Vet Options Help Needed

[Bunman]

Daisy is diagnosed with slight molar spurs. Ihave a choice of a highly recommended vet almost 50 miles away, ora vet down the street with experience, who also does not fastthe rab & uses gas. His name has not come up in referrals, butis it worth going a long distance for this type of surgery if abasically competent vet with rab experience is available? Iwould not hesitate going the long distance if it was major surgery.

 

[Bunman]

It would be at least a month before i could getto the more distant vet. Should i get her done locally, or wait for the"numero uno" guy - bearing in mind this is not major surgery.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Not real sure, but maybe you could call and askhow many surgeries like this he's done? If he's done many, itwould probably be a safe to go there.

 

[Bunman]

OK, i know he's done a lot, he' s been here quite a while.

 

[Starlight Rabbitry]

Bunman,

I just had my rabbit done by my vet who is VERY EXPERIENCED in rabbits. I'll send you a PM.

Sharon

 

[Haley]

Is she eating well? If she seems to be in pain or isnt eating as much I would take her to the local vet rather than wait...

 

[Pipp]

Haley brings up a good point. How affected is the bunny?

Also, I'm wondering about the reference to the local vet using gas. What does the expert use?

In my area, these days rabbits usually get a sedative, and not gas, forsimple dental surgery. They're only knocked out forabout 30 minutes, with another drug administered to bring them out ofit.

My vet uses the newest and supposedly the safest of thesemeds,Domitor (akaMedetomidine). I think the reversal drug isAtipemazole.

I chose my vet after questioning all of them about their methods, andthis was apparently the most modern and safest method. Ifigured that the vet I chose at least had been keeping up with thelatest medical journals.

And I'd question both very closely on exactly how surgeries they'vedone and exactly how many complications they've had.

Let us knowhow it works out!

PS: I should add that last time Pipp had her spurs bother her (which inher case means she suddenly stops eating altogether), it was a longweekend, no vet, so I gave her some leftover Metacam, she startedeating again. I took advantage of the situation and startedfeeding her 'harder' veggies and pellets, and they went away on theirown. (I was VERY surprised!). They haven't beenback.

sas

 

[binkies]

I have a friend that lives in your area. She suggests Marlborough Bird & Animal Hospital. Highly reccomended.

 

[Haley]

Binkies and Starlight...be sure to add those vets to the list if theyre not on there!

Thanks!

 

[Bunman]

Thanks, all. The spurs are not affecting hereating at all. She only gets 1/8 cup pellets a day & no "hard"greens (examples?) so maybe that is the problem.

I can't travel far for now but i think i can get to Marlborough. Do they use a sedative instead of gas?

 

[binkies]

I honestly don't know what they use forsedation. My friend just said that they are really good. Shefosters for 3Bunnies, so it is rescue approved.

 

[Bunman]

OK, i'll call them tomorrow.

If anyone knows about Dr Mitterling at Eastbrook Animal Hospital, Mansfield, i'd like to hear.

 

[Bunman]

I would add, tho, that altho Daisy does not get a lot of pellets or hard veggies, she always has timothy cubes to chew on.

I've also added loose timothy hay, since i've heard that may workbetter than cubes to prevent spurs, altho none of my other rabs everhad spurs & they always rejected loose hay. They were, however,huge wood-chewers, & Daisy is not. However i now keep a pinestick wedged in the cage bars, she likes to do some chewing on that.

 

[Bunman]

Now i'm wondering, with such minor spurs, maybei should just try a diet change & then take her back for are-exam after a certain time & see if the spurs are stillthere? For one thing it'll cost about $100 to have them ground down.

 

[Haley]

I dont have much experience with spurs, but from what I know if shes eating okay you could probably wait.

As Pipp said, sometimes they can grind down on their own if the bunnyis eating well. The loose hay is definitely a good idea. Thatwill help grind them down. Im not sure what other veggies...maybe youcould pm Pipp since shes the expert on this..

 

[naturestee]

I think by hard veggies Pipp meant stuff likecarrots, broccoli, bok choy stems, etc. The thicker stemsfrom kale and collard greens can be pretty thick and hardtoo. The idea is to feed a variety of textures so the rabbithas to chew her food in different ways. Theoretically thisshould help with molar spurs. I think it's been mentioned onEtherbun too, but I forget who was talking about it.

What kind of loose hay are you feeding? Some rabbits getpicky and prefer more interesting types like oat hay, or prefer fresherstuff like good farm hay. My buns love when I mixseveral types of hay together. They have a lot of fun pickingout their favorite stuff and end up eating more in the process.

 

[Bunman]

OK, i will look into those greens...she hatesbroccoli, has never had bok choi. Carrots would have to be limited ofcourse. The way she's going at her chew stick i'm not sure the spursstand a chance!

When should i have her re-examined to check on them?

Loose hay....i've had many adventures with it, none very good. She doeseat some of the tim. I went to the cubes many years ago because it wasthe only hay i could rely on.

 

[Haley]

Bunman wrote:
When should i have her re-examined to check on them?

I would think you wouldnt need to have her checked unless you see signsof pain or a decrease in appetite...then you know the points aregrowing on the molars.

 

[Bunman]

I would kind of hate to let it get to that stage.

 

[JimD]

Here's a good link that talks in simple terms...

http://www.vrra.org/dental.htm