dental problems

Question
My bunny is booked in at the vets to get his teeth filed down at the back of his mouth.  The problem is he is 8 and a half years old - do you think this is too old to undergo anesthetic? He had them done 9 months ago and he was fine afterwards but I dont know what age is too old. Thanks

Answer
Dear Katie,

Whether he's a good candidate for anesthesia depends on his individual health more than his age.  If the vet is using just isoflurane gas, that should be quite safe, and the procedure should be relatively quick.

But it's smart to have a full wellness check beforehand, if you're concerned.  The vet should have a listen to his heart and lungs, and at your bunny's age, it would be a good idea for him to have a blood panel (complete chemistry and cell count) for a baseline for future comparison.  This will also reveal certain potential problems.

He can't go on with molar spurs, so you're kind of between a rock and a hard place.  But I suspect he'll be just fine.

Hope this helps.

Dana