Prepping for abcess/tooth removal: what to expect/any tips? NEW update

[lilpadfoot16]

I’m getting ready for my bunny charge’s surgery on Thursday and I was hoping someone would have any tips they could share. I took her for a visit with her mommy on Friday and she did really good in the car, so I’m not too worried about the two hour drive and of course she’ll be pretty out of it for the return trip. Today, I put pretty much everything she’ll eat in my coffee grinder to add to her critical care mix. I’ve got pellets, oats, multi grain Cheerios, and I took scissors to some hay. I know the Cheerios aren’t the best choice, but my rabbit savvy vet said as long as she’s eating, right now it’s okay. I’ll be picking up baby food and canned pumpkin beforehand as well. I was also thinking of getting a bag of frozen strawberries, as she loves them and has trouble eating craisins right now. Would a bottle of pedialyte be a good choice to add to the food mix?

Also, any ideas of what to expect and do afterwards would be great too. I’ve got a webcam on the way so I can keep an eye on her during the day at work. Work is only fifteen minutes away so I can be there quick in an emergency.

Thanks for the help!

[Megabunny]

Pedialyte is what I give my guy mixed 50/50 with water if his stomach seems off. If they want any hay it seems they like the grassy strands but I’m thinking the critical care will cover gut motility if he doesn’t want hay. If you’re in an area where there are clean oak leaves you could collect a good pile of those and wet them Before feeding, putting a good size pile right in his face. If you can’t get food in right away use a celery stick to force feed some mushy food. The vet is right. Cereal would be a wonderful treat to have on hand. I assume you’ll have pain reliever? All the best

[Mr Jingles]

So far, it’s sounds like you are all ready. I too just went through this a few weeks ago. Mr Jingles stopped rattling but still tried to take the food, so I knew he had a tooth issue. I took him to the vet the next day and ons of his molars had to be removed bc it was loose and rotted. He was on pain meds for a week and another mecication to help keep his poops moving through. He was also on an antibiotic for two weeks. After the surgery, Mr Jingles was sluggish but up and moving around. With the pain meds, he was back to almost setting like normal the next day.

Hope this helps.

[Sarita]

It does sound like you are ready.

Definitely ask for pain meds – I use metacam and buprenex (which you can both give orally). You may be lucky and she will recover quickly.

Also since you mention an abscess is your vet going to do some pen-g shots to help heal that? It is about the only medication that will work on abscesses.

As for food – whatever she wants to eat is what I always say is a good choice. Try some soft greens too like cilantro or dill or basil if she likes those.

As for pedialyte – I have never used it but I guess it cannot hurt.

[Cottontail]

In my experience, Pedialyte is a good idea if you think the bunny might be/get dehydrated.. We mixed it with the formula we made for Pete when he was a baby and it seemed to help a lot. I got the clear/non-flavored stuff; it’s a little bitter by itself, but mixes in well and doesn’t have any food colorings or artificial flavors.
It sounds to me like you’ve got a good vet, and I agree with what the others said; seems like you’re ready as you can be for it. Just don’t let them let you leave without pain meds! Best wishes for your little bun!

[lilpadfoot16]

Thanks for all the responses! My main concern for the pedialyte was the first day or so in case she won’t take the mush I’ve been feeding her. Shes a big girl (8 lbs!) so she eats a lot normally. She’s been on 1cc of meloxicam daily (mixed with sucrose so she LOVES it) since she was diagnosed and I’m sure getting more won’t be a problem. I’m not sure what antibiotic exactly but I think it will be pen g, as the receptionist at the dental center mentioned that they give baytril or penicillin to rabbits. They’re actually a small animal dental specialist because the regular vet and every other vet in the area weren’t comfortable with this kind of surgery. My webcam arrived today and bunny cam is all set. It’s through YouTube so I can even play back the video and make sure she’s eaten. So the only thing left to do is pack my entertainment for the day.

[Megabunny]

Wow! You’re really together!That’s one lucky bunny!!

[lilpadfoot16]

Bunny did great today! We’re finally home after a really long day. Unfortunately she’s temporarily separated from her boys by a gate but they can sniff each other through it. It’s just until we’re sure she’s eating and pooping and that the boys won’t mess with her face.

It turned out she’s older than we were told. The vet took pictures and showed them to me of how she has pretty much no teeth on the abcess side! He only took one tooth out and it came right out with the abcess. He was shocked when I told him that up until the lump appeared shed been eating pellets normally. He said its a wait and see as to whether she’ll be able to take pellets and hay again or if she’ll be on a permanent mushy diet. They sent me home with a big bottle of pen g and a flushing solution and I’m supposed to keep her on the same dose of meloxicam.

So far she’s doing good. She had some mushed up banana mixed with hay crumbs, a tiny bite of pellets softened into mush with pedialyte and baby food, and drank a bit of water on her own! I do have fluids in case I need them. No poop yet, but I know from my own little girls spay, that’ll take a while.

[Megabunny]

Sounds great! All the best in her recovery!!

[lilpadfoot16]

Sadly, Miss Agnes went to the bridge this afternoon, after having spent the better part of two hours in my arms and a small amount of time with her boys.

[Roberta]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Binky Free Miss Agnes… You were very well loved.

[Megabunny]

What? Oh I’m soooo sorry to hear that! How sad for you! But what a wonderful, loving home you gave her. I’m so glad you could be with her through it. My heart is breaking.

[JackRabbit]

But everything was going well? Such a tragedy. I’m so sorry. She was so lucky to have such a loving human.

Binky free Miss Agnes….

[Author]

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