Rabbit dental care

If you've got a rabbit, you know that one of a bunny's favorite things to do (besides being cute!) is to chew...and chew...and chew. Your friend uses her teeth for a lot more than just eating. They aid her in grooming, marking territory, and expressing a variety of emotions. As a responsible rabbit owner, it's up to you to ensure that her most important tools stay in good working order.

Rabbit teeth continue to grow

Unlike your teeth, your pet's teeth grow continuously throughout her life. Her front teeth, known as the upper and lower incisors, can grow up to five inches a year. Should these teeth fail to wear down properly, they can become crooked and/or overgrown. This condition, known as malocclusion, can lead to difficulty in chewing and swallowing. If left untreated, the animal may become unable to properly close her mouth, resulting in excessive drooling and wet, matted fur, especially around the chin.

Malocclusion can be treated by cutting a rabbit's incisor teeth

Malocclusion is most often treated with regular trimming of the teeth by a veterinarian. In some cases, extraction of the misaligned teeth may be a viable alternative to regular trimming.

Abcesses and other dental problems

Abscesses of the cheek teeth (the teeth your pet uses to grind) are also sometimes seen in rabbits. They may be caused by impacted food or fractured teeth. Treatment varies depending on severity, and options include tooth extraction, antibiotics, surgical scraping of the abscess, and injections into the wall of the abscess. Other dental problems in rabbits include broken teeth, overgrown cheek teeth, and infection of the tooth root.

Causes of dental problems

Because bunnies don't brush and floss, we can't blame problems on poor dental hygiene. But veterinarians do know that many cases of malocclusion can be attributed to genetics. Some rabbits who've been bred to have shorter jaws may exhibit problems with overgrown incisors before their first birthday; this usually requires regular trimming of the teeth throughout the animal's life.

Rabbit diet makes a difference when it comes to teeth

Diet can also play a major role in the development of dental disease. Rabbits who are fed a strictly pelleted diet just don't get in enough chewing time, and it's the very act of chewing that helps keep their teeth in good condition. Injury to the teeth or face can result in malocclusion, as can poor nutrition and various other diseases in the body. Older bunnies may also develop problems as a result of the aging process.

Signs and symptoms of dental disease in rabbits

Although some signs of dental disease are hard for pet owners to detect, the following are indicators that a rabbit may be suffering from a dental problem:

• Drooling and/or wet, matted fur around the chest, chin and mouth
• Excessive production of tears
• Tooth grinding (not the kind that signals contentment)
• Changes in eating habits (including appetite loss, the favoring of softer foods over hard foods, dropping food out of the mouth without eating it)
• Bad breath

Prevention

While some dental disease in rabbits is strictly genetic, many problems may be avoided with preventive medicine:

• A pellet-only diet can spell trouble, so it's crucial to ensure that your rabbit is eating a proper diet, with unlimited hay daily
• You'll need to provide your pet with appropriate items for chewing. Nothing beats branches and twigs from non-toxic trees that have not been treated with any chemicals.
• Regularly check your rabbit's teeth. You'll only be able to see the incisors, but do look for breaks, chips and any changes in color and shape.

For a thorough check-up of the entire mouth, it is recommended that you bring your pet to the vet at least once a year.