High incidence of complications following intraoral extractions and treatment of periapical infections in the management of domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) dental disease (51 cases).

Objective: To describe the outcome of common medical therapies, intraoral dental procedures, extraoral surgical interventions, and resulting complications of treatment in client-owned rabbits diagnosed with dental disease.

Methods: The medical records of 51 client-owned domestic rabbits presenting for veterinary care and management of dental disease from 2013 to 2023 at 2 veterinary teaching hospitals were reviewed.

Results: Of the patients managed with coronal reduction and occlusal adjustment, none developed significant complications. Of the patients that required intraoral dental extractions, 41% developed postprocedural complications, including incomplete tooth extraction. Following periapical infection and the formation of an odontogenic abscess for which surgical intervention was implemented, 25% of patients developed complications, including abscess recurrence and sepsis. Meloxicam was the most frequently prescribed analgesic medication for all procedures reviewed. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination oral suspension was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic following coronal reduction, occlusal adjustment, and dental extractions, and parenteral penicillin G procaine was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic following periapical infection-related interventions. Seven patients had documentation of natural death or humane euthanasia secondary to progressive dental disease.

Conclusions: The risk of postprocedural complications during the management of dental disease must be considered and discussed given the high rate of potential complications.

Clinical relevance: With the increasing popularity of rabbits as companion animals, dental disease is considered one of the most common reasons for veterinary care in this species. Rabbits undergoing intraoral dental procedures and extraoral surgical interventions for the treatment of acquired and progressive dental disease are at risk of developing adverse postprocedural sequelae that must be considered before attempting intervention. This report adds to the growing body of scientific literature related to the management of this challenging disease process.