Overgrown teeth in rabbits: causes and treatment

Rabbits' teeth are constantly developing, which might pose issues. It can help to avoid significant problems if you know how to maintain your rabbit's teeth as well as what to do if they seem to be overgrown.


Standard rabbit teeth

Rabbit

28 of a rabbit's teeth are permanent. The majority of herbivores, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses, possess teeth that are exceptionally long both above and below the surface of their gums and that are continuously developing. Rabbits possess molars at the back of their jaws; those can be problematic since they are tougher to notice than the teeth, which make up the teeth in the front and are usually the most visible.


What causes overgrown teeth in rabbits?

Bunny

Teeth are typically retained at an optimal length despite continuously developing due to the natural grind motion that occurs when a rabbit consumes fibrous vegetation. However, due to a variety of health, environmental, and hereditary reasons, pet rabbits frequently require manual tooth cutting.

While many of the rabbit's teeth may become overly long, the enlarged incisors are the easiest to notice. They have the ability to grow in length to the extent that they twist and protrude over your rabbit's lips. They could get caught on objects like cage bars or, worse yet, develop into the rabbit's gum or the top of its mouth, which is an issue.

But the molars may expand to extreme lengths, similarly to how the incisors can. Rabbit owners tend to be unaware if the animal's molars are enlarged since they're difficult to see without using a specific tool called a speculum to look at them in the back of the mouth. Though these are essential signs to look for in the rabbit you have, excessive salivation and difficulty swallowing and chewing are frequent in rabbits and other exotic pets with larger teeth. If a rabbit lacks the ability to feed, ileus can quickly develop and pose a threat to life.


What indicate rabbits have overgrown teeth?

Rabbit

Malocclusion, or misalignment between the teeth, prevents the regular wear that keeps teeth in good condition, which can lead to overcrowding. The small peg teeth develop down and outward as the upper incisors often curve towards the mouth, while the lower ones typically expand upward, and all of the teeth typically elongate. As they grow longer, the bottom incisors could stick out of the mouth. Premolars and molars that are elongated can develop sharp spurs and points that can lacerate the delicate oral tissues and result in itchy sores in the lips, tongue, gums, and inner cheeks.


Typical indications of crowded teeth include:

Bunny

1: Eating difficulties
2: Loss of weight
3: Poor coat of hair
4: Moisture beneath the chin or drooling
5: Having wet or stained forelimbs
6: Nose and eye discharge
7: Edoema or abscess on the face

The surrounding bones and soft tissues, including the gingiva, can get infected when the tooth root becomes infected. A capsule-shaped mass of thick, pus-filled material makes up a rabbit dental abscess.


How to Stop a Rabbit's Teeth from Growing Too Long

Rabbit

While there is no way to stop your rabbit's teeth from growing, one can prevent them from getting too long by following a few easy rules.

1 - Oral examinations: Try your best to examine your pet's teeth once a week for overgrowth.

2 - Fibrous meal: Feed your rabbit a diet high in fiber to aid in the abrasion of its teeth and to simulate the diet it would have in the wild.

3 - Chew toys: Giving your rabbit plenty of safe stuff to chew on is important for its oral health. Simple blocks made of secure wood along with additional plants, specialized chew toys for rabbits, and home-made toys are also suitable alternatives.


Related Post:

Post a Comment

Please Select Embedded Mode To Show The Comment System.*

Previous Post Next Post

__

__