Tooth problems…

[VelvetLion7]

So way back when, I posted a few posts about Velvet’s dental health.  Well now they are even worse.  His front teeth, both top and bottom are very overgrown and growing at strange angles.  The vet said they to fix this he would need surgery.  

And here is where the real problem comes in, there is no way our family can afford  the surgery.  It would take me a pretty long time to earn the money needed as I don’t have a steady job due to school.  I’ve noticed Velvet is already having eating problems and I hate for him to have to suffer like that for too long.  At my mom’s request we consulted another vet, a close family friend.  He told us that clipping Velvet’s teeth would not hurt him and suffice to fix the problem.  The other vet said not to.  Neither specialize in rabbits but the nearest rabbit vet is in Seattle. 

My mom said that if either of the rabbits have health problems we will just have to put them down or wait till nature does it’s work… she’s not usually a cruel person, but she seems to be at her wits end about the bunnies.  I don’t know what to do so I’m looking for advice and options. 

[Deleted User]

If you had to just let ‘nature do its work’ or euthanize him you had better drop him off at a humane society. Dying from dental trouble is a nasty way to go out; it takes weeks and weeks of suffering and gradual dehydration/starvation.
Can your close-friend-vet not do the surgery also?

[VelvetLion7]

I’m not sure if he can… he doesn’t specialize in rabbits though, he’s really a farm vet and specializes in the big animals like horses and cows.

[Minty]

If you can’t pay for the surgery surrender him to a rabbit rescue or find someone who can… If his teeth are already as bad as you say, he is probably already suffering. I know you probably love your bunny but please do what’s best for him and get his teeth problems resolved before it’s too late!

[Deleted User]

My vet is a farm vet also, but he has done my rabbit neuters. A decent vet will learn about procedures if need be. Your vet should be familiar with farriering and tooth extractions. If your vet is willing to learn about rabbit anaesthesia I would ask him to do it as a last resort. Just don’t let nature do its work here.

[Beka27]

Posted By SullysMum on 05/12/2010 11:43 AM
If you can’t pay for the surgery surrender him to a rabbit rescue or find someone who can… If his teeth are already as bad as you say, he is probably already suffering. I know you probably love your bunny but please do what’s best for him and get his teeth problems resolved before it’s too late!

 

I agree.  You can’t just let this go.  He deserves better than this.

 

[Deleted User]

The thing is, most likely a humane society will just euthanize him because of the dental condition.

[Minty]

I think a dog and cat shelter might, but if she were able to find a rabbit specific rescue or a HRS branch, I think they could find a vet who would do the surgery for little to no cost as a donation to the organization. I know VRRA in my area is associated with the HRS and they have dealt with bunnies with teeth problems.

[Beka27]

Petzy:  This is still a better scenario than him being allowed to starve to death and suffering, as you said, for weeks on end. This is an upsetting situation. People always account for the day-to-day costs but then give up when a pet gets ill.

[Beka27]

Posted By SullysMum on 05/12/2010 11:51 AM

I think a dog and cat shelter might, but if she were able to find a rabbit specific rescue or a HRS branch, I think they could find a vet who would do the surgery for little to no cost as a donation to the organization. I know VRRA in my area is associated with the HRS and they have dealt with bunnies with teeth problems.

 

Petzy’s right tho that the bunny would likely be euthanized.  Rabit specific shelters are so overpopulated and they can’t afford pricey surgeries any more than an individual family can.  We’ve all heard of rescues that take in sick/injured rabbits and spend thousands nursing them back to health, but the truth is, this is not an everyday occurence.  And once the bun is mended, there’s no guaranteeing he’d ever be adopted out.

[Deleted User]

Beka, I don’t mean for the bun to be made to starve to death but to let the friend vet do a surgery if you read my post.
I agree with Sullys that an HRS chapter would be the best place for him.

[VelvetLion7]

Ok. I will talk to him about the procedures. And if there’s nothing else I can do, I will surrender him to a rescue, it’ll be hard though. I’ve had him since he was really little and he’s such a sweet little boy. If we had the money I really would pay to help him… But it’s true. He does deserve better.

[Minty]

Petzy’s right tho that the bunny would likely be euthanized.  Rabit specific shelters are so overpopulated and they can’t afford pricey surgeries any more than an individual family can.  We’ve all heard of rescues that take in sick/injured rabbits and spend thousands nursing them back to health, but the truth is, this is not an everyday occurence.  And once the bun is mended, there’s no guaranteeing he’d ever be adopted out.

 

That’s very unfortunate then… I would have at least thought he would have had a better chance at a rabbit specific rescue.

[Beka27]

Posted By Petzy on 05/12/2010 11:45 AM
My vet is a farm vet also, but he has done my rabbit neuters. A decent vet will learn about procedures if need be. Your vet should be familiar with farriering and tooth extractions. If your vet is willing to learn about rabbit anaesthesia I would ask him to do it as a last resort. Just don’t let nature do its work here.

Oh, this was posted one minute before my initial response, so I didn’t read this one.  Absolutely, if the vet can do the surgery that’s ideal, but it they are unable to afford a surgery, this is a moot point.  Do the teeth actually need to be extracted or can they just be trimmed?  Did the first vet say they cannot be trimmed?

[Deleted User]

I was thinking about the same thing, Beka, maybe a trimming would be worth a try since the vet suggested it who is a close friend to Velvetlion. I was the only one who mentioned tooth extraction, Velvetlion just talked of urgery and I assumed that it referred to extraction.

[VelvetLion7]

The first vet was spectacularly unclear and brief about it only saying that we could take him in another time so he could be diagnosed and then probably do a procedure to fix it. But when I look at his teeth it looks like the top front teeth are growing away and out from each other and the bottom teeth are growing really long because they are not getting worn down.

[Deleted User]

Your rabbit needs dental care now, you should take him for a trim of those outgrown teeth at least, and then you can discuss with your vet friend what other options there are.

[Beka27]

In most cases, if it’s just malocclusion, trimming is sufficient. The only problem is that this has to be done more than once, maybe even every few months depending on how quickly the teeth grow. In the long run, extraction is usually MORE cost-efficient, b/c once they’re out, they are out and they don’t need to be trimmed constantly. But if you can trim the teeth until you can afford to have them extracted, that would work too.

[kralspace]

I’m so sorry your bunny has these problems. One of mine was rescued from a home because of overgrown, misaligned teeth. He was skin and bones because he couldn’t eat the food placed before him, it was terrible, he was so weak he could hardly sit upright when I first saw him.

They let me adopt him because the vet said he’d do alright with monthly tooth trims instead of surgery. I’m lucky because he doesn’t have to be put to sleep or anything and it’s become pretty routine for him. The first couple of vets charged me 60-70$ each time, but then I found Dr. Erving (who is also very rabbit savy) and after visiting with her for the first clipping, she does it for $12.

Is it for certain that the teeth have to be removed?

[Deleted User]

Velvetlion, would your close-friend-vet be willing to consult with a rabbit-savvy vet to take the right course of action?

[Deleted User]

*I am meaning a rabbit-savvy vet like Dana Krempels, not your other vet.

[Beka27]

Just reread this whirlwind of a thread from start to finish again. I do wonder why the initial vet would not at least try tooth trimming at first. Or maybe that was what he meant by “a procedure to fix it”.

[kralspace]

In the meantime, do you cut up his food so it’s easier for him to eat? I grate Toby’s carrots, and cut or tear the greens into long strips so he can grab and pull them into his mouth instead of biting. Same with celery, leeks, etc. I slice them so he has long pieces. He has no problem with parsley or hay once he gets a strand started.

Matter of fact, I have to watch him to keep him from getting too chunky.

Once while he was at the vets I gave his mate Pringles a solid chunk of carrot and she looked at me like I was crazy, she was so used to having them grated…lol

[Deleted User]

Velvet, correct me if I am wrong, it was my understanding that you can’t use the vet who suggested the procedure to fix it due to the cost involved. Can you afford your vet who is a close friend?

[VelvetLion7]

He probably would, we just need to find a time that works for both of us, he had cancer about a year ago and is still in remission so schedules are a bit unsteady. Is trimming the same as clipping? Because I don’t think his teeth actually need to be removed, I think that his bottom teeth are just overgrown because his top teeth are bad.

[kralspace]

My vet uses what looks almost like a wire clipper tool, then a dremmel to smooth and shape Toby’s teeth. Sometimes they trance him and sometimes they do it while he’s on someone’s shoulder.

[VelvetLion7]

Yes. The first vet is not an option. As for our friend, we do not know how much it would cost. And yes, I have been making sure his food is small enough that he can eat it.

[Sarita]

I would certainly look at the option of your vet consulting with a more rabbit savvy vet. Go that route first before you do anything.

[RabbitPam]

I don’t know where you live, and vet schools are few and far between, but sometimes a pet can be brought to a school where care and procedures are being taught. If that were an option, it would be worth exploring, since it usually costs little or nothing for someone to volunteer to have the care done in a learning environment.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Sarita on 05/12/2010 02:23 PM
I would certainly look at the option of your vet consulting with a more rabbit savvy vet. Go that route first before you do anything.

 

I suggested Dana Krempels here as she is an expert in rabbit health, she has studied the subject extensively. She is not an actual veterinarian per se, but  I am sure she could give your friend vet some good pointers. Depending on where you live, Velvet, there may rabbit-savvy vets willing to assist your vet close by with advise.

Unfortunately, vet schools tend to charge just as much or more for treating pets, even though, they can use the procedures for vet education purposes.

[Author]

Messages