Here we can see, “What to Do If Your Rabbit’s Teeth Are Overgrown”
Rabbits have teeth that never stop growing, which can become an issue. Keeping your rabbit’s teeth in check and knowing what to do if they become overgrown might help you avoid significant problems.
Normal Rabbit Teeth
Rabbits have 28 teeth that are permanent. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses, for example, have long, continually growing teeth that are extremely long above and below the gum line. The incisors, or front teeth, are the most visible, but rabbits also have molars in the back of their mouths, which can cause problems because they are more difficult to see.
What Causes Rabbit Teeth to Overgrow?
When a rabbit consumes fibrous plants, the natural grinding process wears down the teeth just enough to keep them at an appropriate length despite their constant growth. The teeth of pet rabbits need to be trimmed by hand often because of health, environment, and genetic factors.
While all of your rabbit’s teeth might become too long, the incisors are the easiest to spot when they do. They have the potential to grow so long that they coil up and protrude between your rabbit’s lips. This is a concern since they can get stuck on objects like cage bars or, even worse, develop into your rabbit’s gums or mouth roof.
The molars, like the incisors, can grow to be excessively long. Because the molars are difficult to view without using a speculum to look at them at the rear of the mouth, most rabbit owners are frequently unaware if these teeth are enlarged. Rabbits and other exotic pets with overgrown teeth drool a lot and have trouble eating and swallowing, so keep an eye out for these symptoms in your rabbit. If a rabbit can’t eat, it can get ileus quickly, which is a life-threatening condition.
Overgrown Rabbit Incisors Treatment
Fortunately, your rabbit’s enlarged front teeth are simple to manage. Tooth trims aren’t uncomfortable if done correctly, but there are two procedures that are commonly employed.
- Nail Clippers –Â The first approach for trimming rabbit teeth is to use standard dog nail clippers to cut the teeth as if they were toe nails, but this is not the ideal option. Because of the effort required to utilise the clippers, there is a greater chance of shattering or splitting the teeth. If the tooth fractures up to the nerve or is trimmed too short, this procedure might cause discomfort.
- Rotary Tool –Â The second procedure involves removing the superfluous tooth with a handheld rotary tool such as a Dremel or a dental bur. This approach involves more skill and may require an anaesthetic or medication to keep the rabbit motionless, but it can be done at your veterinarian’s office with ease. There is no harm to the tooth or nerve using this approach. Possible harm to the gums or lips if the cutting tool grazes them or if a tooth is clipped too short are concerns. Tooth trimmings are inexpensive at many exotic pet hospitals, but your rabbit may need to be sedated for the process to be done securely and correctly.
Overgrown Rabbit Molars Treatment
Rabbit molars are harder to trim than incisors. Molars are less visible to rabbit owners; therefore, excessive molars may not be noticed until a rabbit is having difficulty eating or drooling. A veterinarian will examine the molars using a speculum to check if they are too lengthy. Your rabbit will then be anaesthetized so that its molars can be clipped. These teeth are ground down with a dental bur or a special tooth file. You may need dental X-rays to find out if the overgrown teeth are unhealthy and need to be taken out.
How to Prevent Rabbit Teeth Overgrowth
While there is no way to stop your rabbit’s teeth from growing, there are some basic steps you can take to keep them from getting overgrown.
- Oral examinations –Â As often as you can, check your pet’s teeth for symptoms of overgrowth.
- Fibrous food –Â To help your rabbit wear down its teeth and resemble what it would eat in the wild, feed it a high-fiber diet. Your rabbit will benefit from grass, green vegetables like kale, and hay.
- Chew toys –Â Chewing is important for your rabbit’s oral health, so make sure it has plenty of safe toys to gnaw on. Simple blocks of safe wood and plants, specialist rabbit chew toys, and handcrafted toys are all viable possibilities.
User Questions
Do rabbit teeth need to be trimmed?
The teeth of a rabbit never stop growing throughout their lives. As a result, they must be cut and filed down on a regular basis. If this is not done, the teeth will become overgrown. This will cause your rabbit pain and be harmful to its long-term health.
What causes overgrown rabbit teeth?
Tooth elongation, malocclusion, or incorrect growth and wear rates are likely caused by a variety of factors. A diet lacking in adequate roughage or fibre to promote regular tooth wear is a major contributor. Wild rabbits grind their teeth all day long by repeatedly munching on grass.
Do you have to file rabbit teeth?
Once a month, some rabbits require clipping. However, because this surgery can be stressful for rabbits, your veterinarian may recommend that the maloccluded teeth be removed entirely. In the case of abscesses and other significant dental diseases, extraction is also indicated.
How do rabbits wear their teeth down?
In order for rabbit teeth to wear down properly, they must crush their meal in a side-to-side motion. This motion can only be achieved by foods containing long fibres, such as grass and hay. Hay should account for 80-90 percent of your rabbit’s daily calorie intake.
How much does it cost to get rabbit teeth trimmed in the UK?
They’ll naturally wear down with hay and a natural diet (a muesli-style diet is the most common cause of growing teeth), but if they get too long, you’ll need to visit the vet. The cost of filing your rabbit’s front teeth might range from £50 to £100.
Conclusion
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