Hi! I'm not experienced with rabbits and hope someone can help me evaluate thes

admin

Hi!
I'm not experienced with rabbits and hope someone can help me evaluate these x rays and give me some advice on further treatment and prognosis.
The rabbit is 3 years old, has a history of overgrown incisors and have been regularly at the clinic for trimming. In the beginning the rabbit was sedated and the molars also checked, but the molars looked clinically fine (no x rays taken). So for the last year the rabbit had the incisors trimmed without sedation done with diamound burr without water.
For the last year the rabbit has been missing the left lower incisor. The right lower incisor is only slightly above the gingiva, and has not been growing. Only the upper incisors are growing, and has been trimmed.

Some days ago the rabbit developed a lump under the mandible. I assumed the lump would be an abscess but it turned out to be a cyst containing slighly yellow, watery fluid.
The lower molars maybe looked a bit overgrown medially, but no large spurs and not injuring the tongue/gingiva. No impactions between the teeth, and as far as I could see no obvious cause of the cyst.
The left lower incisor is missing and I'm not able to palpate it under the gum. The righ lower incisor is a few mm over the gingiva. Owergrown upper incisors, but not injuring the gingiva. No redness or wounds in the mouth.

The rabbit has always been in good general condition, eating well and keeping a stable weight.

Do you think the cyst is caused by the teeth, or can it be due to something else?
I tried to trim down the molars a bit and drained and cleaned the cyst.
I find the x rays hard to evaluate and hope someone are able to help me!  

All thoughts are highly appreciated

admin

Yes, rabbit dental disease is chronic and progressive, so he’ll need regular burring, under GA, and control radiographs. I’d suggest to adjust once more and keep him under “surveillance”, meaning weekly weighing at home, any changes in demeanor and/or condition, intake of hay, pooping, etc. When these factors change, deteriorate, they can decide if they want to continue. The cyst is probably caused by the entrapped lower incisors that is not growing anymore, but I’m not sure, since it is difficult to assess by distance. As long as he is happy and doing well, he can live a little bit longer? Good luck!