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Forum DIET & CARE Jerseys teeth – something I keep dwelling on.

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    • jerseygirl
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        I keep thinking about this so I thought I’d ask the binky bunners their thoughts.

        I’ve been suspicious about Jerseys teeth for a while on and off. She does things that get me thinking on it then it settles for a while. I’m always second guessing myself and I’ve not really had luck with the vet in really checking her molars. So I have a bunch of questions…
        I don’t think she eats with her molars at all. Just her incisors. I watch the way Rumball and Tim Tim eat and it’s different.
        She doesn’t eat hay. When she did occasionally eat it, it passed through her as whole strands.  Until last Oct(?) 95% of her poop were strung together with either hair, hay or other plant fibre. I’m pretty certain now that this was because she was not adequetely chewing the food. 
        Since I have fed a hay cube (large horse pellet made of compressed hay) that has completely turned around. 95% are normal looking bunny poop at last! So she’s getting the fibre but again, she can get away with only eating these with just her incisors. Not good for molars but it’s kept her gut moving well. I’ve seen Rumball eat them and even though its chopped hay, he still takes the time to chew it further. Jersey doesn’t. It pretty much looks the same way coming out as going in. Sometimes I wonder if she was born without some of her molars.
        I’ve also had the habit of always tearing up the greens so that may have disguised any troubles. Sometimes I see her grab a large peice of something and she seems to struggle with it. Often she’ll leave it and go get something else. The boys seem to be able to pull stuff into their mouth with little issue.  I’ve also seen her occasionally gag, or bite food and drop it then try again.
         
        When I’ve asked the vet to check she says she can’t see anything to be worried about but also says she can’t see the very back molars.
        Another thing I’ve noticed is she has 2 dots on her lower lip. For a long time I thought they were like freckles but now I realise they’re indentations from her peg teeth. Would that be a normal thing to see?
        She’s also a grumpybum. A lot of this is to do with Tim Tim being in the house and her being highly territorial. But she had her moments before he arrived.
        I’m considering taking her for a thorough molar check which will probably mean sedation. Is that a normal way to go about it? Would they sedate just to check? I suppose they’d go ahead and trim if they found anything. I’m sort of nervous about pushing for this – for her to be sedated. I can probably call the clinic and ask all the detail but it’s reasonable isn’t it, that I ask for this? Sometimes I feel like a bothersome client. Then I think – so what, there seems to be stuff that is just not right with her.  All this has been on my mind because in the past couple weeks there has been some days where she didn’t want to eat. Then she’d come good again. It happened 2 weeks in a row. For a day each time.


      • Sarita
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          Sometimes sedation is the only way they can really see the very back molars and what seems like a minor spur to a vet may feel major uncomfortable to the rabbit. I think it would be a good idea and ease your mind to have a very thorough dental check. Don’t feel bothersome – heck, you pay the bill anyway and if that bothers the vet, then they don’t need to be in business.


        • Dee
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            I agree with Sarita- sometimes we hesitate to ask lots of questions of vets because we feel that they’re busy and they know best anyway. But even though they do have the degree, we see our bunnies all the time- they don’t. I’m a real worrier, and there have been things that I’ve kinda freaked out on and found that all is well, but when we notice something ongoing like you have with Jersey, it deserves to be looked into. And as long as your vet is experienced with buns, sedation for a dental exam should be a pretty regular procedure, I would think. I’m not knowledgable myself but I’ve heard of many people here having it done with their bunnies.
            I’ve only had my 2 bunnies so I’m not sure, but the chewing thing sounds weird with Jersey. And the not eating always scares me with my rabbits- when they’re not their usual starving selves, I go around waving hay and greens in their faces until they finally eat or hide . If they hide, I call the vet- after BunBun’s GI stasis, I’m not taking any chances. If you get the dental check with Jersey and it’s all good, then you’ll know it’s not that she’s in pain or having trouble chewing. And if it is a tooth problem, it can be fixed! Sound like a win-win situation to me .


          • jerseygirl
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              Thank you both. Yes, it’s silly of me to be so hesitant on this.


            • Michelle&Lolli
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                It’s totally normal to be hesitant to put Jersey through a dental check. Being under anesthesia is hard on everyone and animals.

                There was a male lionhead that I would have totally loved to have adopted. He had dental issues though so I checked with my vet for an estimate on routine dental checkups. It turned out to be too expensive as they put the bunny under. But I would think if a vet knew what they were doing, they would put the rabbit under to check since that’s the only way anyone can really get to those back molars to check them. I think since Jersey seems to be behaving weird, it’s best to go ahead and get them checked.

                I hope I’m making sense. I took a tramodol for my back pain since it’s been really bad this weekend and it’s kicking in. LOL


              • jerseygirl
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                  You make sense. :p    {{{Vibes}}} for your back Michelle!


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    I would definitely get her a thorough dental exam. When I brought Bindi in she had a really hard time seeing anything with the otoscope but could tell they needed a trim. Upon him being sedated, they turned out to be worse than she thought.

                    I know it’s nerve-wracking but they are not sedated for very long and I’m sure if you have a good vet she will be fine. My vet said something that scared me and now I will never hesitate about getting teeth checked if I’m suspicious. She said “teeth that are in bad need of a trimming can cause ulcers and ulcers in a bunny mouth are equivalent to having cancer in the mouth”. Very scary stuff.


                  • jerseygirl
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                      Thanks LPT.  Wow, that thing she said about ulcers certainly does make me pay attention! 

                      I noticed today her lip is swollen and there’s a little cut. Like she’s bitten it? I’m going to ring the vet TODAY and find out what’s what. No more dilly dallying.


                    • BinkyBunny
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                        I completely understand. When we are not sure what is exactly wrong and not sure what the vets capabilities or thoughts are on this, especially since they checked Jersey’s teeth before, it’s completely normal to feel the way you do. It’s all the unknowns that breed those tentative feelings.

                        I know that if I told my vet that something is wrong, these are the symptoms and I just think that I would feel better to get to the bottom of it, even if that means you have to sedate my bunny to get a better look, then I know she would not hesitate to figure out what was really going on.

                        If you approach your vet with the information you have told us, and let him know that you are getting increasingly concerned, I sure would expect him to take you seriously and work on getting to the bottom of it.


                      • KatnipCrzy
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                          Critters can mask a problem for quite awhile. I saw a guinea pig at my vet clinic that came in for not acting right- the vet was able to peek in his mouth with an otoscope and then got permission to sedate. The guinea pigs molars had grown together in an arch over the guinea pigs tongue- keeping his tongue trapped beneath. The molars were completely touching- no gap. And it must have taken awhile to get like that. The vet there at the time was able to use our dental equipment to cut the teeth- do some smoothing and free his tongue.

                          Not trying to freak you out about Jersey- but if your gut is telling you that something is not right- you are best to get it checked out. It is amazing what some animals can adapt to.


                        • MimzMum
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                            I’m glad to hear you’re going to take Jersey in. And yes, maybe we make pests of ourselves insisting on extra treatments..but hey…we are PAYING them for their expertise and counsel…let’s get our money’s worth! ^_^
                            I’m going to add vibes for Jersey. (((((((((((((((((((((((healing vibes)))))))))))))))))) I have noticed Fiver has a weird little thing he does with his mouth…almost like he’s trying to get some gum out from between his back teeth…usually this means it’s time for a trim even if the vet doesn’t see anything particularly worrisome.
                            And I promise I’ll get to your last email faster than I did the first two, Jerz.


                          • jerseygirl
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                              Thank you.

                              She’s not eating again tonight. That’s the 3rd week in a row so I don’t know what’s going on. Thanks for the vibes.


                            • mocha200
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                                Did you talk to your vet yet?


                              • Elrohwen
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                                  Good luck to Jersey! I agree with the prevailing opinion that sedation is probably necessary at this point. I hope it goes well! Keep us updated.


                                • Tate
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                                    Has she been under anesthesia before? I guess at least once if she was spayed. If it makes you feel better, Velvateen has been under anesthesia 5 times… and he’s not yet 1 year old.


                                  • Sarita
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                                      Let us know what the vet says. You just can never know with teeth. Took Bobby in today for his teeth filing and the vet said, yep, they were bad and it was time and quite frankly, I couldn’t tell he was uncomfortable!


                                    • jerseygirl
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                                        Jersey is booked in for Tuesday. I didn’t talk to my vet but the nurse was really informative. She’s will have full anaesthetic same as what she had for her spay. She shouldn’t be under as long though. Not sure that helps in recovery time – I guess not really.
                                        Argh! I worry about her!

                                        I’m thinking about asking if Rumball can go in with her. To be in the holding cages for before and after the procedure. Has anyone done that with a bonded pair?


                                      • MimzMum
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                                          I know lots of folks here take two bonded buns in for procedures if the two are very inseparable. I don’t know what I would do if I got all three of mine together, what a circus vet visits would be then! 0_o

                                          A week from today, Tuesday? Oh wait, it’s already Wednesday on your side isn’t it…duh! *foreheadsmack* I’ll be sending good procedure vibes! ((((((((((((Jersey))))))))))))))
                                          And since tooth cleaning/filing isn’t as invasive as a spay would be, I’d guess she’ll be back into typical queenly form in no time! ^_^


                                        • Sarita
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                                            I always do w/my Dutch pair because they are scaredy buns. I didn’t w/Toffiee & Twizzler when Twizzler was alive though and both were fine. It really depends on the rabbits I think but if it puts your mind at ease, just do it!


                                          • jerseygirl
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                                              Jersey came thru her dental really well. I’m so relieved. : ) She was groggy but eating well that night.

                                              She did have some tiny spurs beginning on the inside of her lower molars. The vet took them off so they don’t become future problems but she didn’t think they were significant that’d they’d have caused any soreness. She did say (and has in the past) that Jersey reacts as if she’s tender when she’s felt over her cheeks. So her eating habits and digestion are still a bit mysterious but at least the dental side of things has been addressed.

                                              So glad that’s over with! Unfortunately, when I trimmed the buns nails over the weekend I noted Rumballs lower incisors are much longer then his upper ones.   So I’m keeping watch on that. He is eating well and eats his hay like a good boy thank goodness!


                                            • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                Glad to hear she made out okay. And you’re lucky that Jersey is eating after her procedure. She’s saving you a lot of stress!!!


                                              • Sarita
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                                                  Glad she did well! See, it’s not so bad.


                                                • MimzMum
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                                                    Good news! Will keep my vibes going that Jersey makes a full and complete recovery and that perhaps this will end the mysterious gut issues!

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                                                Forum DIET & CARE Jerseys teeth – something I keep dwelling on.