What You Need to Know About Rabbit Dental Issues

When most people think about rabbit dental issues, they think about overgrown incisors. After reading "What to Do when Your Rabbit Has an Overbite" I could see that I more extensive article on the topic needed to be written. Rabbit owners need to be aware of signs to watch out for so they catch dental problems before it's too late. People need to know what they can do to prevent dental issues from arising. Rabbit owners also need to realize when things are out of their hands and should best be left to a rabbit savvy vet.

Rabbit Teeth: The Basics

Before you can understand rabbit dental issues, you need to understand the basics of rabbit teeth. Rabbits have 6 incisors (4 upper and 2 lower), 10 premolars (3 upper and 2 lower on each side), and 10 molars (3 upper and 2 lower on each side). That's a total of 26 teeth! So many people think rabbits only have incisors (and most of those people don't realize that rabbits have more than 4 incisors). Rabbit teeth grow continuously and must wear down at a rate of 3mm per week. Rabbit teeth wear each other down when they meet properly, but are also worn down by food. It is important to remember all of the rabbit's teeth when looking for dental problems.

Dental Problems: Many Causes and Many Different Problems

Your pet rabbit can get a lot more problems than just an overbite. Some of these issues may be prevented, while others cannot reasonably be prevented. No matter where you acquired your rabbit, its genetics are pretty much out of your control. Trauma is also generally out of your control. Your rabbit may be playing on the stairs and knock out an incisor that will then grow back in at the wrong angle. You couldn't have known that your rabbit would do that. Infections can also cause problems. Consider tooth root abscesses and other such problems. These are also basically out of your control. However, diet is one of the most common causes of dental issues in rabbits and you've guessed it, this one is under your control! While you can't control everything, that shouldn't prevent you from doing what you can.

Signs That Your Rabbit May Be Having Dental Issues