Am I crazy to spend £500+ on a rabbit tooth extraction?

[checkingthedetails]

To put this in context, I'm on benefits (full time carer and unexpectedly single parent) and rather skint on a day to day basis. I had a bit of money saved.

Last year, my two young boys and I rescued some giant bunnies that needed a home urgently. We have built them a great home, and they have loads of space to play.

I kind of gambled on rabbits being pretty easy to keep, but one of them developed a massive abcess on a tooth. We took her to the local rspca vet, who tried a week of antibiotics, but it didn't help. Today, she's had a tooth extracted, and there is a big, infected hole in the bone of her jaw.

I have spent the children's holiday money on getting this treated. The rabbit is a much loved pet, and one of a pair.

Am I crazy? Would it have been kinder to let the rabbit die? Obviously I'm hoping that she will make a full recovery but, even if she does, she will need the opposite tooth filing down periodically, and the whole experience has undoubtedly been very traumatic for everyone, including her rabbit sister.

When I took these bunnies on, I vowed to be a responsible owner, but I wasn't expecting to love them quite this much. I feel guilty for begrudging the money, yet also guilty for spending so much on a rabbit!

Please, somebody, give me some perspective...

[LIZS]

If you are in benefits could you not have had subsidised treatment by PDSA.

[VodkaValiumLattePlease]

This is what pet insurance is for

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

I spent 1000's on my rabbit who had teeth issues. I'm very much of the opinion that when you take on a pet you should be able to afford any treatment they need

[Catzpyjamas]

You are right to do everything you can for an animal in your care and your are teaching your DCs that pets are a big responsibility.
However that sounds very expensive for a rabbit dental.

[checkingthedetails]

I called the pdsa, but they couldn't help because the rabbit was already sick. If I had called them when we first took on the rabbits, I could have insured one of them but not both. This wouldn't have helped me, because I would have chosen the other one. She looked far weaker to begin with, but has been in the pink ever since she came here.

vodka and smiling, I take your point. I should have been able to afford this, and I should have been able to pay for pet insurance. I took a gamble, and when we adopted the bunnies I was taking them away from a situation which was intolerable for them (tiny hutch they could hardly turn round in and no outdoor space at all).

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

I ended up having the problem tooth removed to reduce the vets fees (after years of paying to have it regularly filed)

[Grumpysfirstwife]

Is there another rabbit welfare organisation that may be able to help with the cost? Alternatively can your vet offer a cheaper/lesser treatment that will make your rabbit more comfortable but wont cost as much?

[checkingthedetails]

Just to clarify the cost of the rabbit dental, the animal hospital have capped it at £300 for me. I'm including all the trips to the rspca vet, and taxis because I don't drive, and the ongoing cost of check ups to make sure she is getting better.

The rspca vet couldn't do the general anaesthetic because of the size of the rabbit (she is 5kg) so that had to be done in a neighbouring town.

[Catzpyjamas]

checking, you sound like a great rabbit keeper.
I do have concerns about the advice you've had though. AFAIK, PDSA will treat an animal who is already ill, even if another vet has seen it, so long as you qualify (you would as on benefits). However, I only have experience of a couple of local PDSA practices so they may work differently in other parts of the country.
I also don't understand why your bunny had to go to a different vet due to its weight. If they have the skills, equipment and anaesthetic to do a similar operation on a smaller rabbit, then surely they should be able to do any size.
Are you going to have to keep travelling to the other town every time it needs it's teeth filed? Have they quoted you for routine dental work?
I'd be finding someone local to go to for ongoing treatment once the bunny recovers.

[FernieB]

Those bunnies really landed on their feet with you. You sound like a fantastic pet owner. In your situation I would do exactly as you did. I'm sure your DC would rather their rabbit was looked after than have a holiday.

Is there any way you could find a local vet for check ups to keep transport costs down in future? Or see if someone could give you a lift?