anesthesia... Scared!

[ThisIsARandomName]

Okay so yesterday i took my rabbit to vet because he was refusing to eat and was drooping food from his mouth, the vet said he might have a dental issue and told me they have to check his teeths. but in order to check, they have to give my rabbit anesthesia. if they detect anything wrong they'll do a surgery... But i'm concerned about this because the vet i'm taking my rabbit at isn't experienced with rabbits! they are mostly experienced with dogs and cats. I tried really hard finding a rabbit savvy vet in my city but i just can't. there isn't any.. In our city rabbits are considered unlucky.. and people mostly get pups and kittens in here so there are mostly dogs and cats vet And no rabbit savvy vet. right now i'm taking my rabbit to a vet that treats all kind of animals but still they never did an surgery to a rabbit before or ever gaved anesthesia to a rabbit. I got no options.. i've to take him and get his teeth checked or otherwise he's going to starve himself

i'm not sureeeee! should i take the risk? ? ?

 

[ThisIsARandomName]

They said i can take him to vet this evening or tomorrow morning to get his teeth check. i'm thinking of taking him this evening but i'm still scared! what if they gave my rabbit wrong amount of anesthesia and he dies?

my rabbit is still not eating... he's becoming very skinny.. and he's in alot of pain :9

 

[surf_storm]

He really needs a vet, bunnies have very fast matabalisems and can go down hill fast. Is he drinking? Is he pooping and peeing? These are all signs something is wrong. The vet shouldn't need to put him under to check his teeth but maybe to check the back ones. But if he isn't eating he really needs to see a vet today

 

[Azerane]

I agree that he definitely needs a vet to x-ray his teeth and trim them if needed. At this point, judging on the photos from how skinny your rabbit is and how he's not eating, without this help he is likely to die. There is always a risk with anesthesia, especially on an animal that's already very thin and ill, but I don't really see that you've got much of a choice. If you go through with it, yes it is a risk to your rabbit's life, but if you don't go through with it, you are also risking your rabbit's life.

Ultimately it's your decision, but you have to think in terms of what's best for the welfare of your rabbit.

 

[ThisIsARandomName]

He really needs a vet, bunnies have very fast matabalisems and can go down hill fast. Is he drinking? Is he pooping and peeing? These are all signs something is wrong. The vet shouldn't need to put him under to check his teeth but maybe to check the back ones. But if he isn't eating he really needs to see a vet today

he's drinking alot but not eating.. he's pooping less but peeing normally, i'm going to take him to vet today and get him checked. Hope he get well soon. x_x

BTW i did syringe feed him to keep his gut moving

 

[whiskylollipop]

If I'm not wrong I think rabbits need a special kind of anaesthesia, not the general dog and cat type? Hopefully one of the more medically-informed members come on here to advise.

 

[JBun]

I agree that if there is a problem with the teeth that you have no choice but to risk having them checked and whatever is wrong, fixed. Often it is sharp points on their molars, though there could be overgrown incisors as well.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Differential/D_problems1.htm

The anesthesia that has been used when my rabbits have been spayed and neutered, is ketamine as a pre anesthesia and isoflurane gas as the anesthetic. I'm not sure what is usually done for a dental though. Hopefully your vet will research the best procedure for rabbit dentals before attempting this. You also need to make sure the vet gives you pain medication to give to your rabbit after the dental, as he will still be in some pain. A rabbit in pain usually won't eat, so the pain medication helps to get them eating again on their own. A meloxicam suspension syrup is one that is commonly given to rabbits(0.2-0.6mg/kg every 12-24 hours).
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Chem/ChComplex/Meloxicam.htm
Also, a rabbit's body temperature will drop after having anesthesia, so you need to make sure to provide some sort of warm pack or heating source to help keep your rabbit warmed up after the GA and dental, also checking to make sure your rabbit doesn't get too warm.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=671
http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Anesthesia/Safe_Preanesthesia.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Anesthesia/Safe_Anesthesia.htm

 

[missyscove]

Where are you located? One of our members might be able to recommend a veterinarian in your area.

Young, healthy rabbits generally do quite well under anesthesia in the hands of an experienced veterinarian. The method of anesthesia varies but in general the drugs are the same as those used in cats and dogs. Typically the rabbit is premedicated with something to sedate it enough to be further masked down or intubated (intubation is preferred, but very difficult). Tooth trims can often be done under light sedation rather than full anesthesia but this depends on the teeth.

It is difficult to get a thorough dental exam in on an awake rabbit, but your veterinarian should be able to use an otoscope cone, speculum or other tool to get a cursory view. Some veterinarians will do incisor trims or molar snips on fully awake rabbits.

 

[Flick]

Videos I'm made concerning rabbit health issues including anesthesia and dental problems.

https://www.youtube.com/user/FastUpOnRabbitCare