{"id":46,"date":"2024-05-24T08:47:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T14:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texasavian.com\/blog\/?p=46"},"modified":"2025-01-23T10:35:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T16:35:53","slug":"importance-of-rabbit-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texasavian.com\/blog\/importance-of-rabbit-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"Importance of Rabbit Dentistry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Affectionate, quiet, and absolutely adorable, rabbits make great pets! These little furballs have personality to spare, and to keep them happy from floppy ear to floppy ear, it\u2019s important to prioritize rabbit dental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, our team at Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital<\/a> gets to the root of rabbit dental health, with tips on recognizing and preventing chronic dental disease through ongoing rabbit dental care<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Rabbit Dental Health is Critical<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each tiny little rabbit has a mouthful of 28 teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, making rabbit dental problems complex and varied. Many common health problems\u2014dental and otherwise\u2014begin and end with rabbit dental health. For these reasons, it\u2019s important to seek out a practice experienced in rabbit dentistry and stay up to date with wellness exams<\/a> and rabbit dental care<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Rabbit Dental Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Without proper rabbit dental care, rabbit dental problems can progress into chronic dental disease, including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malocclusion in rabbits<\/strong>: This condition occurs when the upper teeth don\u2019t align properly with the lower teeth, leading to overgrown teeth and improper wear. Malocclusion in rabbits can be caused by trauma, it can be congenital (most common), and it can be caused by poor tooth wear on the rabbit\u2019s incisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overgrown teeth:<\/strong> An outcome of malocclusion, a rabbit\u2019s front teeth (incisors) can become severely overgrown, making eating, drinking, and grooming difficult. When a rabbit\u2019s back teeth (molars) become overgrown, the teeth can develop sharp spurs, which dig into the bunny\u2019s tongue and cheeks and cause painful sores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rabbit tooth decay:<\/strong> Bacterial infections can lead to rabbit tooth decay and dental erosion in rabbits, both of which destroy tooth tissue and enamel and cause holes in tooth surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rabbit tooth root abscess:<\/strong> Rabbit tooth decay and tooth elongation, among other rabbit dental problems, can cause abscesses to form under the teeth and near the roots. A rabbit tooth root abscess is quite painful and typically requires surgery<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of Chronic Dental Disease in Rabbits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rabbit dental problems should be investigated and treated as soon as possible. Be on the lookout for these symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n