11 days into a tooth grinding – video clues to a slow recovery?

[phineas]

Okay, Gulliver stopped eating normally a few weeks ago at the same time he began grinding his teeth – loudly and jagged sounding grit.  So, we took him in for a grinding procedure and were cautioned against getting too excited about this being the proper diagnosis – rabbits being hard to diagnose and all.  He has shown signs of recovery and then regression.  He is always interested in food and comes running for feedings – he just won’t eat.  He gets pain meds daily, Oxbow for his main diet with very little grazing on the side – and we got anti-biotics as well just in case.  Observing him eat, or try to, makes us lean toward the grinding being a major source of discomfort.  Especially thin-leafed foods – he gums them and spits them out.  Same with his all-time favorite banana.  We gave him some banana after Oxbow once, but he held it in his mouth and then spit it out.  We’ve had the most succes feeding him dandys vertically, and he is enthusiastic about broccoli.  These vids are encouraging for us as he generally eats only 2 or 3 dandys per day, maybe a sprig of parsley, and a tuft of broccoli – if that.  Oxbow fills in the gaps. 

So, we got him on film.. and while we are fully aware that no one can diagnose a bunny from a video, does his behavior toward food and the manner in which he eats suggest anything to you other than a tooth issue?  These vids were done after he had a morning dose of 12 syringes of Oxbow – and he still has a good attitude.  What does his behavior suggest?

You don’t have to watch all of both vids – timed highlights are listed in the description on YouTube.

Thought about putting this in the vid section, but it is a health issue first and foremost.  Sorry if this is the wrong forum.

Thanks!

 

He came running for breakfast and then just sniffed it, gummed a little parsley, a little pepper, then dove on some broccoli.  This is after his Oxbow feeding. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfmRlWM4UsM

Eating a dandy after taking a short break from the first vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kLsCUdv1yk

 

We’re taking him in early next week for a follow-up – just concerned that his improvements are so slow or he may need further care, 

[jerseygirl]

He’s definately not pulling food back into his mouth like Lainey. I agree, he seems to be avoiding using his molars. I can see how broccoli and more robust vegetables would be popular as he can get that into small pieces with just his incisors. He certainly appeared to be eating in that manner. 
 

So, we got him on film.. and while we are fully aware that no one can diagnose a bunny from a video, does his behavior toward food and the manner in which he eats suggest anything to you other than a tooth issue?

I for one can’t see it being anything else but a dental issue. With everything else you’ve reported, it all points strongly to this being about his teeth.

I mentioned before, maybe the initial improvement you saw after the trim was due to the med given for the procedure, not the trim itself. That these may have been stronger analgesics then what you’ve been giving since. Was he given something? It might have intially masked the discomfort. How long did you see that improvement before he regressed?

What about grating and finely chopping some vegetables and see how he goes with that?

[Sarita]

If it were me, I would ask the vet to check his teeth again. I had to do this with Pepe when the vet had not been aggressive enough the first time on one of his dental trims. But it should not take weeks for recovery – maybe a few days but not weeks.

It’s truly hard to tell based on the video and you know him best so you know he’s not acting right.

[Author]

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