Importance of Rabbit Dentistry
Affectionate, quiet, and absolutely adorable, rabbits make great pets! These little furballs have personality to spare, and to keep them happy from floppy ear to floppy ear, it’s important to prioritize rabbit dental health.
In this blog, our team at Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital gets to the root of rabbit dental health, with tips on recognizing and preventing chronic dental disease through ongoing rabbit dental care.
Why Rabbit Dental Health is Critical
Each tiny little rabbit has a mouthful of 28 teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, making rabbit dental problems complex and varied. Many common health problems—dental and otherwise—begin and end with rabbit dental health. For these reasons, it’s important to seek out a practice experienced in rabbit dentistry and stay up to date with wellness exams and rabbit dental care.
Common Rabbit Dental Problems
Without proper rabbit dental care, rabbit dental problems can progress into chronic dental disease, including the following:
Malocclusion in rabbits: This condition occurs when the upper teeth don’t align properly with the lower teeth, leading to overgrown teeth and improper wear. Malocclusion in rabbits can be caused by trauma, it can be congenital (most common), and it can be caused by poor tooth wear on the rabbit’s incisors.
Overgrown teeth: An outcome of malocclusion, a rabbit’s front teeth (incisors) can become severely overgrown, making eating, drinking, and grooming difficult. When a rabbit’s back teeth (molars) become overgrown, the teeth can develop sharp spurs, which dig into the bunny’s tongue and cheeks and cause painful sores.
Rabbit tooth decay: Bacterial infections can lead to rabbit tooth decay and dental erosion in rabbits, both of which destroy tooth tissue and enamel and cause holes in tooth surfaces.
Rabbit tooth root abscess: Rabbit tooth decay and tooth elongation, among other rabbit dental problems, can cause abscesses to form under the teeth and near the roots. A rabbit tooth root abscess is quite painful and typically requires surgery.
Symptoms of Chronic Dental Disease in Rabbits
Rabbit dental problems should be investigated and treated as soon as possible. Be on the lookout for these symptoms:
- Inability or reluctance to eat/weight loss
- Excessive drooling
- Visibly overgrown teeth
- Mouth or facial swelling
- Bleeding gums or abscesses
- Inability to close the mouth
- Bad breath
Of all these symptoms, one of the most common presentations of dental disease is chronic/recurrent episodes of GI stasis. Many rabbits are treated for the symptoms of GI stasis with medication that help them feel better transiently, but are missing the root cause of the illness. If your rabbit has 2 or more episodes of GI stasis with a definitive cause having not been identified, it is highly recommended that you schedule an oral evaluation with us!
Preventing Chronic Dental Disease in Pet Rabbits
The best way to protect your pet from painful rabbit dental problems is to provide a diet rich in fiber—unlimited amounts of grass and hay, not alfalfa—along with limited access to rabbit pellets that don’t contain alfalfa.
Be sure to schedule routine dental examinations with a veterinarian experienced in rabbit dentistry.
At Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital, our team has the proper equipment and expertise to perform dental care for pet rabbits. Contact us today to schedule a visit for your fluffy friend or if you have questions about rabbit dental health.