Lifesaving dental advice for rabbits from Edgewood Vets
February 21, 2018
You can tell a lot about your rabbit’s overall health just by looking at its teeth. Many of the rabbit health problems encountered by the team Edgewood Vets originate from dental problems, so you can see why it’s important to keep an eye on your pet’s teeth.
This month we’re offering all our clients a nurse dental check, so we can give your rabbit an oral once-over which could potentially save its life.
Facts about dental problems in rabbits
If your rabbit seems dull, hunched and generally disinterested, it could have dental problems, most of which are linked to lack of normal wear of the teeth. Rabbit foods can often be too low in fibre, causing uneven tooth wear and producing sharp enamel points, called ‘spurs’.
This can usually be corrected simply by moving your rabbit to a more natural, high-fibre diet, such as grass and hay. If your pet does have significantly elongated teeth then they will need trimming. This is something Nicola can do for you – never be tempted to try to do this yourself.
Signs of rabbit dental disease include:
- Your rabbit stops eating
- Weight loss develops
- Swelling of the jaw, particularly noticeable along the lower edge of the mandible
- Excessive salivation and drooling
- An inability to fully close the mouth
- Watery eye with matting of the hair in the corner
- Swollen appearance of the eye caused by infections behind the eyeball
Dietary suggestions for rabbits
Don’t feed muesli-style diets as these will cause long-term problems – a high-fibre diet is essential. You should not allow your rabbit to be a selective feeder and, of course, only buy quality products if you can.
If you need some help, please don’t hesitate to call us – the team are always happy to offer advice.
