Molar spurs in senior bun

[Mm]

We went to the vet yesterday because my bun Tutu wasn’t eating normally. She’s always been a good hay eater. But 2 days ago, she wasn’t touching any hay stalk, even those that weren’t very tough. She only ate hay leaves and buds as well as veggies. She still came running for food but became picky like I just said. I suspected dental problem since she didn’t seem to lose her appetite.

The vet found tiny molar spurs and was not sure if they were really that bothering since they were small and many buns live happily with spurs. We still filed the spurs down just in case. The vet also suspected stasis since her belly felt weird and x ray confirmed this. Tutu’s temperature was also low but warm subcutaneous fluid brought it up a little before we left. Vet told me if she started to eat tough food (hay stalk) as soon as we got home, it means the molar spurs were the cause. If not, it was due to the stasis.

I chose some stalks that she would normally eat when we got home and she ate them. Does it mean the culprit was the spurs?

We’ve got quite a few medications for her stasis including butorphanol, the pain relive. The vet said this might make her drowsy. She has not been back to her old self yet. She hasn’t been eating as normally and I found her sleep more soundly. She isn’t as responsive to the environment (us talking, closing/opening doors). Should I stop butorphanol? I hope this will make her more alert and eat more?

Any advice? Tutu is 8.5 years old by the way.

[tobyluv]

The last time one of my rabbits had GI stasis, I had to go to a different vet clinic since my vet wasn’t available. This clinic has some very savvy rabbit vets, so I knew my rabbit would get great care. Besides motility drugs and fluids, they gave him pain medication and it was butorphanol. That medication made him so sleepy and out of it, it was almost like he was in a coma. He was way past being drowsy. We couldn’t get him to take much of the Critical Care at all because he was too out of it to swallow. We were really afraid he wasn’t going to make it, he was so unresponsive. But he got better that night, maybe when the pain medications were wearing off? I have since read that some rabbits are sensitive to butorphanol. I don’t ever want him to have that again, and I’ll make sure the vet sticks with Metacam.

It could be that your rabbit is also sensitive to butorphanol. Can you get in touch with your vet and see if you can give Metacam instead, if you have any? I hope that Tutu will start eating more and feeling better soon.

[Mm]

My vet already warned me about the side affect and said I could call her if it made tutu drowsy. I also noticed that later in the afternoon maybe the drug was worn off she became more responsive. I have stopped tonight’s section and will see how she eats her hay by tomorrow morning.

[DanaNM]

Their mouth can be sore for a little while after a dental trim. And if the spurs caused some sores in the mouth, those can take some time to heal up.

Meds can also make buns drowsy, as you suspected. Did they instruct you to give some critical care until he was eating normally again?

. . . 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.  

[Mm]

Yes. I’ve been giving her critical care in the morning and evening. But I don’t know if that made her a little full so that she didn’t need as much hay. So I skipped last night’s critical care and will see if this helps.

[Author]

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