Hi Everyone,

Lucy is our 7 year old (2lb) Polish Dwarf rabbit (looks like netherland dwarf but rounder). She has chronic molar overgrowth (genetic, it has been happening since she was a baby) and a few years ago she developed chronic respiratory disease (constant sneezing, snuffles, runny nose).

Vet says the respiratory disease may come from the fact that her molar roots are scarring the nasal passage causing irritation and a runny nose. 

HERE IS OUR PROBLEM: Because of her poor respiration we cannot do another molar grind (which would necessitate anaesthesia). If we do, she will NOT wake up. Now we have this problem of her molars growing longer and she now has excessive drooling. We put her on a diet of SOFT hay, Critical Care (which we make into a mush so she can eat on her own), & soft veggies (mainly cilantro & parsley). She eats the critical care & veggies but for the last few days she has not touched the hay much.

Last week she started gurgling, which I realized was her choking on her own saliva. She has since started excessively drooling and we discovered saliva burn on her chin (runs down her neck).

Our 1st rabbit savvy vet, suggested we go ahead with a molar grind but that she only has 10% survival and if she dies on the table he will charge me for the surgery anyway. When I asked for an estimate he said he couldn’t tell me until he sees her mouth (when she is under) but that it could be $1,000’s of dollars and he would be happy to “spend my money.” I asked for any other option and he gave me none. I didn’t really like what he said about spending my money, and I do understand not being able to give me an estimate, but he did not seem very empathetic and I could HONESTLY just see dollar signs flashing in his eyes. Am I being overly sensitive?

I have made another appointment with another rabbit savvy vet 1 hour outside our town. Unfortunately this vet is on vacation for the next two weeks and we have to wait until he gets back. 

Lucy is still eating, her poops are irregular shaped but constant. We applied vaseline on her neck (that’s all we had) and will be going out to purchase Desitin ointment tomorrow.

PLEASE if you have ANY advice let us know. We are very distraught (I listen to her choke every night and it’s torture). 

Let me know if you need any more info.

Thank you guys so much in advance. We are at a loss for what else we can do.