Rescue buns health issues help

[Pinkbun]

Hi all,
Some background info-
I have 2 rescued Netherlands dwarfs called Bonnie and Clyde . I will have had them 4 yrs coming February 2019. They were abandoned at the side of the road by their previous owners. When I got them they had behaviour issues so I feel the previous owner misstreated them. It is also clear that one of them had been dropped and was left with a spinal injury. When I took them home they took ages to trust me. Clydesdale was friendlier but Bonnie didn’t trust me until a year an a half. She was terrified of everything and hated being touched/handled/petted. Bonnie due to her back injury could not clear her rear end and requires help every day (I don’t mind , I’m used to it!). However it was discover (well I discovered as the vets never no what to look for) that Bonnie had dental problems last year. She only let me handling her last year as she learn to trust me after I noticed signs of e.cuniculi in her. (She used to pee every time she was picked up she dosent now). Bonnie was left with a limp leg from the e.cuniculi. Clyde never showed signs but was treated. After that month of being soaked by Bonnie she fini ally trusted me and that’s when I found her dental problems. She was always a very quiet rabbit, she wouldn’t play or do anything with Clyde. She’s started to come out of her shell since she began trusting me. (Sry I get very emotional, the first time Bonnie let me pick her without her peeing and she literally jumped into my hands). Sry for length!

Problems-
Bonnie seems to have numerous problems dental issues (malformed teeth), twisted spine meaning she can’t clean herself, she’s still very quiet, she gets intermittent soft cecatropes (ISC),
I give her burgess junior and dwarf rabbit nuggets and burgess dandelion and marigold hay. I’m also giving her readigrass. However I never really see her eating any grass? Clyde loves grass and his teeth are fine but Bonnies just grow so quick. I’m unsure of what else I can do. The vet did say her teeth are angled which makes me think she was dropped. Is there any home ways to do the rabbits teeth? As my parents are complaining about price but I don’t want rid of Bonnie, she trusts me. She also gets ISC and I’m not sure how to help her with this as I give her a lot of grass but I’m unsure if she actually eats it or if it’s due to her teeth being deformed? She is also prone to a lot of eye problems (because of her teeth) and at risk of flystrick due to her bottom ( I clean her every day but there’s some stuff you can get off and I worry especially in summer. She also gets a rash which I use suducream on) she gets a sanitary shave every time she’s in for a dental which is helpful.

I mainly need help with managing her teeth (how to keep them small) as I’ve tried everything. Every time I take her to the vet it’s nearly £55 for the dental. It’s really my parents who are complaining. I’ve had rabbits for over ten yrs and never had problems like this. I’ve also altered the inside of her cage due to her limited mobility (limp from e.cuniculi). She’s prone to a lot of other issues which cost money. Just recently from her latest dental she developed a urinary tract infection. She also dosent play a lot when she let out, she very quiet (she’s always been like this.) she just seems to sit and not do anything a lot of the time. Clyde is very active but she’s not.

Anyone with any advice please help. I am not getting rid of these rabbits, I gained there trust and I’m not breaking it. I apologise for the length and if it makes sense this sort of thing is hard to explain. It’s mainly my parents who complain about the costs. Thank you for any help. Even if there’s a supplement I can give here I’d appreciate any suggestions!

[Asriel and Bombur]

Unfortunately with teeth, it’s a vet only treatment, especially because without treatment it can lead to GI Stasis.

For the cecals: what do you feed her aside from pellets and hay? How much pellets does she get? Typically they should be eatng 80-85% hay, 10% leafy greens, and 5% pellets/treats. Pellets are only really meant to supplement her diet. So her diet could be too rich, in which case its best to cut out pellets, not leafy greens.

[Pinkbun]

For food i give her a egg cup of burgess excel junior and dwarf nuggets. She gets unlimited readigrass and unlimited hay. She also gets the odd treat (strawberry hearts) the only treat that I could get her to trust me with. She’s mad for them! She probably gets too much of them. She gets some veggies such as carrot tops. And the occasional dried Apple treat and dried dandelion treat. She also loves parsley. I’ve tried to make the hay look more attractive to her but I don’t understand why she dosent eat it? Her brother is fine with it. I’m afraid if I take away the pellets she’ll stop eating :s . As when she had e.cuniculi she got thin so fast that she had to get emergency vet treatment (her weight varies a lot too). She’s just a very strange bun. She’s not very social, very quiet and not very responsive. I weigh her often to ensure she dosent loose weight. Clyde is fine (her brother) I just want her to have the best health like Clyde has.
Thanks in advance

[BunnyTheBunny]

Hi Pinkbun! So sorry to hear Bonnie is having so many issues Im wondering if maybe she is avoiding the hay because of pain in her mouth? Some buns are also super picky with hay! (a.k.a my Bunny) I would try either a different brand or type of hay and/or a softer cut. I think Orchard is supposed to be softer in terms of texture as well as 3rd cut Timothy hay.

[Author]

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