Mimzy’s Latest Dental Verdict – Nothing Wrong??

[MimzMum]

Well, Mimzy got his dental at the specialist this morning. After having to get him in there at 9:30 AM, we came to pick him up at around 3:15 PM (he was supposed to be done by 3:45 PM) to find she was just now working on him. Having done our grocery shopping just before, we despaired of getting the cold foods home before they spoiled…but decided to wait since it’s over 40 miles back home from here.

Now, don’t get me wrong…this is a beautiful OPEN office. Allow me to explain what I mean.

A peeled log cabin high on the Chena Ridge road, overlooking Fairbanks in two directions…leaded glass doors, tastefully decorated and utilitarian, a converted two story home is my guess…and two open (not even a separator, really) rooms for exams (that I could see). 

I mean… there’s a set of three glass windows looking from reception and outdoors into surgery! And as I watched my bunny lying there in anesthetic sleep in the soothing sunlight of a 50 degree day, I was asked to come around into the surgical area if I wished to watch the procedure! Stunning! Techs, the doc, and people wating for their pets to wake are walking in and out of the surgery and recovery like it was someone’s living room! They even ask if you’d like tea of coffee while you wait.

Luckily, I was able to watch without falling into a dead faint, which you’d think I would knowing how I hate stuff like this.

But the doc was very kind and even had me pushing the button for the xrays when the tech had left the room to attend to another patient.

She didn’t have him under very much gas, she would take the mask away and he’d start stirring, then she’d put it back on and tell him to go “sleepy-bye” for another few minutes while she took more and more films. I swear we used up all their small animal plates today, she had a heck of a time getting them in to fit so she could see his teeth.

She also used a digital camera with his mouth winched open with tong-like apparatuses that looked extremely painful. At first I was angry because she seemed to be so rough with him I was afraid she’d break his neck the way she moved his head. I’ll have to use my hub’s DSL connection to view those dental vids, I need to know if this was normal. It was all I could do to control my temper at first. But I could see she was determined to find the cause of his problems, so I just watched in awed silence, unable to look away.

Anyway, although she thought she saw a small ‘shadow’ on his left sinus, she really couldn’t get in well enough to be certain, but she did trim some more spurs off the molars and cleaned out a lot of hay residue to see if anything was amiss. No pockets, no signs of whatever it was my other vet had seen on her films. I was still being urged this morning to do an MRI/CAT scan, but I can’t manage another $1000 for another stressful procedure for him. As long as she doesn’t find anything terminal on further review, I think we are pretty much done for now.

My poor bun, he’s had a rough day. I gave him some metacam, since shoving the films into his mouth caused some swelling on his rear gums and he must have a stiff neck from all the pushing and pulling. But the doc pronounced him healthy. So unless it’s some kind of allergy or irritant, I am now back to square one.

He ate some banana slices and some sweet baby lettuce upon coming home, and he drinks a little from his bottle, which is surprising since he only drank from a crock for a few days when my other doc trimmed him back in January. He was still boogery when I got him home, but I’m thinking it’s from the gas as it hasn’t continued this evening. I just checked on him and his jaw was moving, chewing something, so I tested it with a dried dandelion flower…it got sucked up immediately.

He recognized my voice in recovery. His litle ears perked up and his eye brightened. That absolutely made my day right there.

Mimzy says thank you all for all your good wishes and prayers for his successful appointment today. No extractions, no signs of anything serious. I’d call that a win.

[Monkeybun]

Well. If vet says he’s healthy… yay for that! Sucks you couldn’t find out the reason for the sneezing, but maybe he just has an allergy… in which case should be fine to reintroduce Miss Pip to him

[TARM]

Thank goodness that’s over. It does suck to not have an answer but at least there’s not something seriously wrong. :0)

[KatnipCrzy]

dental x-rays are much trickier than regular x-rays- regular x-rays- you measure what you are x-raying, set the machine, lay the pet out- and push the button.  Dental x-rays are so much different- you have to go at crazy angles to get the tooth AND root without anything else getting in the way.  And bunnies mouths are so small- that is probably why she had to do so much maneuvering of his neck and the film.  But since he was asleep and his muscles were relaxed- his neck probably does not feel sore.

Every time I get x-rays at the dentist- they have to use the kids size bite films- and they still make me want to gag since my mouth is so small.  Poor Mimz- but at least he has his Mum to comfort him.

I am sorry you thought she seemed rough- but it does seem as though she was a loving, caring vet- and used the gas sparingly- which is a benefit for the bunny.  And I am not saying you are wrong or over-reacting- but maybe it was just what she needed to do to get the right position.  But since I was not there- I can’t really say for sure.  But when it is my own pet that is being worked on- I am a FREAK about everything- I over analyze everything, etc.  I can’t assess if their gums are pale or not (when I can in any other pet)- I panic.  And once I started to hyperventilate and my husband said to me “if you don’t calm down I won’t drive you to the eclinic!”.  Gee, THAT really calmed me down- what a dork to say that!  Because then I was panicked and homicidal (wanted to kill him..LOL).

Julie

[MimzMum]

lol @ Kat Our hubs take their lives in their hands criticizing us on our reactions over our bunnies (or other pets). I can’t tell you how disgusted mine was with me when Mimzy came back from that other dental (before this one) and was breathing so weird and it was late night and snowing and we had to pack him back up and rush him in again…turned out to be a snot bubble in his throat but I wasn’t taking chances and hubby paid the price for lecturing me.

I just had my teeth xrayed too and I HATE those mouth films. Blech! Not only do they scrape my gums but they taste terrible. I also had to have one of those halo xrays (landscape I think they call them) where you get the machine traveling around your head and you stand out where everyone can see you with the stupid pick in your mouth and holding onto the pedestal like it was a bucking bronco? Gosh those are nasty…expensive too.

Luckily this wasn’t a high cost visit for Mimzy, but I dread the possibility of having to do it again. How long should the trim last? 6 months? He needs another about every three weeks lately. *groan*

Oddly enough, no post-op antibiotics this time either (thank you Lord) and he only needed the metacam once yesterday. He is attacking his hay today and seems happier in general…of course this evening he’s all broody and quiet, but I’m used to that. He has evolved to being up all night instead, like I am, while poor Pip hides in her hole and scowls at us from the upstairs room. ^_^
He is at least making poos, even if they are tiny, and peeing, so I’m hoping to get him eliminating better by tomorrow.
I meant to get some banana flavored Critical Care and I forgot. He won’t eat the anise (licorice) one that I got from my other vet last month. Also pumpkin is a no. He won’t even sniff it.

Does anyone have any tips for getting that last remaining goo off their faces from the eye ointment? I’ve tried just warm water on a paper towel, but it still takes days for the stuff to wear off and I can’t imagine it tastes good. >.< Looks gross too.

[Cassi&Charlie]

This is a relief, I’m glad that he doesn’t have anything serious wrong with his teeth! (((Mimzy)))

[RabbitPam]

well, I’m relieved that it isn’t serious and related to his teeth, but it does seem like we had an answer and a cure, and now it’s just back to boogers.

I was just finishing up getting my tooth crown last week, and I don’t know whether it was from waiting an hour to get in due to someone else’s emergency or what, but I had much more saliva than usual. They called me juicy, as in “She’s a juicy one!” Good grief. Never had that before, but it was when they were trying to get the xrays also.

Sounds like Mimzy is feeling better, so give yourself and him a rest for a little while and just see how he does. Could train Fiver and Pip to say “gesundheit.”

[jerseygirl]

MM, it’s been about a week now since his molar trims. Has anything changed?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad she didn’t find anything bad in his little mouth! I know this has been a lot of stress on you and Mimzy.

I can’t help but think that seems pretty unsanitary having all sorts of people going in and out of the surgery room?

[MimzMum]

He seems well, Jerz, thanks for asking. Still blowing snot from time to time, but no more or less than usual. I think the oat hay tends to get him going more often, so maybe it really IS just allergies after all…in which case I’ve put him through an awful lot for nothing.
He is eating better, especially if I feed by hand (spoiled thing!) but does seem a bit lower energy. I’m guessing at pretty much 3 years of age, he’s starting to slow down into his ‘mellow’ years.
BTW…it’s been since January that I cut that fur on his back and it STILL hasn’t grown in again. I hate that little bald spot!

LPT..yeah, I was concerned about that too. But I guess it’s a bit different for animals than it is for human surgical fields. (We just don’t communicate that many germs across species, there were no open wounds to be contaminated) …plus my other vet probably mentioned that both my hub and me were in the op rooms for Shadow and Taiku’s surgeries as well. The techs needed our help to get the boys put under, since even though they were in great pain and near death, they were still jittery and nervous enough that they wanted human contact from their mum & da while the nurses took their blood and gave anesthesia.

Some folks can’t even be in a delivery room without fainting, so I am simply surprised that she wanted me in there at all in case I should become a lump on the floor that they’d have to maneuver around.

[jerseygirl]

so maybe it really IS just allergies after all…in which case I’ve put him through an awful lot for nothing.

Well you’ve eliminated some of the more serious possible causes which is worth it. I felt similar when I had blood test for Jersey but felt better knowing I had done it – even though it revealed nothing. Though cost of that must be nothing to what it’s been for the Mimzster!

I may have asked this before….have you looked at some of the Heal X products? I know you’re a fan of the cream for Fivers feet – just thought maybe there’s something that could help with Mimzy’s symptoms at least.

[MimzMum]

Heal Rx for the nose? *perks up* Point me!

[jerseygirl]

Hmm…I had thought there was a specific resp type product but not so. However, HEALx Booster is an immune support supplement and I’ve found 3 incidents (testimonials) of it helping in URI so far. In a ferret, rats and a hedgehog. There was some case studies of these products on small mammals but I can’t seem to find them now. :o(

[MimzMum]

A supplement might be a good idea. I think I’ll ask my vet if she’s heard of it, since she was the one who gave me the topical for Fiver’s heels. Thanks Jerz!

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