Recovery from Molar removal?

Question
QUESTION: My 2 year old lop rabbit had one of her back molars removed on Friday.  She has been seen by the vet for the past few weeks, but it took a few days to figure out what was wrong.. Last Friday she had her teeth filed as the Vet thought it was just over grown teeth.. But she failed to recover and only got worse, not eating, lethargic and in pain.  The vet has been great.. having her come in and spend the day with her so she could observe her behavior, the vet techs were doing critical care with her as well as we do it home.. On Friday my vet choose to do an Xray and photos in the mouth and found an abscess on the back molar. She removed the molar and as much of the pus as she could.. She thinks she got it all. I brought her home that night. She is on 2 pains meds.. One by mouth, one I inject.. She is also getting a penicillin shot once day ( by me) and I have been giving another med to move her "gut" along, she is also getting benbac.. I do a fluid bag with her once a day as well. She refuses to eat anything on her own.. she is interested and did eat a very tiny tid bit of banana this morning but then still fails to actually eat it once she gets in her mouth. Today is Sunday. My question is how long do you think it will take her to want to eat again. How long does it take for a socket to heal.. Can rabbits get dry sockets like a human?  We have been force feeding her for almost 2 weeks now.. but she only had the surgery on Friday.  She is a very healthy rabbit otherwise and was very healthy before this.

ANSWER: Dear Jeanine,

Poor bunny, and poor you!

Yes, this is a traumatic and painful surgery, and it will take time before she feels well enough to eat on her own.  You did not mention whether your vet (who sounds very knowledgeable) prescribed pain management, but this is a MUST for any rabbit who has suffered this serious surgery.

Please immediately ask the vet about a combination of tramadol and metacam for pain.  This can make all the difference in the world to her will to live and chances for recovery, since her psychological wellbeing will certainly affect her healing.  Pain is a powerful thing, and being in constant pain can make you want to give up.  Remove the pain, and the whole world changes.

Tramadol is *fantastic* for this, and I hope you can get some for your bunny.   

I hope she'll start recovering soon, but I'm sure she'll need pain meds to do it.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Yes, Thank you for the response.  Winona is on two pain medications.. She has been on Meloxicam since the first Friday when she had her teeth filed.. Then after the molar surgery she has been given Buprenorphine (injection) every 8 hours. I am also giving her her Benbec and Metoclopramide.  Sunday night I was able to get her to eat mashed banana and pellets and then again on Monday morning with a lot of coaxing and patience she ate applesauce, banana and pellets.. by Monday night I got her to eat cut up greens ( parsley and kale) and today she is eating and drinking on her own.  Her last pain medicine was yesterday at 2PM.. Last night she was even playing under our Christmas tree..  I was so worried, I had no experience in this prior. I have 3 other house rabbits (2 lops and one straight ear) now I will know what to look for in the future.. The vet said we did catch this very very early so that is good.. Thank you again.

Answer
Dear Jeanine,

Oh, wow!  Winona is on the heavy stuff!  Buprenorphine is a very powerful opioid, and an excellent drug for this type of pain.  You have a great vet, and I think Winona is in good hands.

It's the hardest thing to watch a bunny in pain and know you've done all you can to help her.  Sometimes that's the way things are when we get sick.  We can just stand by and give moral support, and I think that might be almost as hard as suffering the pain yourself!  (Which bunny mom among us has not wished we could take our baby's pain into ourselves so they didn't have to suffer!)

I'm so glad to hear she's starting to improve.  I hope this will be a very merry Christmas for all of you!  

Take care,

Dana