Dental Issue

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This topic has 11sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 5 months ago by TORY93.

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- 04/23/2021 at 9:40 AM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 Hi Everyone
 
 I am new here so I am sorry if I have not posted on the right place.
 
 I am looking for a bit of advice.
 
 A have a healthy rabbit who has a history of dental issues (molars overgrowing). Shes had dentals in the past, and recently had one in March, it was meant to be a normal tooth burr but it turns out one of her upper left molars was lose and a large section of it fell out. She still has part of the molar there, the rest of it is just gum.. the vet is expecting the rest of the tooth to grow back (because their teeth always grow)
 
 Fast forward to now. Where she is missing a portion of her upper molar the bottom molar directly beneath it has not had another tooth to rub against and has now become over grown.. very quickly (3 weeks) and it has caused a cut on her tongue and shes off her food.
 
 My usual vet is on annual leave so I got an appointment with another vet and took her there today and they basically told me I should consider putting her to sleep because I cant be having her sedated every 3 weeks.
 
 I appreciate i can’t get her sedated every 3 weeks, its not fair but in my opinion it is also not fair to put down an otherwise healthy rabbit.
 
 I left the vets today in a bit of a state and am going back tomorrow to see my normal vet. I want to go prepared with research and suggestions etc as to be honest putting her down isn’t an option for me or for her.. shes genuinely really healthy otherwise .. shes been binking in the garden she jumps up your legs for fusses so runs around etc.. shes not a critically ill animal.
 
 Anyway, has anyone or anybun else experienced this issue and what was the outcome? Does anyone have any suggestions etc?
 
 I know tooth extraction is a huge procedure and not something to be done lightly, I would like to avoid this if I can.
 
 I thought about seeing if they could burr the lower molar down to a teeny tiny nub so that both the top and bottom molars grow back together?
 
 If anyone has any other thoughts or experiences please let me know. Please do not suggest having her put down, im aware it is apparently an option but not one I really want to consider right now.
 
 FYI shes on 1ml of metacam twice a day at the moment. Shes also had a painkiller injected into her at the vets today.
 
 Sorry for the essay and thank you in advance.
- 04/23/2021 at 10:50 AM
 DanaNM
 Moderator
 9064 posts
 That’s really tough. I’m sorry the new vet told you that…how awful. I think some vets are just not comfortable with rabbit dentals so they don’t really know what to say. I am sure you will get a better idea of options from your regular vet tomorrow who has a better idea of her history.
 
 You know that your bun has handled dentals well in the past, and lots of buns do need regular filings. When a molar is extracted, things tend to shift around a bit. But, since the top molar wasn’t extracted, it was just cracked, eventually I would assume with will grown back and then resume grinding down the tooth below it?
 
 To me is sounds like your bun will just need frequent filings while the top tooth grows back. If the tooth grows back normally, then you would prob just be back on to your old schedule of filings. How does she usually handle the filings? Does she bounce back and start eating right away, or does it take her a while to recover?
 
 Molar extractions are hard if the tooth is healthy. I had a bun with really messed up teeth… we don’t know why but he had several molars that cracked and basically just fell out when they went to extract them. So when a tooth is rotten or otherwise compromised, extraction is not as hard. Usually when one extraction is needed, others follow over time because the teeth start shifting around and the alignment gets messed up. But none of that is usually cause for euthanizing as long as the bun handles the procedures well, the vet is skilled, and the owner is willing to do it all.
 
 I know that forum leader Wick’s bunny Wick went through a period of needing very frequent filings, but then they stabilized a bit over time.
 
 . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
 - 04/23/2021 at 1:29 PM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 Thank you for replying:)
 
 Yeah it was a complete shock to the system, I was not prepared to hear that at all and its really shook me up.
 
 I was thinking the same thing .. i spoke to my original vet last week or so and he said that he was expecting the top molars to grow back as he warned me about potential “teething pain” so although it will be stressful i think it would be doable to file them down regularly until the upper one has grown back, or even over file the lower one down to slow down the process.
 
 Ahh I didnt know that about the extractions, I knew it was a long and stressful procedure, I didnt realise it was easier to remove a damaged/decayed tooth than it was a healthy one, although in hindsight it makes sense.
 
 Definitely have a few things I would like to discuss with my normal vet tomorrow, if he has the same outlook as the vet I saw today I might ask for him to carry out one more burr so it can be done ASAP so she isn’t in pain anymore, this should buy me some time to get a 2nd opinion.
 
 Thank you again for your response it provided a bit of a relief as you never know if as an owner you are being too biased and over the top so its nice to see there are others that agree 🙂
- 04/23/2021 at 1:39 PM
 DanaNM
 Moderator
 9064 posts
 You’re welcome! Your normal vet will also have a better sense of your bun’s history and the progression of issues, so hopefully that gives a more balanced perspective!
 
 . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 04/23/2021 at 7:29 PM
 LBJ10
 Moderator
 17172 posts
 Yes, I do think you may need more frequent trims while that tooth grows back. Once things are stabilized though, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to go back to her normal frequency.
 - 04/24/2021 at 2:19 AM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 Thank you both for getting back to me.
 
 I’m glad we are all on the same wave length. Ive got an appointment at 12:15 today with my usual vet so fingers crossed we can get this ironed out.
- 04/24/2021 at 7:25 AM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 Little update. Had an appointment at 12:15 with my usual vet, we had a good long chat and went through everything. He said he absolutely agreed with me about going through with a dental to really file the lower molar down to the gum line. He is taking xrays too. I had a call about 30mins ago to say they were just about to put her under anesthesia.. xrays first and then the dental. Im hoping I should hear back in about an hour and a half or so.
 Really hoping that (a) she wakes up, that’s always the scariest part to me. I can deal with all the vet trips, medicine and syringe feeding through the night but the waiting for the call to say she is awake is honestly the worst and (b) I hope the plan works and the upper molar and lower molar grow back at the same time and this won’t happen again so soo. Fingers crossed.
 Thank you to everyone that has replied x
- 04/24/2021 at 4:05 PM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 Me again.
 
 Sorry for spamming but thought id provide an update.
 
 She stayed in and they did an emergency dental today because her tongue was really badly cut because of the teeth.
 
 Xrays are showing that her upper molars are coming through so that’s good news 🙂
 
 The bottom molar that’s paired with the missing upper molar was burred right down to the gum line..hopefully this will allow both the upper and lower to start growing through at the same time 🤞🏻
 
 She also has the same issue on the right hand side but not as bad. She has one missing upper molar (it broke off it wasnt extracted) which is also due to grow back. The xray shows that the upper molars on the right side is growing quicker than on the left side so its lower molar partner has also been burred down but not as far down as the gum line its been burred down about half way to allow time for the upper to grow.
 
 I’m pleased with how it all went. Picked her up this evening, shes had some recovery food, is on 1ml metacam twice a day and ive also got a pain killer to inject into her twice a day to help with the pain.
 
 Shes taken her first dose of metacam and recovery food since the dental and she took it like a champ so im hoping she will continue to improve and this works for her future.
 
 Thank you all again for your help and advice its much appreciated, I feel a lot better and I’m hoping my rabbit will feel better soon too.
 
 Ps I have also ordered some orchard hay so I hope that helps with keeping her teeth trimmed.
- 04/24/2021 at 4:53 PM
 DanaNM
 Moderator
 9064 posts
 I’m so happy to hear your regular vet had a much more reasonable plan of attack!
 
 I’m sure she will be feeling much better soon, and is probably very happy to not have her tongue being all cut up anymore!
 
 I agree that waiting for them to wake up is always so nerve wracking, even when I 100% trust the vet!
 
 . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/03/2021 at 3:14 PM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 Hi Guys, so we went for a check up today to see how things are going and I had mixed news.
 
 Good news
 Top right molar has come through and Is starting to grow. Bottom right molar is also growing so hopefully they will meet.
 Top left molar has not come through yet, bottom left molar is growing very slowly so hopefully the top one will erupt soon and we will have a bit of luck.
 
 Not so good news
 While she was under (10 days ago) the vet also neatened up her 2nd and 3rd molars on the lower left side and cut a triangle out of them (he explained it well to me but I cant really relay it without messing up the explanation) as a preventive measure to buy some more time between dentals, the 2nd and 3rd molars have grown so quickly in 10 days that the triangle he cut out has grown back plus a bit more and it is just about to spark off to the side. He said it is very very minor at the moment and if he had seen it in any other rabbit, young/old/dental history/no dental history he would not do a dental at this stage as it is very minor .. but the cause of concern is how quickly those 2 teeth have grown in 10 days. He said there is a chance the growth could slow down or that she may not have been eating effectively due to the recent dental and as she recovers she may start eating effectively again which will also slow down the the growth of the begining of the spark. She was on pain relief injections for 3-4 days which knocked her out a bit and she wasn’t coming out of bed or eating much.. so I guess the lack of tooth grinding during this period could of caused it. She is slowly beginning to start to eat more hay and if I feel like shes not eating enough hay I will pick her up and hand feed her hay so that shes getting as much as she can along with fresh grass cuttings twice a day.
 
 Although the news started off well I cant help but feel saddened by the other news. We are going to monitor it on a weekly basis but I feel like we are fighting a losing battle if her teeth are growing so much so fast. I always thought rabbits tooth growth slowed down with age but hers seems to be speeding up?!
 
 I’m currently feeding her orchard hay and fresh grass.. I also bought these …
 
 https://www.viovet.co.uk/Beaphar-Dental-Easy-Treat-for-Small-Animals/c13009/
 
 ..ive never seem them before, they somehow apparently promote natural tooth wear but I have no idea how.. nowhere seems to be able to offer an explanation but I thought they can’t hurt as a treat? Has anyone else tried this or know how they work?
 
 Thought I would post as an update but also thought I’d see if anyone has any advice? Why are her teeth growing so much in 10 days? Its madness.. she used to go 10-12 months between dentals. I’m just living in fear and anxiousness that the idea of having her put to sleep is going to be raised again and I feel like we are on borrowed time and im just getting in to such a state over it all. I came home from the vets today and just cried for a solid 30 minutes. I dont know what more I can try to help with her tooth wear. Does anyone have any advice or tips/tricks? I’m willing to try anything.
- 05/03/2021 at 5:10 PM
 DanaNM
 Moderator
 9064 posts
 Sorry the news wasn’t as good as you’d hoped. 🙁
 
 Are the teeth that grew really fast the ones opposite the missing teeth?
 
 The only thing I can think of is that often in biology, things grow in response to pressure, or lack of pressure. If a tooth is missing its opposite, that sends a signal that the tooth should grow faster to try to meet the other. The grinding of the teeth together in chewing long strands is what wears down molars, so even with lots of fiber, if the tooth doesn’t have it’s opposite to grind against, it will grow unchecked.
 
 Missing teeth could also change the way that she is chewing (imagine getting dental work done and only chewing on one side of your mouth, etc.).
 
 With my dental bun, I just took it one step at a time, one vet appointment at a time, with the information I had, and I think that’s really all you can do. Your regular vet seems very willing to keep monitoring and treating as needed, so I would try to get that other vet out of your head.
 
 . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
 - 05/04/2021 at 2:20 PM
 TORY93
 Participant
 11 posts
 thank you for your reply.
 
 It was her 1st upper left molar that is temporarily missing and her 1st lower left molar that was burred down to the gum line.
 
 It is the 2nd and 3rd lower left molars that are now in the very early stages of sparking so they do still have their upper partners to grind against, plus in the past week I have been really pushing the hay, if I feel like she isn’t eating enough I will hand feed her some to make sure she’s getting plenty so I cant understand why the teeth have grown so much in 10 days, its so frustrating. The update on the procedure carried out last week was really good but now we have this new problem.
 
 Completely understand about taking it visit by visit, I think because the vet I saw whilst my usual one was away suggested putting her to sleep its now in my head and I’m just waiting for my usual vet to suggest it and its stressing me out so much, shes such a healthy rabbit (touch wood) otherwise its just her teeth.
 
 Tooth extraction has been mentioned in the past (last year) .. it was just mentioned in conversation it wasnt something we were considering as the burring was only once every 10-12 months and so was manageable but now im thinking it might be a route we have to consider going down, but my usual vet wouldn’t be able to do due to the complexities and she would need to be referred. Does anyone have any experience with tooth extractions on older rabbits? I want the best for her and would do anything for her, shes my entire life.
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