Changes

*Burring should not take more than a minute but, if it does, stop to cool the tooth frequently with a cotton bud soaked in cold water.

*Burring should not take more than a minute but, if it does, stop to cool the tooth frequently with a cotton bud soaked in cold water.

====Helpful Hints====

===Helpful Hints===

*The nurse should hold the head (by the gag) and pull it forward extending the atlanto-axial joint or use a table-top gag (Veterinary Instrumentation http://www.vetinst.com)

*The nurse should hold the head (by the gag) and pull it forward extending the atlanto-axial joint or use a table-top gag (Veterinary Instrumentation http://www.vetinst.com)

*Rest your forearms on a sand bag, it makes your aim better!

*Rest your forearms on a sand bag, it makes your aim better!

Suturing or gluing an empty socket is advised if several teeth have been extracted (prevents impaction with foodstuffs) but is not possible if only one tooth has been removed.

Suturing or gluing an empty socket is advised if several teeth have been extracted (prevents impaction with foodstuffs) but is not possible if only one tooth has been removed.

The animal is given prophylactic antibiotics: for rabbits, penicillin (procaine penicillin IM or SC q7days or oxytetracycline (SC q 72hrs). Often bone infections in the rabbit necessitate the use of antibiotics parenterally for life.  

The animal is given prophylactic antibiotics: for rabbits, penicillin or oxytetracycline. Often bone infections in the rabbit necessitate the use of antibiotics parenterally for life.  

One must then address the matter of diet and impress on the owner that hard chewable food must be provided. A bolus of hard food held between diverging maloccluded teeth will not provide as much wear as normal, but it provides at least some wear and should be encouraged.

Following extraction of one or more cheek teeth a careful watch must be maintained on the remaining (opposing) teeth in case coronal reduction is required. As rabbits have unequal numbers of teeth in upper and lower arcades there is no likelihood of the crown of a tooth growing into an opposing socket but coronal reduction may be required to allow proper masticatory excursion.

 

Ensure breeding stock and growing rabbits have '''sufficient calcium and vitamin D''', avoiding mixed cereal rations which enable selective feeding.

 

Provide ''ad lib'' fibrous food consisting of '''good quality grass and hay''' to encourage dental wear.

 

 

Feed '''fibrous vegetables''' such as broccoli, cabbage and spinach leaves.

Following extraction of one or more cheek teeth a careful watch must be maintained on the remaining (opposing) teeth in case coronal reduction is required. As rabbits have unequal numbers of teeth in upper and lower arcades there is no likelihood of the crown of a tooth growing into an opposing socket but coronal reduction may be required to allow proper masticatory excursion.

Allow '''exercise outside''' each day which provides the opportunity to graze and prevents vitamin D deficiency.

==References==

==References==

*Hillyer, E. V. (1994) Pet Rabbits. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 24 (1) 25-65

Hillyer, E. V. (1994) '''Pet Rabbits.''' ''Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice.'' 24 (1) 25-65

 

[[Category:Rabbit Dentition]]

[[Category:Rabbit Dentition]]

[[Category:To Do - Helen]]

[[Category:To Do - Helen]]