Dental Disease – no incisors, cannot eat hay

[katymaefrancis]

Hi, I’m new!

I have a 5YO house rabbit called Sooty. He has misaligned incisors when we acquired him, and as he got older they became tough to trim and caused much distress to him when we took him on vet visits. We ended up having them removed and only 1x peg tooth has grown back on the top. He manages very well with pellets & small pieces of veg, but he doesn’t appear able to eat hay very well. we’ve tried chopping it up and mixing with pellets, but he isn’t eating the amount suggested on most sites! he also has to have his molar spurs filed down every few months, which also cause him discomfort! Owing to the fact that the boy doesn’t eat hay, it’s lead us to overcompensate with the pellets, resulting in a fat bun!

We have bought some low calorie pellets on advice from our vet. We felt this to be the best weight loss solution. we’ve been mixing them with his normal pellets and gradually increasing the ratio. This evening he appears to be very quiet and sitting in a corner, sometimes pressing his tummy to the ground. he’s done quite a few poos, so we aren’t too concerned about stasis. I’m wondering if anyone has experienced their rabbit to have a bit of an upset tummy when changing to low calorie pellets??? I have some of the fibogel stuff the vet gives us after he’s been sedated for molar filing that’s supposed to help his tummy, does anyone think this may ease him?

any advice is appreciated!

[Muchelle]

Pressing tummy on the ground isn’t a good sign, is he also grinding and/or looking lethargic? is his gut making noises? I’d contact the vet just to be safe.

[Wick & Fable]

Have you tried compressed hay? The strands are lighter and easier to pull into the mouth. Wick has dental problems and enjoys compressed hay leagues more than regular loose hay. It bends, winds, is slightly thinner, so he can pull it in with his crooked/non existent/spiked incisors and get it back to him molars more easily.

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.

[Dface]

What hay is he on?
My rabbit had his front teeth extracted too, the thing is they are well able to eat the hay, it’s just more effort than they want to make. The incisors are used for snipping food-so hard treats and veggies that are too big to get into the mouth,-hay is eaten long, so the teeth working tend to be the molars not the incisors (so like most rabbits look like red necks with the bit of straw hangoing out of their mouth !) . Have you tried mixing in herbs and other hay mixes in with the regular hay to encourage him? Spoiled rabbits are hard to unspoil. Maybe try spraying the hay with apple juice as well (but make sure to change it everyday as it gets mouldy quickly)

have you given him simethecone for the tummy pressing? that is normally a sign of pain in his tummy, like Muchelle I’d be inclined to get in contact with a vet for this before it gets worse

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