jcottonl02
Well-Known Member
Benji is 8 years old and he had his incisors extracted when he was about 6, under anasthetic. He had been going to the vets every 3 weeks to get them filed down for a couple of years, and they said it was to do with his genetics.
I decided then to get them removed, because it was so unfair on him to be going so often and having his mouth held open for them to file them down, although he was always excellent when he was there and accepted it.
They removed them and I was obviously aware of the risks. They removed all four incisors, leaving the peg teeth, and filed down his overgrown molars while he was under. He recovered well, no infection etc. and has never been happier or greedier!
I knew he would need his molars done again one day but was just hoping they would be okay.
A week ago he had a really watery nose. Runny, clear, watery discharge constantly. So I took him to the vets (a different one as I have moved house) and they asked 'was he eating' 'was he lethargic' etc. He was acting no different to before- greedy as ever, as energetic as ever, seemed completely normal. They didn't check his molars, and I thought at the time that was weird, and put him on antibiotics for a week.
I took him back today because his nose hadn't seemed to clear up fully. And it was a differnet vet this time. She checked his molars- one side was fine and he let her do it, the other side he was pushing her out all the time and it was so difficult for her to look on that side (i guess now because it was uncomfortable). She said the molars on his left side were bad, his gums inflamed, and he would need a dental.
She said he would need molars extracted (which I've read you shouldn't do?) but she didn't think he would wake up from the anasthetic. So what should I do?, I asked her. She said, either do the dental and be aware he probably won't wake up, or leave him and when he stops eating then take him for the dental.
My questions are:
1) What are the chances of him waking up? Very slim? Half and half? Cannot say?
2) Do the molars need to be extracted? Can they not be filed down under a sedation? Leading me to question 3) is sedation as risky as anasthetic?
3) If I leave him until he's unable to eat, won't he be in a huge amount of pain, and won't that lead to more possible chances of infection, abcesses, trauma to the mouth that may make recovery after the dental more risky?
4) What would you guys do?
5) Anyone know of any rabbit dental experts anywhere in the UK? I will travel anywhere.
6) Are there any other options for molar tooth removal other than anasthetic? Could it be done under sedation? I think this is a no, but I will ask anyway.
I love him with all my heart. He's a house bunny and more like a dog than a rabbit. I have been with him 8 years and I can't imagine my life without him.
I'm asking because I don't fully trust what this vet has said. I know I should do, but if the vet is wrong, and I put him under anasthetic and he doesn't wakeup, and find out later I could have gone down an alternative route, I'll never be able to live with myself.
Thank you in advance.
Jen
I decided then to get them removed, because it was so unfair on him to be going so often and having his mouth held open for them to file them down, although he was always excellent when he was there and accepted it.
They removed them and I was obviously aware of the risks. They removed all four incisors, leaving the peg teeth, and filed down his overgrown molars while he was under. He recovered well, no infection etc. and has never been happier or greedier!
I knew he would need his molars done again one day but was just hoping they would be okay.
A week ago he had a really watery nose. Runny, clear, watery discharge constantly. So I took him to the vets (a different one as I have moved house) and they asked 'was he eating' 'was he lethargic' etc. He was acting no different to before- greedy as ever, as energetic as ever, seemed completely normal. They didn't check his molars, and I thought at the time that was weird, and put him on antibiotics for a week.
I took him back today because his nose hadn't seemed to clear up fully. And it was a differnet vet this time. She checked his molars- one side was fine and he let her do it, the other side he was pushing her out all the time and it was so difficult for her to look on that side (i guess now because it was uncomfortable). She said the molars on his left side were bad, his gums inflamed, and he would need a dental.
She said he would need molars extracted (which I've read you shouldn't do?) but she didn't think he would wake up from the anasthetic. So what should I do?, I asked her. She said, either do the dental and be aware he probably won't wake up, or leave him and when he stops eating then take him for the dental.
My questions are:
1) What are the chances of him waking up? Very slim? Half and half? Cannot say?
2) Do the molars need to be extracted? Can they not be filed down under a sedation? Leading me to question 3) is sedation as risky as anasthetic?
3) If I leave him until he's unable to eat, won't he be in a huge amount of pain, and won't that lead to more possible chances of infection, abcesses, trauma to the mouth that may make recovery after the dental more risky?
4) What would you guys do?
5) Anyone know of any rabbit dental experts anywhere in the UK? I will travel anywhere.
6) Are there any other options for molar tooth removal other than anasthetic? Could it be done under sedation? I think this is a no, but I will ask anyway.
I love him with all my heart. He's a house bunny and more like a dog than a rabbit. I have been with him 8 years and I can't imagine my life without him.
I'm asking because I don't fully trust what this vet has said. I know I should do, but if the vet is wrong, and I put him under anasthetic and he doesn't wakeup, and find out later I could have gone down an alternative route, I'll never be able to live with myself.
Thank you in advance.
Jen