Hans’ incisors were getting really long (rabbits’ teeth grow at a rate of around 3mm per week):
A close up – the upper incisor are almost touching his lower gums (those round lumps on each side of the lower incisor are his gums). So off to the vet we went, before the upper incisor starts to cut into his gums:
His teeth really look out of whack, don’t they? This was how his incisors looked like about 6 months ago:
I don’t know how or why his teeth are growing all over the place now. The upper left incisor is unable to grow properly because it’s blocked by the upper right incisor. The lower right incisor is growing at a very slow pace.. it’s just a little stump right now, that’s why it doesn’t show in the photo.
The vet wrapped Hans in a towel, turned him on his back, trimmed his teeth with a small bone cutter and filed them a little, without sedating him. It was over fairly quickly. Luckily, Hans took everything in stride.. he didn’t seem bothered by the experience, and was busy peeking over the top of his carrier on the way home, as though nothing had happened.
When we arrived home, there was a package awaiting Hans.. from his Secret Paw, Joey!
I’m staking claim over these cute bunny note pads! They look so nice, I’ll probably end up keeping them forever and not use them, lol!
Hans was surprised to see an unfamiliar basket in his play pen:
He immediately came over to investigate:
Without hesitation, he pounced on the basket and started nibbling at the hay cakes:
Then he moved on to packet of treats, digging and scratching at it:
Thanks for the lovely gifts, Joey and LH! They really cheered Hans up (and me, as well)!!
Buttons and Yohji are keeping an eye and an ear on Hans..
.. waiting for an opportunity to get at his stash of goodies! Maybe Hans would consider sharing his goodies, if Buttons and Yohji would just stop boxing and growling at him 👿
Awwwe poor Hans! At least he took it like a manbunny.. (:
And such lovely gifts to greet him in his pen. I think I may just consider joining the secret paws this year. I’m sure Pepper will have fun ripping the package to shreds.. Haha.
Well, a visit without sedation is good, he sure does have some whacky looking teeth, least the one that’s not growing doesn’t have to be clipped. I still haven’t gone to our vet, I’m waiting for Sydney’s yearly exam date (procrastinator).Tyler and Sydney love hay cubes too, they pick them up and hop away with them to enjoy in private. If I just give them one to share they grab it back and forth.
I’m glad Hans is such a trooper. Poor little guy. But if he can tolerate the trimmings, he’s probably got a long and hoppy life ahead of him.
And how nice for him to come home to treats! Watch him start expecting it now…
Glad Hans is ok! 🙂
haha, Buttons, Yohji, leave Hans treats alone, and MAYBE he’ll share. 🙂
Oh, visits to the “dentist” can be so distressing. I hope all goes well. I don’t know anything about trimming teeth but I hope all goes well.
Good goodies Hans … and good going at the V E T .. ugh …
poor Hans why his teeth like that one
so longggggggg
the problem he didnt nibs anything is it? hehee not a fan of hay, or those snack for nibbing?
wow Yohji and Buttons sitting eyeing on this stacks is it?
yikes…teeth trimming..but Hans obviously did a great job, and happy for him 😀 At least there was treat later..and for you too, those stationaries look fabulous 😀
OMG… poor little hans…
But he looks enjoying his pressies! Yeah, Buttons and Yohji should be nice to him.. so that they can share the pressies 😛
Those haycakes will be good for his teeth. poor little thing, but glad the treatment didn’t upset him too much
Really heart wrenching to see Hans that way. Hope his incisor slows down in growth.
Thanks! But honestly, I don’t find it heart wrenching. Sure I feel bad that he has to live with bad teeth for the rest of his life.. but right now, he’s a healthy, happy little guy. He’s eating, drinking, answering nature’s call and playing his heart out and that’s all I can ask for.
Vivien, Hans’ malocclusion is very likely to be due to genetics. His lower jaw is longer than it should be and hence, his incisors don’t meet the way they should. He’s a little picky, but he does eat his hay 😀
I am glad Hans had something nice at home for him. I hate going to the dentist!
Poor Hans! At least he’s handling it well. And that was good timing on all the yummy treats!
genetics? poor Hans…
so you have to be extra closer look at him from time to time…
it must be painful to such a long teeth this discomfort….
Oh poor Hans with those teeth! Good thing he found a good bunny owner who is willing to take him to get them trimmed so often, I’ve heard sad stories of some vets recommending euthanasia for malocclusion.
All of your buns are looking beautiful, as per usual!
Hans’ tooth looks bad. Are you considering removing the tooth altogether or continue trimming his tooth without sedation?
Ippo, I would prefer to extract his incisors so that he doesn’t have to go through the stress of visiting the vet every month. Unfortunately, I can’t find any vet in Malaysia who is experienced in extracting rabbit teeth 😦 I know the vets in Singapore perform this procedure very regularly, so in the long run, I might consider going to Singapore for extraction. For now, though, I’ll wait and see how things go with Hans’ teeth in this one year.
Vivien, Hans is not in pain. He is still playful and he ‘purrs’ quite a lot, so I take it that he’s not feeling any discomfort. No drooling, no loss of appetite.
Mind explaining what a tooth extraction is and how it’ll help lil hans? o:
Sure 🙂 extraction will involve the removal of all the incisors (4 upper, and 2 lower incisors). Being misaligned, the incisors don’t serve much purpose so he won’t miss them when they’re gone. Rabbits without incisors will learn to pick up food with their lips.
The extraction will be a one-off operation, as opposed to having to visit the vet monthly for trims, sometimes under sedation. Frequent sedation is not a good thing. Trimming runs the risk of fracture or hairline cracks to the teeth, leading to gum/jaw abscess which will be hard to treat. Weighing one against the other, extraction seems to be the better choice. However, it is a rather difficult operation and good post-op care (antibiotics and painkillers) is crucial.. so I won’t send Hans for an extraction until I can find a vet who is experienced with such cases. For now, we’ll be doing monthly trims and we’ll see how things go from there. It’s a good thing that Hans takes these vet visits very well 😀
He does have some interesting teeth. We’re sorry he has to go through all of that! What a little sweetie! Great timiing on the treats! What an awesome secret pal!
Oh poor Hans! My mum says that you are lucky, as you can have dentals without GA. I was twice at the vets for a dental, once a year, and had one spur removed from my molar, and for that I had to have GA. Boy was I dizzy when I woke up, and I couldn’t hop in a straight line….
He will be feeling good once he’s all fixed up – and hopefully those haycakes will help!
Truly admire your dedication and you have my support that Hans will be fine.. in some cases that i know……. rabbits with problem like that – owner tend to return back….. to the seller they bought.. I’m so disgusted with this kind of owner..
it comes a responsibility that one must bear in mind – regardless the pet they owned…
Hans is the most luckiest rabbit on earth to have you as his “mother” hehehe
but if u send to sg, need to clarify any thing for the custom?
Ah I completely forgot that rabbits have teeth at the back as well as their incisors. I was wondering how Hans would eat after his incisors are extracted, haha. Oh I really do hope you find yourself a good doctor who is sincere and not only in it for the money… (:
Thanks, Vivien 😀
Nicole, I read on the SG authority (AVA)’s website that there is a permit & fee for ‘export’ of pets.. If I do actually go to SG for the operation, I’ll have to give the AVA a call to find out their requirements.
I never think that a bunny would need a dentist !