| Rabbit Dentistry |
| Double Dutch Rabbitry |
It is not that uncommon for rabbits to form malocclusion, also known as “wolf
teeth” and “buck teeth”. This is when the upper front teeth and sometimes the
lower bottom front teeth, grow abnormally. We have seen teeth on rabbits so
long in length, they looked like a saber tooth tiger. This is genetic, meaning if
one of the parents was born with it, it will be passed onto their offspring. They
can also get it from chewing on the wire and snagging their teeth on it.
Rabbits' front teeth grow 1/4-1 inch per month, so they’re always trying to
finding ways to gnaw on things to keep them down. Their feed is made where
it should keep the teeth worn down as they should be. However, there are
those rabbits that like to chew on their wire, usually out of just boredom. If you
have a rabbit who likes to do this, it might be best to give it a block of wood to
chew on, or toys to play with instead. I can't tell you how many nice animals
I've had ruin their teeth by being wire chewers.
What is dangerous about malocclusion, is that they can get in the way of the
rabbit when it is trying to eat. Sometimes the teeth get so long that they can
curve around and start penetrating the inside of the mouth or growing through
the cheek itself.
Needless to say, if this problem is not rectified, the poor rabbit will probably
die from starvation.
The way we fix our rabbits teeth when they have malocclusion is to simply
“snip” the malocclusion teeth. We use cuticle scissors or snips. To relieve
you, there is absolutely no pain to the bunny. Rabbit’s teeth are made for
gnawing, so there are no blood vessels, nerves, or nerve endings in the teeth.
Cutting or trimming their teeth is the same as cutting “chalk”.
Take your cuticle scissors, turn them “bottoms up” and cut the offending teeth
at a 90 degree right angle to the tooth for a straight cut. Cut one tooth at a time,
and watch out for the tongue and the lips. Cut them back to normal length, and
now your rabbit will be able to eat normally! The malocclusion will probably
grow back and keep reoccurring, meaning it must be re trimmed about once a
month.
Since this can be genetic, it is best not to be using this rabbit for breeding, as
it will pass it onto the young, unless you know for sure that it was not born with
this.
Another thing to watch out for is simple malocclusion, also can be called “trap
teeth”. This is where both the top and bottom teeth meet head on, with no
overlapping of the top teeth going over the bottom teeth. This is a common
thing to see while the rabbit is young, and just as genetic as the buck teeth.
Simple malocclusion and malocclusion are ARBA disqualifications from
competition for all breeds.
Copyright © 2001-2010 Double Dutch Rabbitry. All rights reserved.
http://doubledutchrabbitry.com
teeth” and “buck teeth”. This is when the upper front teeth and sometimes the
lower bottom front teeth, grow abnormally. We have seen teeth on rabbits so
long in length, they looked like a saber tooth tiger. This is genetic, meaning if
one of the parents was born with it, it will be passed onto their offspring. They
can also get it from chewing on the wire and snagging their teeth on it.
Rabbits' front teeth grow 1/4-1 inch per month, so they’re always trying to
finding ways to gnaw on things to keep them down. Their feed is made where
it should keep the teeth worn down as they should be. However, there are
those rabbits that like to chew on their wire, usually out of just boredom. If you
have a rabbit who likes to do this, it might be best to give it a block of wood to
chew on, or toys to play with instead. I can't tell you how many nice animals
I've had ruin their teeth by being wire chewers.
What is dangerous about malocclusion, is that they can get in the way of the
rabbit when it is trying to eat. Sometimes the teeth get so long that they can
curve around and start penetrating the inside of the mouth or growing through
the cheek itself.
Needless to say, if this problem is not rectified, the poor rabbit will probably
die from starvation.
The way we fix our rabbits teeth when they have malocclusion is to simply
“snip” the malocclusion teeth. We use cuticle scissors or snips. To relieve
you, there is absolutely no pain to the bunny. Rabbit’s teeth are made for
gnawing, so there are no blood vessels, nerves, or nerve endings in the teeth.
Cutting or trimming their teeth is the same as cutting “chalk”.
Take your cuticle scissors, turn them “bottoms up” and cut the offending teeth
at a 90 degree right angle to the tooth for a straight cut. Cut one tooth at a time,
and watch out for the tongue and the lips. Cut them back to normal length, and
now your rabbit will be able to eat normally! The malocclusion will probably
grow back and keep reoccurring, meaning it must be re trimmed about once a
month.
Since this can be genetic, it is best not to be using this rabbit for breeding, as
it will pass it onto the young, unless you know for sure that it was not born with
this.
Another thing to watch out for is simple malocclusion, also can be called “trap
teeth”. This is where both the top and bottom teeth meet head on, with no
overlapping of the top teeth going over the bottom teeth. This is a common
thing to see while the rabbit is young, and just as genetic as the buck teeth.
Simple malocclusion and malocclusion are ARBA disqualifications from
competition for all breeds.
Copyright © 2001-2010 Double Dutch Rabbitry. All rights reserved.
http://doubledutchrabbitry.com
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