older rabbit

Question
im rescuing an older mini rex that has absesed teeth what can i give him to help also how do i trim his teeth?

Answer
Hi Vickie,

You must be a wonderful person to help a special needs rabbit.  We do a lot of them here.

Dental issues in a rabbit can be quite challenging.  Many rabbits, especially older ones, can develop a condition known as malocclusion.  The teeth are open rooted and constantly grow.  In a perfect world, all the incisors and all the molars will align perfectly with each other and will keep themselves worn down.  Malocclusion can be genetics, caused by trauma or infection or be the result of natural loosening of the teeth as part of the aging process.  Hay is the primary way to keep those teeth in check.  Contrary to popular belief, it's not how hard something is, but how chewy it is that is the primary factor in keeping the teeth worn naturally.  But if the rabbit is maloccluded, this doesn't work.  The most common method of trimming the six incisors is by clipping with cutting pliers.  This makes for an uneven cut and it can easily shatter the tooth up to and under the gum line.  This is a possible source of infection.  Most people that don't take their buns to a vet do it in this fashion but it does carry more risks of problems.  A more acceptable way is to use a dental burr in a dremel and grind the incisors down.  Most vets will prefer to sedate the rabbit to do this method and that does add considerable expense to the work.  The preferred method of controlling the six incisors is extraction.  This is a very difficult surgery.  The first we did, I was wondering if we made the correct decision.  Looking back in retrospect, we did.  This is most safely done by intubating the rabbit due to the length of time under sedation.  Few vets can do this...but it is much better for the rabbit.  Molars are a totally different story.  To trim molars, sedation is necessary.  It is quite difficult even on a sedated rabbit to access the necessary tools into that very small mouth to float those teeth.  There is no other way to trim them safely except under sedation.

Now, if this rabbit has a true mandibular abscess....that brings on an entirely different set of issues.  A jaw abscess in a rabbit is generally caused by an impaction of the roots of the molars.  A good skull x-ray should show any abnormalities in the roots of the molars.  Over the past few years, many vets have been doing a surgical procedure that involves inserting antibiotic laced beads directly into the abscess.  That does carry some baggage with it.  The procedure sometimes needs to be performed more than once.  It is painful to the rabbit and to your bank account.  It's effectiveness is open to discussion.  Complications are common.  Sometimes it might be the only possible solution.  I have been working on a drug protocol that has been showing great promise (I am not a vet).  The problem with dealing with abscesses in rabbits is the thickness of the pus surrounding the core of the abscess makes it quite difficult for drugs to penetrate.  Another factor is that these abscesses may contain a combination of several different species of bacterium and may include both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.  I recently treated a mandibular abscess that has a bacteria we had never seen in a rabbit...a strain of streptococcus that was very stubborn.  If this rabbit does have a true mandibular abscess, aggressive care under the guidance of a highly skilled rabbit savvy vet is the only possible positive resolution to this issue.  If the abscess is left untreated or is improperly treated, the resulting damage to the bone itself can be catastrophic.  We have seen the jaw bone basically dissolve and we have also seen the jaw fuse at the joint if the bone starts to recover improperly.  The drug protocols I have been using (under the guidance of a licensed vet) requires some drugs that most vets consider to be unsafe for rabbits...but we have had great success and my primary vet is using these protocols now.  

Abscesses are very painful.  Again, if this is a true abscess, that rabbit should be taking aggressive pain meds.  Treating abscesses can be difficult and long term.  Please make sure this rabbit is under the care of a skilled rabbit vet.  He sounds like he deserves a break in life...and it appears his first break is you.  Keep up the good work.  And I don't normally do this since I am not a vet...but I would be willing to talk with your vet about non-surgical intervetion if he/she would be willing to do so....some vets won't do that and I understand and respect the reasoning behind that.  Best wishes to your little rex.

Randy