4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Re: 4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Marie Kubiak — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 15:14:38 GMT

Maybe I'm misreading the original post, I got the impression there was a full complement of teeth on one side? I agree if there is nothing left other than the upper teeth both sides then grinding surface absence means nothing will help from a diet point of view! Still if it can physically eat hay/grass/high fibre foods then that's what will help avoid the secondary GI/metabolic issues that a pellet based diet will result in.

It's impressive what they can still eat, I have some rabbits brought in that the owner has noticed no change in food selection/intake but on exam they have practically nothing left in their mouth, just well keratinised gums and the odd stump.

Re: 4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 23:22:25 GMT

I guess what I'm saying is that it takes two to tango – it takes two opposing arcades to grind. So you can't consider arcades in isolation. If the mandibular arcade is no longer grinding effectively, then the maxillary arcade won't get ground properly whatever fibre you provide it with. Or maybe it will? I'm not absolutely sure.

Re: 4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 20:47:34 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"] Cutting out high fibre foods and feeding soft items will only accelerate dental changes so if it has been eating ok, let it carry on but monitor weight closely. Free access grazing on grass and weeds is often a good compromise if dried hay is not eaten.[/quote]

Marie, I quite appreciate that; but if all the teeth are dead (or absent) anyway, is accelerating changes a concern? Maybe a rabbit will have to go to pellets in order to get sufficient nutrition?

[/quote]

I often find one arcade or one side is worse than the other and you can end up with horrible step mouths, ongoing irregular growth or even just one really frustrating tooth that grows sideways even if one area is knackered. If all teeth are completely dead then I agree, dental changes aren't going to be an issue but I find these a minority - do you see more of these then? On a slight tangent I worry about the GI health side of things when fibre intake diminishes so try and keep them on hay/similar as long as they can manage to eat it.

Marie

Re: 4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:35:54 GMT

It would be really interesting to get radiographs.

I suspect that nearly all the cheek teeth are dead. Maybe the ones showing spurs are not. In my opinion the commonest cause (I'm not saying it's so in this case!) is over-enthusiastic and repeated "routine dental treatment".

It's astonishing how a rabbit can stay healthy with just some smoothish chunks of ivory to masticate with.

Marie, I quite appreciate that; but if all the teeth are dead (or absent) anyway, is accelerating changes a concern? Maybe a rabbit will have to go to pellets in order to get sufficient nutrition?

Re: 4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Emily Nightingale — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:20:37 GMT

Many thanks! As usual your advise is greatly appreciated! Will let you know how we get on =)

Re: 4y2m Male Lop with absent lower right Molar arcade

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:07:51 GMT

Hi,

I would be looking to Xray this rabbit to try and find out why the teeth are no longer there. Osteomyelitis and end stage acquired dental disease would be concerns and the potential roles of renal/nutritional hyperparathyroidism are hotly debated so checking biochem and electrolytes would be sensible. Prognosis is not great if it has severe dental abnormalities and now is going to be the best time to try and manage the condition before it potentially progresses in the other arcades.

Re: diet, generally they can cope well with a fairly normal diet though using chopped dried grass might be easier to manage than hay. Cutting out high fibre foods and feeding soft items will only accelerate dental changes so if it has been eating ok, let it carry on but monitor weight closely. Free access grazing on grass and weeds is often a good compromise if dried hay is not eaten.

Marie