Mary Allen
Rabbits today often suffer from dental problems that the keeper does not always recognize immediately. Find out here what to look out for and what to do in the event of illness.
Food intake in rabbits is important for a healthy metabolism. Because the cute long-eared ears have a very complicated digestive system that only works properly if food is always added. This in turn requires intact teeth. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits’ teeth continue to grow for a lifetime and are repeatedly worn down by gnawing and chewing. Sometimes, however, there are also misaligned teeth, which often only affect the incisors, but sometimes also the molars. In this post, you will find out how you can recognize dental problems with your sniffing noses and what measures are required.
How Many Teeth Do Rabbits Have?
Rabbits have a special structure in the animal world. They only have two frontally visible incisors in the upper and lower jaw. They are responsible for gnawing and roughly chopping food. Directly behind it, there are two small pin teeth each in the upper jaw. The molars lie very far back in the oral cavity and grind the food into chyme. They consist of five teeth in the lower jaw and six teeth in the upper jaw on each side, so that every healthy rabbit has a total of 28 teeth. The teeth continue to grow back and must be able to wear out accordingly.
While the molars of the upper and lower jaw usually meet exactly, the rabbits’ incisors are designed so that they overlap slightly. Whereby the tusks of the upper jaw stand somewhat in front of those of the lower jaw. This enables the rabbit-like to gnaw and chop vegetables, wood, and other hard objects optimally. That’s why you should always offer your rabbits something to nibble and gnaw at. These can be, for example, snack sticks from specialist retailers. Various types of wood, for example, branches of fruit trees, are also suitable.
Recognize Dental Diseases
As is common with most escape animals, illnesses in rabbits are not always immediately apparent. In this behavior, the Mummler follow their innate instinct and do not want to show any weakness towards their enemies. So when the pet owner realizes that something is wrong, the disease is usually quite advanced. Therefore, you should check your rabbit’s teeth about once a month. This is still relatively easy with the incisors. You can look into their mouths by carefully pushing their upper and lower jaw apart with the thumb and forefinger of both hands. In this way, the tusks come to the fore, which are slightly above one another and should look intact. They should be straight and not excessively long. Most rabbits do not like this brief examination and fight back. A second person to hold on to is, therefore, an advantage. Sometimes you are lucky enough to watch your rabbits yawn. In doing so, they usually show their teeth.
It becomes difficult with the molars and the back of the incisors. In order to be able to see the rows of teeth, you need special instruments, such as the veterinarian has, who then knows how to insert them correctly without injuring the rabbit. It is therefore advisable to have a dental check performed every time you visit the vet. At home, you should watch your long-ears in their eating behavior and see whether they show normal food consumption.
Signs of Dental Problems in Rabbits
A clear sign of dental problems is a food bowl that does not empty even though the rabbits keep sticking their heads into it. They then rummage around in the bowl and it looks from the outside as if they are eating. In fact, however, they do not ingest any food, they just push the chunks of food in front of them. Almost always there is then a misalignment of the incisors, which is already dramatically advanced. If the incisors are no longer at an optimal angle, they can no longer be properly grinded when gnawing and grow past each other in an uncontrolled manner – high time to visit the vet immediately!
Teeth that can be seen with your mouth closed may look funny. However, they are a sign of severe tooth furrow position and can cause serious difficulties. If there are problems with the molars, the pet owner can sometimes observe a change in chewing behavior, in which a sick rabbit often opens its mouth or salivates its food more. Molars often have pointed edges that injure the tongue and gums, or they tip sideways. Nasal discharge can also be a sign of dental problems. Likewise swellings in the head area.
There is an urgent need for action in the case of dental problems!
What Does the Treatment Look Like?
Regardless of whether the incisors or molars are misaligned, treatment can only be carried out by a veterinarian. The veterinarian uses special instruments to grind away burrs and irregularities in the molar teeth so that the rabbit no longer has any pain when chewing. Incisors are shortened with a cutting disc, if necessary, so that food can be consumed again. Teeth that are too long should never be trimmed with a pair of pliers! The sensitive tooth necks could splinter, clearing the way for inflammation.
Some rabbits are so defensive that treatment is only possible under anesthesia. This should always be weighed up with the veterinarian. If a rabbit develops dental problems, it is very likely that it will need repeated treatment. It is to be expected that, depending on the severity of the problems, it will have to be taken to the vet every 3 to 18 weeks. In some rare cases, it may even be advisable to completely remove the incisors or to pull a molar. In such cases, the diet may have to be adjusted if the function of the teeth is restricted.
How Can Misaligned Teeth Occur?
Many misaligned teeth are caused by congenital defects. If you want to buy rabbits from a breeder, you should therefore always take a close look at the parent animals. Misaligned teeth are often not yet recognizable in young animals.
In addition, a diet that is not appropriate to the species can lead to dental problems. Rabbits primarily need fresh, high-quality hay from specialist stores, which promotes natural tooth abrasion. This must be available at all times! Fresh greens from the garden or crisp vegetables and hardwood also ensure nibbling fun and dental care. Food and treats should also be tailored to the needs of rabbits.
Conclusion:
Rabbit teeth continue to grow permanently. In order to always wear them well, your long ears always need good hay and species-appropriate forage. Dental problems must always be treated immediately so that serious damage to health can be prevented.