A Dental Question

Bunnies had their vaccinations and health checks tonight. Im obsessed with teeth, esp with them being nethies and after Dollys first dental.

Theyre all fit and healthy, but Vicky said that their teeth look like theyre getting a bit long. They were checked within the last 6 months and Dollys teeth have been "getting long" for last 2-3 vet checks. Marleys have always been OK, this is the first time anyone has commented on them. Thankfully she said it doesnt look like there are any spurs on them though.

Now, they have a mostly hay diet. They get a table spoon of Science selective and a table spoon of Burgess Excel. Once the Excel has gone, they will just be on the Selective and just a table spoon. I only buy a bag of Excel for when they are moving out, as without it they tend to loose weight, it just seems to be a bit of a buffer while they get used to being out again and worked well last year.

They also have lots of hay and forage. Ings hay, readigrass a couple of times a week and theres usually a treat hay on the go too. I alternate which type of hay I get from HFP each time i order, which seems to keep them interested. This is pretty much all they have, along with the odd treat and veggies every other day.

How else can I help aid dental wear, if at all? Im guessing picking fresh grass will help or growing it in trays for them. I saw (may have been on here) that fresh grass is better as it takes more chewing, i could try that. What else? Now that summer is on its way i can pick more woody forage like willow and hawthorne branches. Just wondered if anyone could suggest anything.

Another thing - They are going to Mike and Maysies when I go to uni, im wondering if it would be worth getting them checked again before they go and possibly having htem booked in for dentals depending on if they have grown much. Or is this an unnecessary GA, do you think? Id rather them undergo a GA while they are well than waiting until their teeth cause them pain.

As the owner of a dental bun I know that not even john can really tell if daisy I has spurs until he is under as they are just not that visible.

However a ga carries a real risk - If it were me I'd keep and eye and deal with a problem if it arises. Maybe put some emergency dentals pennies aside just in case?

Maysie and mike know the signs - with daisy there is a small clumping of fur under his chin, a little wetter nose and eventually he will go a off his food.


I think you are doing everything you can to prevent dentals . One thing I found helped was to mix textures in their hay too, and grass - as much grass as poss .

I don't think any of this is anything you don't already know though hunni :-)

I find grass to be the ideal thing for keeping Bruce's teeth in best shape - it is the constant waterlogging then drying out that is causing us grass growing problems here. It really depends on which teeth are long. If it is the back ones then it is they hay and grass that they mash with their back teeth that does the wearing and the front are helped more by the gnawing of bark etc.

Katieb wrote:As the owner of a dental bun I know that not even john can really tell if daisy I has spurs until he is under as they are just not that visible.

However a ga carries a real risk - If it were me I'd keep and eye and deal with a problem if it arises. Maybe put some emergency dentals pennies aside just in case?

Maysie and mike know the signs - with daisy there is a small clumping of fur under his chin, a little wetter nose and eventually he will go a off his food.


I think you are doing everything you can to prevent dentals . One thing I found helped was to mix textures in their hay too, and grass - as much grass as poss .

I don't think any of this is anything you don't already know though hunni :-)

Thank you Katie. Ill just keep an eye on them then and get them checked just before I go to uni. Bunnies have lifetime insurace, their first dental will be covered, but Im not sure about any after that. We shall see, im not too worried though as they arent too expensive, they are less than my £70 excess anyway, and my vet at the moment will let me pay in installments if im ever really struggling. Failing that, Mum will bail me out, but I avoid asking her unless im desperate.

I think i forget how teeny tiny they are and how risky GAs are for them. I think because of my own attitude towards surgery, I just think ahh get on with it, and would rather have something sorted before it becomes a problem, but I know thats not really possible for bunnies. I just remember how much I blamed myself when Dolly needed her dental. She lost so much weight and I didnt notice as she was otherwise completely fine, i got so upset over it and feel awful about it, even now.

I have to say, im so very proud of them, theyre so well behaved for the vet

I agree with Katie

I think Katie is spot on. Having a fund would give you a little bit of a breathing space.

It is great they are going to Maysie, as that will make you feel so much happier as she will spot anything happening as soon as it starts and get them to a vet.

I agree with Katie too. Five of my six (the lionhead or lionhead crosses) have molars that wear unevenly. I don't think I can do any more than what I do for them to help. Between bunny teeth and bunny tummies no wonder we worry!

I am a worrier too love about dentals. I have arranged that Binky-Boo has a check up every two months and as I have just insured him, I think that pet plan will be pleased with this. I do have a vet fund and a little is paid out each month whch is great for small things, like the first £50 that Petplan do not cover.

Hugs

JO xx