Not eating hay after second molar trim and possible heart condition?

[annette321]

Hello,

This is a long story but I really don’t know what to do. So I have a bun who’s 3.5 years old and 3 months ago I noticed she stopped eating her hay. Still very excited about pellets and greens, but not eating hay. It turns out her teeth were bothering her so we went in for a molar trim. After that, she went back to eating hay excitedly and was doing very well. Around 2 months later she lost interest in hay again, so I took her back to the vet. Her teeth were cutting into her cheek again, so we went ahead with another molar trim. This time, she didn’t handle anesthesia well at all and the vet suspected she has a heart disease. After getting her back from the vet, she had an episode of regurgitation and I took her to the er vet and got her on some oxygen. When she was stable I took her home with antibiotics and pain meds. Her breathing was very labored but she pulled through, though had very rapid breathing. The next morning I took her to my actual vet and she was given oxygen for a few hours which made her breathing improve. The vet suspected that the initial breathing problems were again due to her heart because the sedatives had not fully worn off from the molar trim when she had her episode, and then was given additional sedatives at the ER.
I took her back after a few hours of oxygen and she was eating hay again and breathing went back to normal the next day. But now (two days later) she is back to not eating hay unless I hand pick soft strands for her. She still eats pellets and greens but it seems like she’s back to how she was before the molar trim.

I’m concerned because my vet said if she does have a heart condition, then molar trims won’t be possible because of her reaction to anesthesia. Does anyone know what might be up? Is she just taking longer to recover from the molar trim because of her reaction to anesthesia? The only thing that’s changed between when she ate hay the first day and now is that I stopped the additional pain med that the ER vet prescribed (Tramadol). Now she is only on Metacam and the antibiotic for her lungs (Enrofloxican).

Thank you

[DanaNM]

Hi @annette321 , I moved your thread to the House Rabbit Q&A section.

I’m sorry you are going through this with your bunny. It’s possible  her teeth are still sensitive from the trim, sometimes that happens. Some members have had success with soaking hay and offering that to their buns, or fresh grass if you can get it in your area.

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

How is your bun doing now? What regurgitation are we talking about here?  Actual vomit or food that was still in the mouth or esophagus when the bun was put under? Rabbits should not be fasting before surgery, but the staff should remove all food 15 minutes before the procedure, to give the rabbit time to chew and swallow properly before being put under.

It’s very rare for a rabbit to vomit. My good rabbit vet who sees lots of rabbits says she’s seen it 2 or 3 times in all her years as a rabbit vet.

Is the antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia?

[annette321]

Hello!

She is eating some hay regularly now, so I think she’s doing well. I tried soaking hay in water but I think she was more confused by it though did nibble on a few pieces. I think she just needed a few extra days to recover.

The regurgitation was confusing because I know rabbits can’t really vomit. I think she inhaled a pellet and then started making aggressive cough/gag noises and some green liquid came out, followed by lots of wheezing. My vet said it could’ve been some critical care from after the surgery that she hadn’t digested, though I still don’t understand how that happened as it was around 6 hours post surgery when it occurred.

Yes! The antibiotics are for aspiration pneumonia, though my vet listened to her lungs and they sound pretty good.

[Wick & Fable]

Those all sound like promising updates. I agree w/ your instinct about the choking as opposed to undigested(?) CC. Hay eating is probably the number one sign of a rabbit on the mend!

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.

[Bam]

I’m glad to hear she’s doing better and is eating again! It isnt rare for a bun to be a bit sore in the mouth the first few days after a dental burr.

It seems very likely that she did choke on a pellet. Thank goodness she got it out! I once had to do a “bunny Heimlich” on one of my buns that choked on a pellet. It went well, but he did develop aspiration pneumonia later, my vet didnt want to prescribe antibiotics “just in case”. I’m glad yours did!

 

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