Rabbit Dental Care

Rabbits are prone to dental issues, but it’s often easy to miss the signs. According to the Rabbit Welfare Association UK, over half of the rabbits they see have dental problems. ‘Owners often don’t realise how crucial it is to look after their rabbits’ teeth, or the wide range of painful conditions that tooth problems can cause,’ says Dr Richard Saunders, vet and adviser to the Rabbit Welfare Association.
However, with a little care, your rabbits’ dental health can be well-managed and issues can be prevented. These four simple steps will help:

Understand the causes

Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits’ teeth grow continuously (about 2mm every week), and they are designed to be worn down to the right length by grinding away at food. This means that if they do not get the correct diet – one that is abrasive and rich in fibre – their teeth will become too long and could cause painful problems. When rabbits have a painful mouth, they rapidly stop eating which is very serious situation in rabbits. Whilst we can only see the front teeth, rabbits actually have 28 in total.

If your rabbits’ front teeth (incisors) become overgrown, they will not meet the bottom teeth properly, causing a condition called malocclusion. The back teeth, or molars, can become misshapen, sharp and pointed, and then rub against and cut the tongue and cheeks. Malocclusion is one of the most common problems vets see, and it can have the knock-on effect of putting pressure on the other teeth, causing them to become impacted, inflamed and even leading to life-threatening abscesses.

Prevent problems

The best way to keep your rabbits’ teeth healthy is to feed the right diet. Dr Richard says ‘They need mostly hay, and some leafy vegetables, to keep their teeth in good condition. Dry foods and pellets don’t wear their teeth down. We don’t recommend “muesli” type foods at all because rabbits just pick out the bits they like and don’t get the full range of nutrients they need.’ This is important, as a nutrient deficiency could lead to a calcium and phosphorous imbalance, which can contribute to poor dental health. Pelleted diets prevent this selection and are excellent balanced diets for rabbits alongside hay and grass.

Spot the signs

But how can you tell if your rabbits already have tooth troubles? In dogs and cats, oral problems can often be detected through their smelly breath, but the signs in your rabbits will be more subtle.

Signs to look out for include: weight loss, not grooming themselves, drooling, wetness on the front paws from cleaning their mouths, and going off hay and grass because it is too painful to chew. In fact, if a rabbit seems not to ‘like’ hay, it is almost certainly due to tooth problems and an inability to chew properly.

Also look out for discharge from the eyes, as misaligned teeth can change the shape of a rabbit’s delicate skull – which can block the tear ducts and lead to a build-up of gunk.

Keep checking

You should check your rabbits’ front teeth every week. They should be creamy white, smooth except for a vertical line down the centre of the top ones, and end in a neat chisel-shaped bite. Consult your vet immediately if you have any concerns – they can smooth off any sharp spurs and, in some cases, trim front teeth that have become too long. Never attempt to trim them yourself.

‘You can only see your rabbits’ front teeth, but vets can check the back ones, too,’ says Dr Richard. ‘If they suspect any problems, they will briefly anaesthetise your pet so they can open the mouth wider and take X-rays to check for damage in the jaw. You don’t need to clean your rabbits’ teeth, but they do need a little day-to-day help with dental health. Give your bunnies something extra to chew to help them wear their teeth down naturally. Small, fresh branches from fruit trees are ideal, but a daily diet of hay and greens is the best way to keep teeth healthy.’ Wooden block and chew toys, even cardboard paper towel rolls will help to grind down the teeth.

Postdate: 21st Oct 2020