Molar spurs/g.i. stasis/tongue bump?

[BunnyHolly]

I have been searching all over the internet for help but can’t seem to find the answers I’m looking for. My 3 years old netherland dwarf just had spurs shaved down today at the vet. He was put under for this procedure. Obviously he’s had a rough day and actually a rough week and a half as he has not eaten anything on his own for the past week besides some bites of fruit. Before today, I have been force feeding him critical care 3 to 4 times a day because he hadn’t been eating. The vet did the molar spur snip today and he has been home since 6. I tried force feeding him just now and he was not having it at all. He was very antsy, borrowed his poor little face into the towel, and peed on the towel. Given he has had a rough day, I stopped and let him go back in his cage, where he has been sitting in one corner since I brought him home, grooming himself, but not drinking or eating.

Last night, before the surgery today, he did eat a little hay, which was the first time in a week which I was very excited about. Sadly, it’s like he’s back to square one after the spur removal… After the procedure, the vet said during she discovered a bumd at the top of his tongue and she hadn’t ever seen anything like it. I’m guessing this was also the cause of him not wanting to eat the last week and a half? Combined with the spurs?

She sent me home with pain meds to give him once a day. He was on cesaprid the last 5 days to help with his gut as he has only been pooping very tiny poops. I think the pee he did tonight was from that water bubble they put in his skin, cause he hasnt drank I’m his own in quite awhile.

Sorry so long! But should I try to force feed him tonight still even though he really doesnt want it? Or wait til the morning after I give him the pain meds?

Also what’s up with this bump? I’ll try to attach a picture. She didn’t want to give him antibiotics as that will further strain his appetite. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Bam]

The bump looks like a blister. Could it be a blister from the tounge rubbing against the spurs? Buns can get tongue sores/ulcers from having spurs, I’m thinking this could be the stage preceeding an open wound. I hope it is that, because then it will of course just heal. The bump doesn’t look infected so it’s good that he didn’t get antibiotics in my opinion, the most common side-effect of antibiotics for bunnies is inappetence. But you will of course need to keep an eye and go back to the vet if he doesn’t start eating on his own pretty soon.

It makes sense to me that he’s not eating yet, he’s probably still experiencing pain from his mouth/tongue, possibly temporarily worsened by the tampering with his mouth, plus he’s learnt this past time that eating hurts. My bunny Yohio didn’t eat for 4-5 days after his first molar burr. He didn’t have any sores and just very, very small spurs, but some buns have very sensitive mouths.

Keep syringe-feeding him and keep up the pain-meds. Sometimes fragrant herbs can entice a bun to eat. Cilantro is reasonably soft and often considered delicious by buns. My Yohio only wanted fresh willow before his burr, perhaps because willow has a natural pain-killer (salicylic acid). Serve him water in a bowl and not a bottle and make the water not ice-cold since ice-cold water could further hurt his mouth. Or give him two bowls, one with very cold water and one with less cold (don’t use warm tap-water, warm the water slightly in the micro-wave etc.) My Yohio liked to sit with his little snout in his water-bowl, probably to ease the pain after the burr.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I ditto Bam. It’s important for a poorly bun to keep eating so they don’t go into stasis.

While I don’t really know much about them, my bunny also had an ulcer (which is what that looks like to me) develop on his tongue due to molar spurs. Despite having his spurs trimmed regularly, the ulcer got to the point that it was so bad that part of his tongue had to be amputated.

Poor little bub. ((((Healing Vibes)))))

[BunnyHolly]

Thank you both of you for your input. I reeeaally hope I don’t have to get his tongue amputated! That sounds horrifying… Today he is very active, running around and popping lots yet tiny poops. He still isn’t eating on his own (i think he has munched on hay but I’m not 100percent sure). I’m feeding him critical care 3 times a day at 30 ml a time (though not all 30 ml makes it in his mouth, but I think I’m getting better at it)

He definitely seems to be improving, slowly but surely. I’m taking him into the vet this week for a checkup. If anyone has had a tongue bump like that that has went away on its own or by other means than amputation, please let me know! Thanks everyone.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Well, I wouldn’t worry. My vet said she’s never heard of another bunny having the same problem as Bindi with the partial tongue removal. And she even talked to some fellow exotic vets and they never heard of it either. Bindi was a special case.

Wishing you luck at your check-up! Hope he starts eating soon.

[Bam]

As LPT says, having to have a part of the tongue amputated is extremely rare, but bunnies getting tongue-sores from molar spurs are not uncommon. They generally heal well once the spurs are gone.

It looks like he’s doing a lot better now, that is great to hear =). The small poops are caused by him not having gotten as much food in his tum as he normally would, that will right itself if he eats properly and moves about.

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