Rabbit dentals

Re: Rabbit dentals

Claire Bloor — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 00:01:52 GMT

Good advice everyone. It's an absolute no!

Re: Rabbit dentals

scully — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:19:44 GMT

Thanks everyone - appreciate the repies :-)

You've all confirmed what I thought, but I was being told otherwise! I plan to stay away from them as I always have!

Thanks

Re: Rabbit dentals

Julie-Anne Wilson — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:37:16 GMT

I would say to stay well away from rabbit dentals. RVNs aren't allowed to extract teeth at all and anything done to a rabbit's teeth needs someone with more knowledge than we get taught.

I used to cut my own rabbit's teeth before I started nursing and I continued it after I started my training but I wouldn't do it now and I'd never do it to another's pet.

Re: Rabbit dentals

Alison Clare Hickman — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:43:34 GMT

My personal opinion is that I would agree that no nurse is qualified under law to perform rabbit dentals where removal of any teeth or part of any tooth is the result. The question is, would I do this on a dog or a cat? No. Irrespective of species the answer remains No.

Furthermore, I have seen the disastrous results caused by over-zealous burring and/or 'slipping' off the tooth when burring so to cause gum/jaw damage (and eventual abscess formation, leading to euthanasia as a result of the problems caused). I have seen this in dental patients referred to my specialist (rabbit) practice. (As an interesting note; my vet only uses manual rasps and is against the use of dental machinery in the rabbit as it is so very easy to slip off the tooth and cause damage). So, as a consequence of having seen what can happen when it 'ain't done right' I would be afraid to tackle it anyway.

I would definitely advise that a nurse steers well clear of performing rabbit dentals, whatever their extent, primarily because of the law and importantly because of (potential) patient health and welfare issues.

Alison

Re: Rabbit dentals

Louise Dick — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:24:29 GMT

I would say that RVNS should not be perfoming dentals (excludng simple scale and polishes).

And rabbit dentals, in particular, I would say no. Extractions in rabbits can be fraught with problems and I have heard some vets even have great difficulty with these so personally I don't think it is in our remit to be doing this .Cutting and filing in my opinion is also the job of a vet, not a nurse.

Louise

Re: Rabbit dentals

Kim Buckley — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:02:43 GMT

[quote user="scully"]

I'd read up on the RCVS guidelines, but to me that's not totally clear...

I totally understand RVNs shouldn't be extracting rabbit teeth, but is cutting / filing rabbit teeth classed as 'routine dental hygiene work'?

[/quote]

I don't see cutting / filing as hygiene work. To me that is scale and polish only.

Re: Rabbit dentals

scully — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:48:01 GMT

I'd read up on the RCVS guidelines, but to me that's not totally clear...

I totally understand RVNs shouldn't be extracting rabbit teeth, but is cutting / filing rabbit teeth classed as 'routine dental hygiene work'?

Re: Rabbit dentals

Lisa Brett — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:15:35 GMT

This is the definitive answer from the RCVS Website:

Veterinary nurses and dentistry

18.12 Registered or listed veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses working under the direction of a veterinary surgeon may carry out routine dental hygiene work.

18.13 The extraction of teeth using instruments may readily become complicated and should only be carried out by veterinary surgeons. The RCVS considers that the extraction of teeth using instruments is not within the meaning of “minor surgery” in Schedule 3.

Hope this helps...

Lisa Brett - BVNA Education Manager

Re: Rabbit dentals

wendy rattray — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:56:52 GMT

Im under the inpression that RVN's are not allowed to do any dental procedures that require the usage of tools/extractors/drills etc. Extraction of teeth definitely not allowed unless they can be removed with only your fingers! We are only to be trusted to scale and polish ;-/. If anybody knows differently I'd be interested in finding out exactly what we are allowed to do - LEGALLY!