Dutch bunny dental surgery: cost?

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I have a 3 year old Dutch bunny, and during her recent annual vet check-up I was informed that one of her back molars was pointed and that she will eventually need dental surgery to flatten out the point. I have to bring her back to the vet in 6 months to see how the tooth is progressing. I have 2 quetsions:

1. What is the average cost/median range for this type of bunny dental surgery?
2. Is there anything I can give my bunny to chew to help her wear down the point on the tooth herself?

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kris

ANSWER: Dear Kris,

The cost of a molar filing will vary tremendously, depending on where you are.  My advice would be to call around to various rabbit-experienced vets in your area:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and see what they're charging.  You usually get what you pay for, but some vets who don't feel confident about molar filings will sometimes charge an exorbitant fee just to discourage people from scheduling the surgery.  If you suspect that's the case, then it's time to call a different vet.

Molar spurs and other dental anomalies are often due to mild malocclusions of the teeth, but a diet rich in coarse, fibrous foods can sometimes keep the molars nice and smooth.  Sometimes molar spurs will break off on their own if the rabbit is given foods such as fresh grass (no pesticides or fertilizer), twigs, and grass hay for nibbling. Unlike pellets, these grass-based foods promote side-to-side chewing motion that helps keeps molars smooth.

Natural grazing in sunlight is also great for dental and overall skin and bone health, so if you can provide supervised outdoor playtime in a safe, fenced yard, that will probably help.

Hope this will get you started with some ideas, and that you can avoid the expense and stress of the molar filing.

Good luck!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dana,

Thank you for all of the great information! I live in Boston, so unfortunately my bunny does not have access to a grassy yard. However, my apartment does get a lot of sunlight. Do you think it would help if I planted grass in a long pot on my windowsill and allowed my bunny to eat/play in it (obviously not while it's sitting on the windowsill, of course!)? Or is that a ridiculous idea? She also has organic apple twigs to chew on. Any suggestions on other types of twigs she might enjoy?

Also, should I mix grass hay in with her daily timothy hay or is the timothy hay sufficient? She LOVES hay and eats hordes of every day. Her daily diet subsists mainly of mixed greens and hay with less than 1/8 cup of pellets.

Thank you for the advice on the pricing. My bunny goes to a fabulous vet in Wakefield, and due to the Boston area I figured it would be relatively pricey. I just wanted to brace myself for the potential cost before the next dental exam appointment! I'll give the vet a call and see.

Thanks again for all of your help!

Kris

Answer
Dear Kris,

The windowsill grass isn't a crazy idea, but it will be pretty labor intensive.  You could do it with less mess if you just raise some wheat grass (or any grass, for that matter) in a wheat-grass tray you can get from a place like Whole Foods.  Try it once, and see how it goes over with bun. :)  Could be fun.

Apple twigs are fun.  Maple is good, too.  

Timothy hay is great--no need to mix different kinds if she eats her timothy well.  Probably the combination of good hay and sunlight on the balcony is great for her.

As for molar filings, it sometimes depends on whether they use anesthesia or not, and what type.  Sevoflurane is safe, but expensive.  It's been so long since I had a bunny molar filed by a vet that I'm not really up on the prices any more!  But I hope you'll find that this doesn't hit your wallet too hard.

Noserubs to bun!

Dana