PAWS Rescue Clinic Story
Lancelot
A Battle Worth Fighting
A story of severe dental disease, extraordinary surgery, months of comfort and joy, and a brave rabbit whose final chapter was filled with love.
JOURNEY
March 2024 – February 2025
SUPPORT GIVEN
Major dental and abscess surgery
Meet Lancelot
When Lancelot arrived at Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue, he was already carrying the burden of severe dental disease. His incisors were badly misaligned, multiple cheek teeth were diseased, and changes within the jawbone suggested the problem had been developing for a long time.
He struggled to eat normally and faced a future that was far from certain. But Lancelot still had fight in him, and his rescue team chose to give him every chance.
Veterinary care donated
Over $1,500
Through Little Pet Vet and the PAWS Rescue Clinic, Lancelot received dental radiographs, extensive tooth extractions, abscess surgery, laboratory testing, hospital care, medications, pain relief and intensive nursing support.
Dental radiographs
17 tooth extractions
Abscess surgery
Culture testing
Comfort and quality of life
A young rabbit facing impossible odds
In March 2024, Lancelot was assessed for severe dental disease. His lower incisors were crossed and displaced, cheek teeth were overgrown and spurred, and a bony mass was present along the right mandible.
Advanced dental imaging revealed just how serious the problem had become. Many of his teeth were malformed, displaced, infected, or no longer functional. Without major treatment, eating comfortably would become increasingly difficult.
Normal Lancelot
Seventeen teeth, one new beginning
To give Lancelot the best chance at a comfortable life, a major dental surgery was performed. Seventeen teeth were extracted, including all incisors and every molar on the right side of his mouth.
It was one of the most extensive rabbit dental surgeries undertaken. The recovery required careful pain relief, Critical Care feeding, overnight support, close monitoring and a completely new way for Lancelot to learn how to eat.
A year of happiness
Despite the size of the operation, Lancelot amazed everyone. Within days he was eating greens, exploring, accepting pats and beginning to adapt to life without many of the teeth he had once relied on.
Over the following months, he thrived. His weight increased from 2.47 kg to 2.82 kg, his appetite improved, and his personality flourished. What had first looked like a devastating diagnosis became a story of adaptation, comfort and joy.
A courageous final battle
Sadly, Lancelot’s journey was not over. Like many rabbits with severe dental disease, he later developed a chronic jaw abscess. Culture and sensitivity testing identified Streptococcus intermedius, and despite careful management the infection continued to progress.
In February 2025, major abscess surgery was performed. Infected tissue was carefully dissected, purulent material removed, and the cavity marsupialised to allow ongoing drainage. The procedure was technically challenging, with significant bleeding encountered during removal of the deepest portion of the abscess.
Lancelot’s journey
A simple timeline of the moments that shaped his story.
8 March 2024
Lancelot was assessed with severe dental disease, displaced incisors, cheek tooth spurs and a bony mass along the right mandible.
18 March 2024
Major dental surgery was performed, including extraction of all incisors and all right-sided molars — seventeen teeth in total.
April 2024
Lancelot was doing amazingly well, eating, spending time with his carer, and adapting to his new way of chewing.
December 2024
His weight had increased from 2.47 kg to 2.82 kg, showing how well he had adapted after his extensive dental surgery.
February 2025
A chronic jaw abscess had expanded significantly. Culture testing confirmed Streptococcus intermedius, and surgery was planned to improve his comfort.
19 February 2025
Major abscess surgery was performed to remove infected tissue, drain purulent material and marsupialise the abscess cavity.
21 February 2025
Lancelot suddenly developed severe respiratory distress overnight and passed away before further intervention could be performed.
What PAWS support helped provide
Dental radiography
Seventeen tooth extractions
Major dental surgery
Abscess drainage and surgery
Culture and sensitivity testing
Hospitalisation and nursing
Critical Care feeding
Pain relief and antibiotics
Overnight care and comfort support
“Lancelot’s story is not one of failure. It is a story of time gained, comfort restored, and a life that was loved deeply until the very end.”
“Sometimes rescue medicine is about curing disease. Sometimes it is about giving an animal the time, comfort and love they deserve.”
The Team Behind Lancelot
Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue
Gave Lancelot the chance to receive complex dental surgery, ongoing abscess care and a life filled with comfort after arriving with severe disease.
Foster Carers and Supporters
Provided Critical Care feeding, diet adjustments, daily observation, fundraising, affection and the loving home environment he needed to thrive.
Little Pet Vet
Provided diagnostics, extensive dental surgery, abscess surgery, laboratory testing, hospital care, anaesthesia, pain relief and nursing support.
See more of Lancelot’s story at Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue
Here
Lancelot’s legacy
Lancelot’s passing was heartbreaking. But his story is not defined only by the way it ended. Because of rescue care, he gained almost a full year of comfort, safety, affection and quality of life after arriving with severe dental disease.
Through the partnership between Romeo’s Rabbit Rescue, Little Pet Vet and the PAWS Rescue Clinic, more than $1,500 worth of veterinary services were donated to support Lancelot’s treatment journey.
He experienced a successful recovery from extensive dental surgery, meaningful weight gain, months of happiness, and the love of people who fought for him until the very end. Lancelot was a battle worth fighting.
Thank you for being part of Lancelot’s journey and for supporting animals in need.