Rabbits Under General Anesthesia - Your Thoughts?

[BrittsBunny]

My veterinarian recommended for Wrangler to have a tooth filed down (molar I believe) sometime this fall. I winced at the thought of my rabbit going under GA...especially for just one tooth. And he is not showing any signs of pain or discomfort. He has no difficulty eating his food. He has had bouts of GI stasis...not sure if the two are related? I presume they could be? I will also share that Wrangler is approx. 7-8 years old.

What are your thoughts??

 

[napagirl]

Hi BrittsBunny,

According to my vet, yes, uneven molars can contribute to gastric stasis. Dimi has had stasis twice. She is ~2.5yrs old, and both times the stasis was in May when she has a major moulting (even though I brush her daily during that time). When I took her in this past May, the first thing the dr. did was to ck her back molars. She said they were ever so slightly uneven, but not bad.

I understand your fear of putting the rabbit under GA, but it's the safest way to file those molars. Isf your vet is a rabbit expert? If not, I would go find one. I have a vet close by that is "experienced" with rabbits, and I will see her for stasis meds and sub q fluids. But if Dimi needs surgery- like when I had her spayed- I take her 2hrs away to a rabbit specialist. Knowing that Dimi is with one of the best rabbit drs in my state, and maybe the country, makes me feel like I have done all I can do for her. At very minimum, your vet should have experience with anesthesia and rabbits. NEVER stop feeding/giving water to your rabbit (fasting) before anesthesia (like humans and dogs do). Rabbits do not throw up and do not require fasting, and stopping the feeding can start stasis. Any vet that tells you to stop feeding your rabbit before anesthesia should not be working on rabbits. Sometimes the vet may know not to fast a rabbit, but the front desk person may tell you to because that is what they are used to telling dog/cat owners. This is wrong for a rabbit. Here is a great article by Dana Krempels, the guru of rabbit veterinary care:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/opcare.html

And a good one I found about rabbit dental issues:

http://www.mypetsdentist.com/rabbit-rodent-dental-care.pml

This really depends on your trust in the vet. If you are concerned, see another rabbit vet for a second opinion. But from what I have read, it seems better to treat these things early rather than wait too long. Good luck!

 

[napagirl]

Forgot to add- especially with Wrangler's age, I would seek a rabbit expert's second opinion as to if the benefit of filing the molars outweigh the risk of anesthesia in a rabbit of that age. I have been told the risk of anesthesia is very low with a vet experienced in rabbit anesthesia, but I am not sure about age and risk. I looked back at your post and saw age afterward...

 

[missyscove]

Some vets are willing to do a molar snip with the rabbit either fully awake or lightly sedated, but that depends on the part of the tooth in question and which tooth it is as well as the vet's comfort with the procedure. I've yet to meet a vet who felt they could do as good a job with the rabbit awake as under full anesthesia with a dental drill.