Reesie's Teeth

[MyBabyBunnies]

I took Reese and Mocha in for a health exam last week and found that Reese had extremely overgrown back molars. A big shock to me because Reese has not had a problem eating or drinking in her time with me. She has been booked in to have her teeth trimmed on Thursday and I am so nervious. The vet has never seen a rabbit with teeth so bad as hers and says there is a high chance of cracking a tooth and creating an absess. So please everyone, pray for my little girl to have a successful and uneventful procedure.

And as a side note, just because your rabbit doesn't appear to have a tooth problem, STILL GET IT CHECKED REGULARLY! I was under the impression that they always showed signs but this is proof that isn't how it always works and I sure wont make the same mistake twice.

 

[JadeIcing]

Randy just told me about that actually. He had one that the bun was eating and the teeth were very very bad.:shock:

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Oh my goodness. Thanks for warning us all.

I wish you and Reese the best of luck with the trim. Hope all goes smoothly.

When will the procedure be done?

 

[ra7751]

Hi,

We do the molar thing all the time. It is caused bymalocclusion and can affect the six incisors and/or the molars. The spurs can be quite painful. The molars on the lower arcade can puncture the roof of the mouth or trap the tongue so the rabbit can't eat or drink. The uppers can cut the cheeks. Malocclusion can be genetic, can be the result of trauma to the jaw, could be an already formed and undetected abscess or if the rabbit is older, just a natural shifting of the teeth as they loosen in the jaw with age. Before the molars are floated, I would highly suggest a couple of rads to check for impactions or signs of a soft tissue issue...an abscess. We have never had any problems with cracking and/or post-op infection but it is certainly a possibility. Reese will need to be sedated using a general anesthesia. Since it appears your vet is rabbit savvy, I am sure he/she will do a thorough exam and trim any teeth necessary. In some cases, extraction may be the best route..for long term anyway. And keep in mind that if extraction is necessary...the opposing teeth also have to be extracted. And acouple of questions I would suggest asking before the procedure....does Reese get fluids before/after the procedure (anesthesia is dehydrating) and does Reese get pain meds to take home? Insist on pain meds. It's not so much the teeth that will usually be uncomfortable...it's the muscles that are stretched in the jaw. It is a tight fit in there when you are trying to get trimming tools in that small mouth. Our vet uses an injectable anesthesia and we generally intubate for dental surgeries. I really wouldn'thave a problem with a round of antibiotics just in case. I would suggest having a supply of Resse's favorite greens to offer immediately after surgery....kale and dandelions are particular favorites around here, they help with hydration and are very nutritious. Try to get her eating as soon as possible.

If there is no major malocclusion....make sure you offer free choice grass hays. Hay is huge in keeping molars down...assuming the teethline up correctly. Your vet can advise you on the alignment of the molars via the x-rays that should be done and the actually visual inspection during the surgery. Best wishes to Reese.

Randy

 

[polly]

I am sure it will go fine i have just had one done and they said his were the worst they had ever seen i put a post on shoiwng one of his spurs as they gave us one home!! i will go see if i can find it

This should be ithttp://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=29884&forum_id=16

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

ALL her teeth are extremely long (except the ones I can see). Apparently the top ones are almost into her cheeks and her bottoms ones are twice the height they should be. So extraction is not an option. Reese is an older girl and being I've been told that Hollands are often more prone to dental issues because of the head shape. The vet is very savvy and while checking for absesses is good it's to a point right now that she either has the surgery or I put her down, so it would be pointless, we can't put off the surgery.

Reese will get isoflourine gas, IV fluids, pain meds, and antibiotics if the vet feels its waranted. I asked her about that at the check up last week and she does not want to give her antibiotics unless she feels it is necessary because she doesn't want to do too much to her system but she will give antibiotics if a tooth gets cracked or the cheeks get cut up badly during the procedure.

Reese is not a big greens eater, but I will be sending veggies and pellets along so she can have her choice of food after and I will be picking her up at that evening.

 

[ra7751]

Wow...it's nice to hear of a vet that has all the bases covered. You are correct about hollands having major dental problems....our namesake, Sabrina had major dental problems. And since she is older....it might be a lot easier to extract any molars that might need to come out since they will not be as tight as a younger rabbit. I'm sure your doctor will make that call once the surgery has commenced. Don't be surprised if some of the molars come out on their own during the floating. We havehad that to happen to....just a little bonus at no extra charge. But based on my experience....don't worry too much as it sounds that you have an excellent doctor...I'm impressed.

Randy

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Okay, change of plan. A miscommunication at the vets office means that Reese's teeth trim is moved up to TOMORROW. I will be dropping her off before school and picking her up at 5:00 tomorrow night.

 

[tonyshuman]

for future reference, how can we check our buns' teeth to catch this earlier? i know how to look at the front teeth while i've tranced Tony, but how to look at the the back teeth?

and good luck to Reesie!

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

A vet needs to do it. But it should be a regular part of the yearly exam and if you know your rabbit has overgrown teeth, they should be checked regularly by a vet.

 

[Pipp]

tonyshuman wrote:

for future reference, how can we check our buns' teeth to catch this earlier? i know how to look at the front teeth while i've tranced Tony, but how to look at the the back teeth?

Yeah, it's a vet thing, and even then it can be tough. My vet told me that Pipp's anorexia wasn't tooth-related because he couldn't see anything visually and she didn't have symptoms likedrooling, but I insisted on anx-ray, andvoila.

I'm not sure how many Dutch or other bunnies get molar spurs, that's a good question, butwith dwarfs and short-faced lops, it should be a priority consideration.

Glad that Reese isn't showing ill effects and she's going inwith her fullweight and a full tummy, she should be fine. They don'tgive Pipp gas for the spurs op, just an injectible that knocks her out for 15 minutes or so. Pretty safe!

She does getcold after she comes out of it, though, and herwiddle mouf is sore from being stretched by the brace. Takes her a day or twotoeat hardfood, I have to give her pumpkin andgratedveggies.

Good luck! Nose pats and hugs!

sas :goodluck

 

[LuvaBun]

Laura, I will be thinking of you and Reese today, and praying that the procedure goes smoothly!

Jan

 

[Bo B Bunny]

*shock* My Reese!

I'm so glad you had her in to the vet and found that her teeth were having problems! but I hate that she has to have them worked on! I'll be thinking about her all day! Let us know when you can about her!

:hug: You've had a lot going on lately.

 

[Pet_Bunny]

Give me a call if you have any problems.

Traffic is so bad with all the snow. Drive careful.

Thinking of Reese. et:

 

[Thumpers_Mom]

Hope all goes well with Reese today! :hug:

 

[Haley]

Sending good thoughtsink iris:, prayers ray:, and a lot of luck :clover:to our sweet Reese today.

We'll be waiting on pins and needles to hear how it goes. Tooth problems bite :big wink:

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Reese came though like a champ and started eating after surgery. They didn't have to put her under completely, they just sedated her. They gave me a quote for monthly teeth trims -- $160. Does that sound high to anyone else? :?

 

[MsBinky]

Oooooooooh baby Reese! Oh how have I missed this thread. Oh my! I'm so glad she is okay now though. Um, wow, dunno if that is a normal price but ouch!

 

[Bo B Bunny]

WOW that's expensive! I don't know what it normally is but I had no idea it would be that high.

I'm glad she's doing well!

 

[ra7751]

Hi,

Good news that Ressie came thru the oral surgery. I'm not so sure of the exchange rate for dollars...but that price doesn't sound too bad. Thing is....we have seen some of the absolute worst case molar spurs....see Noah in our blog...and she never required molar trims that often. Molars don't seem to grow as quickly as incisors. She had her molars floated regularly about every three months or so. Oddly enough, she has started eating more hay now (she never ate hay until the past few months no matter what we tried) andwe don't have so much problem with her molars. That is not the case everytime. But I think every month for the molars might be a little overdone. Incisors I can see as we have a rabbit that we trim his incisors every few days (see Yoshi in our blog). You can look for little subtle signs...working the mouth more than usual ormaybe drooling ever so slightly. But really push the hay eating as that is the primary way the teeth are kept down. And the tough stemmy hay is better for their teeth than soft leafy hay. I like to hear crunch crunch when eating hay....I know those teeth are getting a work out.

Randy