Hi all! My baby bun jaw is mis aligned - her teeth can't wear down as her upper jaw goes behind her lower jaw. The vet hoped that as she was a baby it would re-align itself. This has not happened unfortunately, so I take her to have her teeth burred every 6 weeks. I was just wondering if anyone else on here has the same problem with their bunnies.

I havent ever seen a mis-aligned jaw just mis-aligned incisors, what did the vet suggest?

Mine have never had any teeth problems. *Touch wood*

Does it cost a lot to have burred?

We got her at 12 weeks old and the vet said that sometimes the jaw can rectify itself , she suggested buying willow products to help with this, but the baby bun never showed any interest. So as the months have gone on ( had her and the grump!) since August and unfortunately her jaw has not re-aligned so I have to take her to the vet every 6 weeks.. I just wondered if anyone else had had this problem with their bunnies.

Some vets undertake teeth burring without the need of a GA and charge around £10.00. The price increases if a bun has a dental under GA.

it only costs 11.36 each time and my vet will add up to 50.00 excess ( on insurance) and I can then claim it back.. It's not the cost that bothers me at all - I just wondered if anyother buns have this problem.

Do buns need ga? Oh my word! my vet said that they just use a gum gaurd and this is not painful etc! I would hate to think that it hurts her.

If only more vets carried out teeth burring without the need of a GA. The risk is great if, say, your bun needs a dental every 6 weeks and has to undergo a GA each time. Vets who teeth burr without a GA are few and far between - hold on to your vet, your bun will be fine.

I am so relieved to hear that! I thought she might have been in pain when they did her teeth. My vet is very good , but for a moment I did doubt her as I thought my baby bun would be in pain - I understand fully what you mean now as the use of g a every 6 weeks ( with their delicate tums ) would be worse. Is it normal practice to use ga when teeth burring I wonder?

I think it depends how confident the vet is with rabbits and how experienced they are. It sounds like you have a good vet. :thumbup:

I knew she was a bunny vet due to how she was with my last house bun, dk, but I did think for a moment when ga was mentioned that maybe not! She is a diamond then.

You find that rabbit savvy bets will do teeth burring without a GA. As Justine said, those vets who are inexperienced plug for a GA.

I think you do have a diamond :thumbup:

I took her earlier today and asked about the ga, she ( vet) said because its jimmy's top and bottom incisors they can be burred using the machine with a head and gum guard, if it was her back teeth it may not be possible to use the machine , but they would try prior to having to use ga as they will only use ga on teeth if it is the best way to treat the bunny - but if that was the case with back teeth problems they would only use ga the once and extract the teeth and then sew up the gum were the teeth have been extraced. this will help the bunny eat again quicker. Jimmy's jaw is misaligned like people when there bottom teeth over lap the top. I just wondered if many people on here had that problem with their bunnies.

I haven't personally and although some buns who do come through the rescue have dental problems, as far as I'm aware, it hasn't been through a misaligned jaw. Sorry I can't be of any help.

No need to apologize, I was just curious - my last house bun was one on his own - i think he had ibs and this kept leading to gi stasis. I have some natural treats and some carrot treats if you would like me to send them for the bunnies at your rescue. Be a nice christmas present for them. If you want to give me the address where I can post them. I also have a couple of vine balls and a hard eating thing ( sorry for not been more specific with description of last item - I just cant remember the correct name for it ) Let me know if you think they will come in useful, I usually give the stuff me spoilt little furry girls turn their noses up to a friend, but to give to your rescue would be more appreciated.

Awww, that's very generous of you, treats are gratefully received. I will pm you the address.

Thank you xx

That's no problem, glad to help when I can. Pm me the address and I will send them off.

I would be very tempted, if your bun is havong a dental every 6 weeks even without a GA to ask for the front incisors and peg teeth to be removed. I have had buns in the past with problems simelar to yours and have always found that haveing the front teeth removed has solved the problem. The back teeth should still wear down as it is the grinding action when eating that does this, misaligment of the back teeth, if say her bottom jaw sits in front of the top jaw, would not affect the way she eats, what you will have to keep an eye out for are teeth spurs on the back teeth, again your vet will be able to advise on this, a good hay based diet will help to keep the back teeth nicely in shape xx

Hi Phil, Thank you for the advice, would you mind me asking why you would have the bunnies teeth removed? The only reason I ask, is it appears that is favourable with most bunny owners who have rabbits with either dental problems or misaligned jaws? I can't speak for bunny owners who's rabbits have dental problems through not allowing teeth to bear down - be that for what ever reason. However, I am curious to know why teeth removal is the preferred option ( it appears) In my opinion, ( with my baby bun ) who enjoys nothing more than going out in the garden and munching all day - that the removal of her incisors would not actually be beneficial. As this, in my opinion would hinder her quality of life.

I have found it favorable because you don't have to have the dentals any longer to burr teeth and rabbits manage very well without there front teeth, can still eat all manner of foods and veg, granted some veg you need to cut up into inch size chuncks so they can eat it, but the majority of the time you need do nothing special for a bun with no front teeth. With buns we've had with misalighnment of the front teeth, i have always found it better to remove the teeth and have always found the buns to be happier after and no need for more vet trips.

I think we should agree to disagree on this one Phil, I personally would not make such a sweeping statement regarding rabbits are better off without front teeth. I am only going on MY baby bun Jimmy, and also on my vets suggestion. It is her opinion that matters alongside my personal view. She states that burring front teeth , rabbits takes less then a minute. 20 seconds in her surgery ( FOR MY BABY JIMMY, as we had her from 12 weeks and is a house bun ) in general rabbits prefer to keep their front teeth, they can cope without their front teeth, although it is preferable to keep them - many owners do not take her suggestion and insist on removal. In her opinion, it is the back teeth that pose the larger problem in the majority of cases she has seen. I am not medically qualified to make a sweeping statement like you made .. In which case I suggest we agree to disagree on this matter.