 'dentals' as it depends so much on what actually needs doing, amd they would need to see the rabbit to assess it, but you ought to be able to get some guide prices eg for anaesthesia based on the weight of the rabbit, time taken for a 'standard' dental and what that would include (eg number of teeth burred).

When FHB was there, she gave a general quote range based on information from my vet, which included the xrays that had already been done. The final bill was much nearer the lower end of my estimate and well within what my vet then charged (but was outside his scope of expertise).

 

[Hanny]

Thank you all for your replies and guidance. Just thought I should update. I took him to Crab Lane this morning, they were great and it turned out only one of his incisors needed trimming (it's genetically really crooked) so it didn't cost much as all. He seems much happier already.