Tips for Healthy Rabbit Teeth
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Do rabbits’ teeth keep growing? Learn tips for healthy rabbit teeth and why it is essential to trim rabbit teeth regularly.
by Sherri Talbot
For anyone who’s ever had a rabbit, it’s a familiar fact that rabbits chew. If you have a rabbit that lives in your house, this is especially problematic since they will chew baseboards, wiring, furniture, and anything else you ask them not to!
So why do our fluffy little friends insist on wrecking our things this way?
The dental structure of a rabbit is very different from a human’s. The obvious teeth one can see when watching a rabbit eat are the four front teeth, called incisors. The smaller, bottom teeth sit slightly behind the larger, top teeth when looking at a rabbit with proper dental structure. Behind the top incisors, there are two tiny “peg teeth” that assist with chewing up the tough vegetation rabbits need.
The back teeth, made up of molars and premolars, all look very similar and therefore are simply called “cheek teeth.” These are all quite small, and when properly aligned, the top and bottom teeth should not touch when the rabbit’s at rest. Each side of the rabbit’s mouth should have six top and five bottom cheek teeth.
Since rabbits have no canines, there’s a large gap between the front and back teeth, called the diastema. There should be no teeth or growth in this area.
Do Rabbit’s Teeth Keep Growing?
A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing throughout its life and constant chewing is needed to wear them down. Without this, the teeth can become malformed or uneven, or can even grow into the rabbit’s jaw. Any of these conditions interfere with the rabbit’s health and ability to eat properly.
Although breeders are unlikely to see any issues with the back teeth, they can be on the lookout for signs that indicate dental issues.
Rabbits will often stop eating or become more selective and signs of tooth grinding or drooling may be a symptom of tooth pain. Drooling can also indicate a misalignment of the back teeth, a common issue in rabbits. This misalignment can cause problems with chewing and lead to uneven tooth wear.
On average, severe dental issues tend to be seen in younger rabbits. Geriatric rabbits who are given good dental care often have fewer issues later in life. Complete dental checkups are a good idea, as long as the rabbit appears healthy enough for anesthesia. Partial dental examinations can be done if you and your vet deem it more appropriate. These checkups help look for abnormal growth patterns since occasionally the growth of an older rabbit’s teeth may become slow, or uneven. In these cases, the rabbit may require dental care to retain an even bite pattern.
Dental examinations on rabbits can be difficult and a complete examination often requires general anesthesia. Alert rabbits, especially those already suffering from pain or illness, are unlikely to handle a complete dental examination well, but partial visual examinations are sometimes possible by a vet with the correct tools.
Geriatric rabbits may develop other health conditions that stem from dental issues. For instance, if the roots of the teeth continue to grow, they may block the rabbit’s tear ducts. Infections in the eye and irritation of the cornea can also be the result of dental issues, so be on the lookout for visual symptoms in your older rabbits as well.
In some cases, dental issues require the removal of teeth. This can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming and should not be done on a rabbit in poor condition until they’ve been stabilized. Rabbits who’ve had their teeth removed can still survive with a liquid diet. (There are several powdered options available online or at your local feed store.)
Breeders can prevent some of these issues by providing healthy chewing toys for rabbits. These can be found at your local pet shop, or through internet pet suppliers, or you can simply find a few green, hardwood sticks for them to play with. This will prevent overgrown teeth or damaged teeth due to chewing on inappropriate surfaces, such as the wire on their cages.
Trimming Rabbit Teeth
If teeth do overgrow, they should be trimmed by your veterinarian using specialized tools. While breeders will sometimes attempt this from home, lacking the proper tools and techniques can result in further damage to the teeth and roots.
The care invested in a rabbit’s dental health is very dependent on the individual breeder and the reason for raising rabbits. For a beloved pet, it may be deemed worth the time and cost of regular dental checkups and, eventually, tooth extraction. Others may decide that it’s kinder to the animal to avoid complications or stress and may choose euthanasia for a rabbit suffering from dental problems.
For breeders who raise rabbits for show, fiber, or meat, the cause and type of dental problem may make a difference. In the case of a genetic abnormality in the growth of the teeth, it’s likely more practical to cull the rabbit, rather than to pass the genes to further generations. It may also be impractical to treat a rabbit planned for slaughter or who wasn’t going to be bred. In the case of an exceptional breeder with a non-genetic deficiency, it may be worth the cost to keep the rabbit for further breeding. This is a decision that only the individual breeder can make.
References
- 14, 16 Bradley Bays, Teresa. (2020). Geriatric Care of Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. 23(3): 567-593.
- 1,2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12 Kolb, Sarah (July 1, 2017) Rabbit Dentistry. Today’s Veterinary Nurse. Retrieved from the internet on 11/14/2023.
- 13, 15 Lennox, Angela. (2010) Care of the Geriatric Rabbit. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. 13(1): 123-133.
- 3, 5, 11 Oh My, What Big Teeth You Have: Canine, Feline and Rabbit Dental Basics. North Seattle Veterinary Clinic. Retrieved from the internet on 11/14/2023.
- 6, 10, 17 Paul-Murphy, Joanne. (2007) Critical Care of the Rabbit. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. 10(2): 437–461.
Sherri Talbot is the co-owner and operator of Saffron and Honey Homestead in Windsor, Maine. She raises endangered, heritage-breed livestock and hopes someday to make education and writing on conservation breeding her full-time job.
Originally published in the November/December 2024 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.
