Teeth grinding

[Meramata]

My bunny is grinding  his teeth but he seems alert as is usual. We have had a lot of problems and the nearest vet that has any knowledge and experience with rabbits is 300 km away. I know that his heart is misplaced and a bit smaller that should be. There are often times when he is just sitting, nose up and breathing. He usually feels bad for about 2-3 days and then he returns to normal. I’m giving him vitamins so he would eat a bit more because he has been a little under weight. He is a mini rabbit but still. Today he started to grind his teeth after i gave him vitamins. But his ears are pointed up (and look like satellites, which is great in his case) and he is as alert as he should be. But the grinding has been going on for the whole day already. It’s quite loud and it isn’t because i’m petting him. In fact when i start to pet him he stops the grinding. So i’m confused and worried and i don’t have the chance to get to the vet.

[Bam]

This is very difficult since you can’t get to a vet. Teeth grinding is as you know an indicator of pain, but it’s rarely seen as an only symptom. Is he eating?

[Deleted User]

“There are often times when he is just sitting, nose up and breathing”

This concerns me as my bun Red used to do this because of his snuffles, it was him trying to breathe better

[Vienna Blue in France]

!!! 300 km is a loooong way for a vets visit…. anyone closer who could help? Could you video him or Skype your vet ? (just thinking out loud)

You say he has had lots of problems, so is there a vet who knows him well who could advise you over the phone?
Though I know it is VERY hard to do that…

[Azerane]

I agree that the nose up breathing is very concerning, like he is trying to get more air because he can’t get enough. I suspect that there is something else going on that really needs to be looked at, even if it means 300km to go to a rabbit savvy vet.

The loud grinding all day is an indication that he’s in pain. He stops when you pet him because he likes to be pet.

[Meramata]

I’m really thankful for your answers. I was panicing at the time when i wrote this. I went to see a local vet and she consulted other vets that know better. What i found out: Yes, he does have a little bit smaller heart than he should have, he had a lot of gases, and his back teeth are long and they may cause a problem, but that’s not so sure becuase the teeth line was still beautiful. 

The gases have been treated and that should be ok. I think i’m going to give him small doses of gas medicine from time to time (monthly) to make sure he doesn’t have any gas pain. 

The vet gave us some medicine for the pain. I have been giving him that for about a week now and he is eating and drinking just fine. 

If the teeth are the main factor then they can’t cut them just jet, because he is a bit underweight because of his lack of appetite or pain from the teeth. Over this past week he has started to gain some weight again. I really hope that the main problem is not the teeth. All bunny people know why. I have been making sure that he eats hay and i have alse been giving him apple tree branches which he acctiually really likes. 

But now i found that he still has this breathing thing. I don’t know what to call it but these breathing issues have been off and on for about four months. Once he looks like he has difficulties and seems so bad and the other day he runs around like nothing never happened. It is so confusing. The vet i went to didn’t know why he may breathe like that. 

Breathing issues haven’t been after running or such, they seem random and when he has them, he turns his head away when i offer him a drink. Then he won’t drink or eat awhile. 

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Rabbit are obligate nose breathers: they cannot breathe through their mouth physically. Could there be a problem in his nose that limits his air intake? For instance: allergens or strong scents can make the mucosal membranes swell. Rabbits have very sensitive noses and some strong-smelling agents like smoke, perfumes and incense can give them breathing problems.

Maybe you can keep a log and try to see when the problems arise. Your rabbit may be allergic to certain things in his food or in the air.

[Author]

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